Noble Emperor a star in the making
The six-year-old made his debut at Navan in a bumper last month and clearly not too much was expected, as he bolted in at odds of 16-1.
Noble Emperor was then bought by J P McManus and it looks a shrewd purchase, on the evidence of what we saw here. He travelled beautifully through the contest for Mark Walsh and was hardly out of second gear to ease ahead going to two out and score by 13 lengths.
Said Martin: “He's a big old fashioned horse and a chaser in the making. We were going to go point-to-pointing with him, but gave the horse one shot at a bumper.”
Noble Emperor will be launched over fences next season and is certainly very much one to look forward to.
Christy Roche's Moonlight Boy got off the mark over jumps when taking the Keywest Play Live 20th June Maiden Hurdle.
In the end, he had just three parts of a length to spare over Tawseef, but it might have been a bit more, only for an awkward leap two out.
Moonlight Boy, though, rallied back strongly and was nicely on top close home for Alan Crowe.
The winner is also owned by McManus and his racing manager, Frank Berry, did the honours.
Said Berry: “It's nice to get that out of the way, he had knocked on the door a few times. He might have one more run over hurdles and will go chasing next season.”
The Andrew Lee-trained Ludo Et Emergo gave a fine exhibition of jumping and front-running to take the Irish Stallion Farms' EBF Beginners Chase.
He was certainly an appropriate winner given that this was a students' day and he's owned by Dutch lady, Dr Maria Hinfelaar, who is President of the Limerick Institute of Technology.
Davy Russell gave Ludo Et Emergo a superb drive, allowing him a vital breather on the down hill run to the straight and then kicking away again off the home turn.
Said Lee: “I am delighted for the horse and the owner. I might run him now in a novice chase at Fairyhouse.”
Philip Fenton's well backed Patsio, absent since finishing third at Galway in October, got the best of a tough battle through the final furlong with the promising Arctic Skipper to land the bumper.
Commented Fenton: “He pulled a muscle behind and was in his box for six or eight weeks.
“We had to start with him again at Christmas, he was working well.”
Paul Power, who rode Arctic Skipper, was found guilty of using his whip with excessive frequency and suspended for one day.
Gordon Elliott's Clara McCloud wasn't easy to pinpoint in the Sporting Limerick Mares' Handicap Hurdle. But the 16-1 shot scored with plenty in hand.
Partnered by Davy Condon, she shot on early in the straight and soon powered clear to easily beat Shuilamach.
The hat-trick seeking Tooreen failed to deliver.
She was holding every chance when blundering at the third last and was quickly in trouble.
Patrick Neville's Rightville Boy stuck it out well for Kevin Sexton to take the www.limerickraces.ie Handicap Hurdle.
He won by a fast diminishing short head from Suffren, who was a desperately unlucky loser.
Suffren was full of running when getting it all wrong two out and, hard as Barry Geraghty tried, couldn't quite get back at the winner.
The modest Greenmount Mares' Beginners Chase was won in good style by the Darrell Deacon-trained Tudor Fashion.
Ridden by John Cullen, she forged on over the second last and was soon scampering away from Tukawhile.
