Warbird battles back to snatch the spoils
Ridden by Shane Foley, the well-backed 7/2 shot made the running but looked held when the easy-to-back 11/4 favourite quickened past him at the two-furlong pole. But Warbird, a son of Royal Applause,rallied in response to Foley’s urgings and fought back to snatch the spoils late for a half-length win, the pairfinishing five and a half lengths clear of the third.
Halford, who trains the winner for Sheikh Mohammed, admitted, “It wasn’t the plan to make it, but Shane found himself in front and let him bowl along. He rolled around when Joseph’s horse came up on terms with him. But his experience was a big help and he kept going well. He’s honest and puts his best foot forward. We’ll see what the handicapper thinks of him before making plans. Out of luck on Craftsman, champion-jockey Joseph O’Brien later complete a double in the handicap action,partnering his father’s charge Heirloom to victory in the Next Meeting Gowran Park Handicap and following up on the Eoin Doyle-trained topweight Days Ahead in the Goresbridge Handicap.
The 2/1 favourite Heirloom, winner of his maiden at Dundalk, neededevery yard of the mile and half trip as he wore down front-running Toddinside the final furlong to score by a length. “He handles the fast ground and stays well,” was Joseph’s summing-up of the performance by Heirloom, a son of Dansili.
O’Brien was seen at his strongest on Days Ahead, which came from off the pace before responding to stern driving to beat Mahrajaa bya hakf-length, prompting trainer Doyle to comment, “That’s the way to ride him, to come through horses. He got the job done, but is better with something to jump. And he’ll go to Listowel now, for a handicap chase.”
Grecian Tiger emerged best in a clash of bumper performers in the finale, the www.gowranpark.ie Maiden, the Dermot Weld-trained four-year-old getting the better of Aidan O’Brien’s Egyptian Warrior by a half-length.
Pat Smullen elected to dictate the pace on the Tiger Hill. But the 4/5 favourite looked in big trouble when joined and headed by both the eventual runner-up and third –placed Ginger Genie. Grecian Tiger, however, fought back in determined style to land the odds. And a delighted Weld stated, “I thought he’d win and he did. He battled hard and came a second time to win. It was a workmanlike performance.”
The David Wachman-trained Ruler Of France, visored for the first time, had to dig deep for Wayne Lordan to see off Lady Ultra by a half-length in the Rooftop Restaurant At Gowran Park Nursery Handicap.
Lordan reported: “He had a nice run in Killarney last week. But he’s lazy and needed the visor – he travelled much better today. He’s tough and battled hard for me.”
Local trainer Jane Foley savoured a welcome birthday winner and her first success of 2013) when Surreal made all to win the fillies maiden by more than four lengths from pastiches. The hooded daughter of Shamardal provided Gary Carroll with his 24 of the campaign.
And the biggest shock of the night came in the Kilkenny Handicap when 20/1 shot Last Minute Lisa, trained by Shane Donohoe for London-basedpublican Gerry Dolan, benefited from an enterprising ride by Chris Hayes to beat Notgonnagiveup.
“Her owner has lost a few quid on her a few times and she’s been veryfrustrating,” said Donohoe. “Chris stuck to his game-plan, top make use of her low draw.”
