Dream result for Maguire

On an afternoon when the last two winners of the Galway Hurdle, Rebel Fitz and Missunited, both trained by Michael Winters, were paraded, it was appropriate that Anshan Dreams should land the Cork Handicap Hurdle at Cork yesterday.

Anshan Dreams is trained by Adrian Maguire, who is married to Winter’s sister, Sabrina. Indeed, the nine-year-old is owned by Sabrina.

“He has always been a nice horse and it is a great day, with all the Winters here,” said Maguire. “I couldn’t be letting Michael steal all of the limelight!”

It was a decent effort on the part of the gelding, considering he was lumbered with top weight.

Declan Queally produced him to lead at the final flight and Anshan Dreams was a snug length clear of The Boat People at the line.

Most impressive winner of the afternoon was Charles Byrnes well backed Domination in the Cork Racecourse Social Package Hurdle.

Partnered with confidence by Rob Jones, Domination’s jumping improved the more the contest developed and he cruised clear off the home turn to score hard held by eight lengths from Edeymi.

Said Jones: “He travelled well and saw it out well, but it wasn’t a true run three miles.”

Tony Martin, fresh from a terrific Galway with eight winners, wasted no time returning to the number one berth when Lancing took the Follow Us On Twitter Handicap Hurdle.

The well backed favourite coasted ahead for Ruby Walsh between the last two flights to beat Valours Minion by four lengths.

“He was a bit unlucky on heavy ground at Sligo the last day”, reported Martin. “He deserved to win one of these and, hopefully, can now build on that.”

Martin and Walsh combined for a double when the veteran Another Ambition swept on after two out to land the Mallow Handicap Hurdle.

“It’s grand for a horse who has broken down to win a race as a 12-year-old”, said Martin.

Andrew Lynch, stood down after suffering a soft tissue injury in a fall earlier in the day, missed a winner when the 16-1 shot Flatfoot Boogie took the corkracecourse.ie Maiden Hurdle.

The eight-year-old was only having a second ever outing, causing his trainer, Noel Glynn, to quip: “My mother is in a nursing home and he has had more problems than her.”

Andrew McNamara stepped in for the ride and kept the winner going strongly all the way up the straight to hold heavily backed favourite, Hilltop Tommy.

Continuing, Glynn said: “He was as big as a bull and should improve a lot, I’ve been seven years nursing him.”

The dual bumper winner Bach To Whitingbay was all the rage in the Family Day Out Maiden Hurdle, but his jumping was terrible and he never gave supporters any cause for optimism.

Victory went to Mags Mullins’ Pepparpot, who made every yard of the running to easily beat Bridgequarter Girl.

Said Mullins: “He ran over two miles and two at Downpatrick the last day and I thought that was too far for him. We will keep going with the horse.”

Mullins introduced a nice newcomer in Mumbo Bay, a full brother to Mumbo Jumbo, to win the Bumper.

Partnered by Patrick Mullins, the Vinnie Roe gelding shot away a furlong and a half down to score by five lengths.

“I thought he might just need it”, said Mullins. “I’d say he’s good enough for a winners’ bumper and also jumps well.”