Marconi makes it a special O’Brien family affair
The four-year-old’s battling success, beating the Patrick Mullins-ridden favourite by a head, provided the O’Brien’s with a memorable family triumph as Marchese Marconi is owned by the winning rider’s mother Ann Marie and trained by her father Aidam. And for good measure Aidan’s mother Stella was on hand to savour the success.
Aidan explained: “I was told (by Joseph and Sarah) that we were riding him wrong, that he needed to be held up more. He was travelling well and getting there too soon. But he won well tonight and will run in a few more of these races (including the Slan Abhaile at Listowel).”
Ridden for speed, Pique Sous failed to produce the turn of foot expected by Patrick Mullins in the rain-softened ground.
But the champion amateur exacted a measure of revenge on the O’Brien’s in the bumper when Pink Hat, successful on her recent debut at Kilbeggan, stayed on stoutly to keep Angel Chorus at bay.
Fran Berry was seen at his tactical best when bringing course specialist Celestial Prospect with a well-timed challenge to beat Fairy Court in the Rosslare Handicap, prompting his trainer Martin Brassil to admit: “His owners travelled five hours from Tyrone and, if they weren’t here, I would have withdrawn him — we’ve always felt he needed fast ground. He has won three times around here and I’ll look for a two-and-a-half mile handicap hurdle for him next.”
Celestial Prospect was the second leg of a double for Berry initiated when Magical Steps, trained by Jessica Harrington, justified even-money favouritism in the fillies maiden, working hard to gain an overdue bracket. Her trainer hopes to “sneak” some black type for the filly.
Most impressive winner of the day was Hikari, owned and bred by Brian Gleeson, and a fifteen lengths winner of the mile-and-a-half maiden. The Galileo filly is trained by Dermot Weld and was ridden by Pat Smullen, who said: “It was a very weak race and she didn’t travel too well. But, when I gave her a crack, she picked up well.”
John McConnell intends throwing Sheilas Wish into a better handicap, off a low weight, following her victory under Colin Keane in the wexfordracer.ie Handicap.
Meanwhile, Upsanddown, trained by Ray Hackett and confidently handled by Declan Queally landed a substancial gamble when bolting up in the Kilbeggan bumper. As big as 50/1 with some firms in the morning and backed from 8/1 to 9/.2 on-track, he slammed Marley Exit by thirteen lengths.
Andrew Lynch completed a double on The Black Russian, trained by Fergus Hanley, which followed-up Tuesday’s win in Sligo with another all-the-way victory in the handicap hurdle, and Henry de Bromhead’s Fourth Class which got the better of a tight finish with Prosperity Square in the Angus Beef Handicap Chase. Davy Russell partnered Raajih to an overdue success in the beginners chase.
