Berry in the wars as Hail off mark
The front-running Caliente, who was just starting to struggle, broke a leg and then cannoned into Nia’s Caul, who unseated Ronan Whelan.
Caliente was ridden by Berry, who was removed to hospital in Clonmel. It later emerged he fractured his right shoulder blade, broke three ribs and and an ankle. Whelan escaped relatively unscathed.
In the midst of the mayhem, Joseph O’Brien seized his chance to drive Hail into the lead and the Galileo colt strode clear to bet Precious Stone and the less than enthusiastic market-leader, Three Kingdoms.
Pat Smullen replaced Berry aboard Arthur Moore’s Positive Vibes, in the Tickincor Handicap, and, of course, the Nayef gelding duly obliged.
It was a contest in which only two counted literally from the start, with the winner shrugging off eventual second, November Power, with well over a furlong to run.
“It is unfortunate to get a winner like that, I hope Fran will be okay,” said Smullen, whose only previous success for Moore was aboard Polly Anthus at Sligo in June of 2005.
Commented Moore: “I was going to run him over hurdles, he jumps like a stag, at Galway next Tuesday. But Ciaran O’Toole (Berry’s agent) said this was a terrible race and to run here instead.”
Moore completed a double when heavily backed Drumlister justified favouritism in the Giantsgrave Handicap Hurdle.
He threw away a race at Killarney last Saturday, by constantly jumping to his right, and looked far happier travelling in the opposite direction.
Ridden by Gareth Malone, this was his third on the track, Drumlister made all the running and went to the last three or four lengths clear.
But he made a dreadful blunder and his pilot then had to go for everything to hold the late rush of Definite Knockoff by three parts of a lengths.
Said Moore: “He stepped at it, I thought was gone, but found a leg. I think he will go back chasing now.”
Michael Winters continued his terrific run when the progressive Missunited defied top weight in the Sunday 30th September Family Day Clonmel Handicap.
Fears that ten furlongs would prove short of her best proved wide of the mark and she basically outclassed the opposition.
Seamie Heffernan allowed Missunited stride on under two furlongs down and didn’t have to be in any way hard on her to beat Tiffilia by two lengths.
“Seamie said she just got away with the ground,” reported Winters. “If the ground is safe she will go to Galway next Tuesday for a winners’ of one hurdle.”
A relieved Davy Fitzgerald quipped after his Playtime Ben had landed the Munster Opportunity Maiden Hurdle: “The tide is turning.”
Fitzgerald’s horses had been badly out of form for a long time, but a winner with Bangonform at Tramore signalled a change in fortune.
Rob Jones eased Playtime Ben ahead on the downhill approach to the home turn and he soon scampered away to beat Dowd’s Angle.
“He ran too free the last day (Kilbeggan),” said Fitzgerald. “He’s not easy and Rob gave him a super ride. This horse wants real good ground and is a chaser in the making.”
The Mylerstown Maiden Hurdle went to Landenstown Lady, an unlucky loser at Down Royal last week.
She cruised ahead for Sean Flanagan coming away from two out to easily beat Decade Player. The daughter of Westerner is trained by Harry Kelly at Fethard, Co Tipperary.
“She fractured a leg at Punchestown and is only coming to herself,” said Kelly. “She will now go back to Down Royal for a Grade 2 novice hurdle.”
The Tipperary Claiming Race, a modest contest by its very nature, went to the Gerard O’Leary-trained Bobskier. Partnered by the subsequently unlucky Fran Berry, he got a run up the far rail to lead two furlongs from home and beat the staying-on If Per Chance by half a length.
