Your Busy shows he’s far from a back number
Dashingly ridden by David Casey, the James Nash-trained gelding made virtually all of the running.
He kept finding up the straight for Casey driving, crossing the line comfortably clear of Love Rory, to add to the rider’s gains here on Sunday with Baily Green.
Said Nash: “Every time we get into the red, he gets us out of trouble. He loves this place, has won here before and been placed.
The horse has also won twice over two miles and six at Galway and will go back there, for either the Plate or the Blazers.”
The opening Ross Golf Course Maiden Hurdle shaped like a match and so it proved with Martello Tower proving too good for his main market rival, Badgerfort.
Martello Tower, trained by Mags Mullins and ridden by her son, Danny, edged on before three out and the contest was effectively decided when the somewhat mistake prone Badgerfort was very awkward when challenging at the last.
Winning owner, Barry Connell, said: “We’re hoping he will make a Graded horse next season. He will be put away now and come back in the autumn.”
Henry de Bromhead’s Darwins Fox, attempting two and a half miles for the first time, in the Laurels Pub And Restaurant Hurdle, appeared to very much enjoy going the trip.
He jumped and travelled beautifully through the contest, as Aerlite Supreme made the running.
Aerlite Supreme was none too clever two out and Andrew Lynch quickly seized his chance to drive the winner clear.
Said de Bromhead: “He was well in a the weights, but we didn’t know if he’d get the trip or not. It looked as if it nearly suited him better there.”
Tom Cooper’s Chute Hall, knocking on the door for a while, found his level in the M D O’Shea Maiden Hurdle.
Backed from 5-2 to 2-1 favourite, he found a bit of trouble in running up the straight, but was extricated in time by Robbie Power.
Outsider, Mollyanna, held the call at the final flight, but was awkward and the winner forged past on the flat.
“He’s had a lot of problems since Christmas”, reported Cooper. “He will be let off for the summer now and could still make a proper three-mile chaser.”
Ger Fox, who rode Zuccotti Park to fill third spot, was suspended for five days for improper riding.
Some Hawk, trained by Tom Mullins for J P McManus, popped up at 20-1 in the International Hotel Killarney Handicap Hurdle.
Partnered by Alan Crowe, he was produced with impeccable timing to sweep past the front running Pollywollydoodle shortly after the last.
Commented Mullins: “On his bumper form, he would have won that by a street, but lost his way and confidence during the winter. We have nothing fancy in mind, he’s not an Alderwood, I wish he was.”
McManus, who was on site, was back in the winner’s enclosure after his smart On The Fringe toyed with the opposition on the way to winning the Dan Linehan’s Bar and B and B Hunters Chase.
The imposing nine-year-old made most of the running for Nina Carberry and could now be aimed at the Galway plate.
McManus’ racing manager, Frank Berry, said: “The Plate is a possibility, but he wouldn’t want the ground to be too dry.”
Daniel Hand, who rode White Arm (seventh) in this contest, was found guilty of failing to achieve his best possible placing and suspended for ten days.
Mags Mullins and Barry Connell, on the mark in the opener with Martello Tower, completed a double in the Ladies’ Bumper with Ballychorus.
Always near the front and strongly handled by Katie Walsh, Ballychorus found plenty for pressure through the last three furlongs to beat Fort Smith.
