Bally Longford highlight of superb Lynch treble
The Willie Mullins-trained Bally Longford, in the colours of Alan and Ann Potts, justified 11/8 favouritism in the opener, prompting Mullins’ representative Gary Davies to comment: “He seemed to settle better today and won well. He jumps well and will make a nice chaser in time.”
Lynch struck again in the second division, despite losing his whip, on the Henry de Bromhead’s mare Goodoldhonkytonk, which foiled the Barry Geraghty-ridden favourite Thomond.
And he completed a successful evening when Breffni Gael followed-up a recent win in Tramore, being left clear by the second last fence exit of Sea Master to land the Skoda Ireland Handicap Chase.
Barry Geraghty enjoyed better luck when producing the Steve Mahon-trained USA with a perfectly-timed challenge to land the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Handicap Hurdle. Mahon indicated that he’ll train the six-year-old for a crack at the Guinness Galway Hurdle.
Out of luck with his two runners in Aintree (Goal and Russian War both finished second) Gordon Elliott was on the mark with chasing debutant Esporao, which produced a spectacular front-running display to land the Horse And Jockey Hotel Beginners Chase. Ridden by Barry Cash, who described his mount’s jumping as “very, very quick” , the 25/1 shot was soon clear and was never threatened, winning, unchallenged, by eight lengths from Coldstonesober.
“He’s a little bit wired, but the ease in the ground helped him,” said Mick Winters after Another Rebel took the maiden hurdle.
