October Revolution gets McGrath off the mark
24-year-old Derek McGrath from Kilnafarna outside Dungarvan was the toast of the vast majority of the 14 bookmakers present after recording his initial career success aboard his father David’s 8/1 shot October Revolution in the six-year-old geldings’ maiden.
The favourite Patsy Oriel moved to the front with two fences remaining except that Michael Winters’ charge was soon emitting distress signals.
October Revolution, who showed clear signs of talent on his previous two outings most notably when finishing fourth to Treo Eile at Dromahane on April 27th, went into the lead at the final fence.
The winning son of Turtle Island was in no mood to be denied on the flat as he ultimately contained Vanguard, whose rider lost his whip at the final fence, by three parts of a length in the colours of the elder McGrath’s wife Mary.
The newcomer Waitnc posted an effort rich in promise by returning a further one-length adrift in third spot. This was Derek McGrath’s ninth ride in public and he presently rides out with Henry de Bromhead.
Jamie Codd increased his advantage to three over Derek O’Connor at the head of the riders’ table (80 – 77) by partnering a two-timer with the Drinagh amateur getting off the mark aboard Liam Kenny’s newcomer Rainman (4/1) in the opening four-year-old maiden.
Pull The Chord appeared to make the decisive move by edging ahead on the incline to the second last except that Paul Power’s mount then didn’t exactly aid his cause by blundering at the final fence.
Rainman was closing the whole time and the 2013 Fairyhouse August sale graduate quickened to the front in the closing stages to dismiss the likeable Pull The Chord by one and a half lengths. Rainman, owned by Kenny’s wife Noeleen, is now likely to be offered at some of the forthcoming sales.
Codd then doubled up aboard the Peter Fahey-trained Tiger Bay Lady (5/4), the only winning favourite on the six-race card, in the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden.
Tiger Bay Lady, a creditable third on her debut at Castletown-Geoghegan last month, readily rose her effort from the second last by storming to the front inside the final 50 yards to beat Distal Cusp by a length in the colours of the 10-member Bogmen Syndicate from Co Laois.
Pocket Reader (6/1), trained by the in-form Eugene O’Sullivan, recorded his ninth points success by beating Capal Dubh Alainn in a gripping finish to the open lightweight.
Capal Dubh Alainn took up the running travelling well before two out and he seemed to be on top travelling to the final fence. Owner/rider Irene Walsh however had other ideas aboard Pocket Reader, who was equipped with cheekpieces, for she drove the teak-tough eight-year-old to the fore as the line approached to oblige by a neck. Pocket Reader could now travel to the Ballybunion fixture in just under two weeks time – May 24th.
