Ruby makes triumphant return on Rattan
Walsh had been on the injured list since August 2, having broken a bone in an ankle when his mount in the Galway Hurdle, Drive Time, crashed at the fourth flight.
He certainly had his fitness tested here, because Rattan was in real trouble from the third last and the former champion jockey had to get deadly serious with him.
Miley Shah went for home heading out into the country for the final time and for most of the straight appeared to be holding the hot-pot.
But the leader got in tight to the last two hurdles and Walsh never gave up, seizing his chance to power Rattan to a head victory.
“I thought 4-9 shorts were supposed to be steering jobs”, quipped Walsh. Winning trainer, Willie Mullins, said: “It is nice to have Ruby back, the horse hated that ground.
“We will keep mixing it with him, flat and hurdles, and he could jump a fence as well.”
Another making a welcome return from injury, Patrick Mangan, also got among the winners when guiding Fair Dilemma, trained by his father, Jimmy, to land the Cheestrings Beginners Chase.
Reported Patrick: “I did the cruciate in my knee at Leopardstown at Christmas, but didn’t have an operation until May 25.”
Fair Dilemma jumped for fun in front and found plenty in the straight to resist the persistent challenge of Mackeys Forge.
Said Mangan senior: “He had a fitness advantage over some of them and that was an advantage. He will probably come back here on Friday for a handicap hurdle.”
Eugene O’Sullivan’s Habesh, carrying the colours of Tomas Singleton from Bweeng, Co Cork, and who had been a little disappointing when third at Galway five days earlier, produced a decent effort to beat heavily-backed favourite, Top Man Michael, in the Kerry Ingredients And Flavours three-year-old Hurdle.
Confidently handled by Paddy Kennedy, Habesh forged to the front between the final two flights to score by a snug length and a quarter.
Said O’Sullivan: “He’s the best horse I’ve had since Head Waiter and will be way better on better ground.
“He’s a brilliant jumper and will make a chaser, but a winners of one will probably be next.”
The real eye-catcher of the contest was third placed Stocktons Wing. He was doing all his best work at the end and wasn’t knocked about by Mark Walsh.
Roadtoabbeyfeale, trained by John Supple, landed a tasty touch in the Charleville Cheese Maiden Hurdle.
Partnered by Eddie O’Connell and backed from 7-1 to 100-30, the winner powered ahead going to two out to easily beat outsider Kilnafrehanstar and well-backed market-leader, Minella For Value, who flattered for much of the journey.
“That’s a relief, he’s been a bit unlucky once or twice”, commented Supple. “I didn’t know how he would handle the ground, but he’s a proper three mile chaser in the making.”
Pat Flynn is enjoying a fine year and was on the mark again when Galianna, owned by J P McManus, battled on dourly to take the Low Low EBF Mares’ Handicap Chase.
On terrible ground this looked hard work for all concerned, with Mark Walsh driving the winner clear on the flat, after she had been none too clever at the final flight.
Walsh completed a double when Torphichen, also owned by McManus and trained by Edward O’Grady, won the Dawn Milk Handicap Chase by 26 lengths.
He had clearly taken the measure of Ordinary Man when that one went at the penultimate obstacle and it was plain sailing after that.
“It’s nice to see him win, but I don’t have any plans”, remarked O’Grady.
John Nallen’s Minella Reception won the Bumper with a fair bit in hand for Corky Carroll.
He came there cruising in the straight and only had to be pushed out over a furlong down to ease clear of Bonobo.
