The Cobbler Swayne boots rivals into touch in maiden
One horse however who wasn’t hindered by the deep underfoot surface was The Cobbler Swayne, owned and bred by Davy Russell’s father Jerry, who readily put his rivals to the sword in the opening five-year-old geldings’ maiden.
The Cobbler Swayne (5/1), trained by the absent Sam Curling who was on duty at Lemonfield, overcame in excess of a three and a half month lay-off by storming past long-time leader Mai Fitzs Jack on the inner after the third last of the 13 obstacles and he duly bounded clear to beat the staying-on Wood Pigeon by 15 lengths.
“He wasn’t quite right when he pulled up at Kinsale the last day and I didn’t really think that he would handle today’s ground,” reported Youghal-based owner/breeder Russell of The Cobbler Swayne, who traces back to Colonel Braxton.
The Cobbler Swayne’s rider Declan Queally departed with two winners for he was also on the mark with Agreatstart (2/1), trained by Killeagh-based farrier Tom Mellerick for his wife Dara, in the six-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.
Agreatstart, who was destined to finish third at worst but for falling two out behind Golden Crisp at Templenacarriga in early-January, led from half-way and she was left clear when her closest pursuer Lightening Style exited at the third last.
Evanna McCutcheon, who now has Group winning sprinter Maarek under her care, also partnered two winners. For good measure, the Co Tipperary-based figure also both owns and trains the pair and she got off the mark aboard Long Strand (3/1) in the open.
Long Strand went one better than he did behind The Last Derby at Tyrella last month by bravely coming a second time to lead at the final fence and the son of Saddlers’ Hall was always possessing too many aces for runner-up Pocket Reader in the closing stages, two and a half lengths separating the pair.
Long Strand, a former dual park scorer that was recording his sixth points success, may now take in the banks race at Lingstown next Sunday.
The aforementioned race at the popular Co Wexford venue could also be on the cards for Ms McCutcheon’s remaining winner Nhakira (8/1) who thwarted Raydini’s brave bid to make all in the closing winners of one.
The sweet-jumping Raydini led until overtaken by the mare Nhakira at the final fence, a half-length separating the pair in what was the closest finish of the afternoon.
Entry To Evrywhere made a pleasing debut in winners grade by returning a further six lengths adrift in third spot.
Robert Tyner, who also had a winner in the form of A Hardy Nailer at Lemonfield, maintained his advantage at the head of the handlers’ championship by sending out Myselfandjoe (5/4) to oblige in the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden, the race that attracted the biggest field of the day in 11 runners.
The recent Knockanard fourth was left at the head of affairs only to be hampered when fractional leader My Lord Marty came to grief at the second last. Myselfandjoe was soon back on an even keel though and he duly sauntered home by seven lengths from Cobh National in the hands of Mikey O’Connor.
The absent Tyner could be considered somewhat unlucky not to post a double for his representative Different Ending, having run very wide off the bend after three out, was only beaten a length into second spot by Dinny Spillane’s mount Dynamo Frankie (8/1) in the confined hunts maiden.
Dynamo Frankie, who jumped into the lead at the final fence, is trained by former accomplished amateur Niall Kelleher for Una Fenton from Carrigaline.
