Buster on a clear upward curve
On an afternoon that witnessed just six races, Buster Dan Dan (3/1) was bounced out in front by Mikey O’Connor and he had Black Lily as his closest pursuer until Always Improving went second as the depleted 11-runner field set out on the final circuit.
The mare Phone Booth arrived from mid-division to overtake Buster Dan Dan after the penultimate of the 15 obstacles.
Buster Dan Dan however was soon back in front and last month’s Aghabullogue maiden winner threw a fabulous leap at the final fence en-route to dismissing Phone Booth by four lengths.
Busteed remarked of the Noel O’Sullivan-owned Buster Dan Dan: “This fellow is as tough as old boots and the plan was to look for another tight track such as Aghabullogue where they would be on the turn a lot. We will give him more experience by running him in another winners race before going for a hunters chase.”
The closing six-year-old and upwards maiden was arguably the most competitive race of the day with victory in the 15-runner event going to Castlelyons-based owner/trainer Pat Crowley’s King Bo Bo (3/1).
Having shown clear signs of talent on his three forays last season, the homebred King Bo Bo made his way to the front at the second last and he gamely asserted on the flat to contain the eyecatching Fr Humphrey by six lengths. King Bo Bo, one of just two horses that long-standing points supporter Crowley currently has in harness, will now be aimed at a winners race.
King Bo Bo’s rider Ciaran Fennessy partnered a double, the Fermoy amateur earlier combining with James Cregan to collect the two-runner confined hunt maiden with Entry To Evrywhere (1/4).
A six-year-old son of Exit To Nowhere, Entry To Evrywhere barely had little more than an exercise canter to beat newcomer Gunner Jarvey who was remounted to complete the course having fallen when well adrift of the winner at the second last.
Derek O’Connor similarly recorded a brace, the Galwegian opening his account aboard newcomer Altiepix (4/6), sporting the familiar Gigginstown House Stud colours of Hennessy Gold Cup winner Last Instalment, in the four-year-old maiden.
The Pat Doyle-trained French-bred Altiepix made all the running, jumping well in the process, to slam the only other finisher Black Sam The Man by a distance.
O’Connor doubled up aboard Westend Star (11/10), trained by Fabian Burke at Kilmeague in Co Kildare, in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.
Westend Star assumed command at the second last where runner-up Mai Fitzs Jack was none too clever and the previously once-raced bay, a creditable fifth to the progressive Definitely Red at Loughanmore last October, duly defeated Mary Hallahan’s charge by two and a half lengths.
Mark Molloy traditionally fares exceptionally well with his small string and the Ballycahill-based operator struck with well-supported newcomer Autumn Shades (6/4 – 4/5) in the five-year-old mares’ maiden.
Autumn Shades always took the eye in running with Damian Murphy and the victorious daughter of Vinnie Roe powered to the front before the second last to dispose of Give Her Bach by four lengths. A bumper is now on the agenda for the clearly-exciting Autumn Shades.
* The Tallow meeting was postponed yesterday morning and the fixture will now take place next Saturday (12.30 pm start).
