Walsh fuming after Summer Star is virtually left at the start
Both Summer Star and second favourite, The Bishop’s Day, had literally no chance once starter, Paddy Graffin, let them go.
The field was immediately spread out like brown’s cows and those who had supported the market-leaders were always struggling to get a run for their money.
The Bishop’s Day was broadside as they attempted to line up and clearly not facing the starter.
Ruby Walsh was out the back on Summer Star and when Pharney Lady took a step or two backwards into her, she was sunk without trace.
Walsh was fuming on returning to the weigh room and made his feelings known, before disappearing into the jockeys’ room.
Later he said: “That was a very poor effort by the starter, but we are all human and humans make errors.”
Graffin said: “I told them not to come in, that there was half a minute to go, but they kept coming.
“They have done this before and so I went up on the rostrum and, to my eyes, they were all facing in the right direction and so I let them go.
“The last jockey I wanted to see suffering was Ruby Walsh because he has been hugely co-operative, along with all the senior riders, in making sure that the starts are improved.”
The stewards held an inquiry and were satisfied a fair start had been effected.
In the contest itself, Adrian Heskin produced Cuteasafox with a powerful late surge to collar long-time leader, Dearest Girl, with The Bishop’s Day, to her credit, staying on from behind to eventually claim second spot.
Ted Walsh later had a measure of compensation when Ploopluck Bridge, carrying the colours of his wife, Helen, took the Limerick’s Live 95FM Beginners Chase.
It was a modest contest, but provided a stirring finish with Rob Jones forcing the winner up to beat Ballyhampshire Man by a short head.
Said Walsh: “Battlefront took this a few years ago and he won ten point-to-points this season, so if this fellow turns out to be half as good as him I’ll be happy.”
Best performance of the evening came from Baily Green in the Grant Thornton Novice Chase.
Mouse Morris’ charge gave an exhibition of jumping for Davis Casey to complete a hat-trick.
Casey soon had him bowling along in front and Baily Green winged fences to do the business with plenty in hand.
“He was a joy to watch, I’d nearly have ridden him myself,” said Morris. “He won’t go to Galway, the ground will be too soft, we’ll find something else.”
Karl Thornton, who trains at Skerries, Co Dublin, had his first winner in this country when Bearly Legal landed the Ladies Day 14th October Maiden Hurdle.
He did, however, recently saddle Father Shine to score at Southwell and has held a licence since taking it over from his father, Sean, last Christmas.
Bearly Legal was well handled by amateur, John Barry, who produced him with excellent timing to power ahead from the back of the final flight.
Barry (23) comes from Conna in Co Cork. This was his fifth success on the track, to go with some 40 in point-to-points.
Wooly Tom, a somewhat unlucky loser at Ballinrobe two days earlier, made no mistake in the Follow Limerick Racecourse On Facebook Handicap Hurdle.
Ridden with real confidence by Martin Mooney, he came from off the pace to cruise ahead between the last two flights and score with his head in his chest.
Denis Hogan continued his upward curve as a trainer when taking the Munster National 14th October Handicap Hurdle with Cerveza Dinero. Strongly handled by Lenny Flynn, he found plenty for pressure to hold Kilcross Boy by three parts of a length.
Mags Mullins’ newcomer, Oscars Joy, was all the rage in the Bumper and duly landed the touch.
She was brought with a sustained challenge down the centre of the track by Patrick Mullins and was nicely in control in the closing stages.
