Carrigmoorna cruises to easy success
Already a winner of a point-to-point and a bumper, the daughter of King’s Theatre produced an impeccable round of jumping and it was always a case of when Enright said go.
She travelled sweetly up the straight, led just before the final flight and quickly eased clear to score with her head in her chest by four and a half lengths.
Tyner was represented by his wife, Mary, who said: “She likes nice ground and will probably go for a mares winners’ of one now.”
Talented 18-year-old Jonathan Burke rode his last winner as an amateur when powering Pat Flynn’s well-backed favourite, Gusty Rock, to land the Bumper.
Burke has decided to go professional and will begin his new career at Ballinrobe next Tuesday.
Said Burke: “I always wanted to turn professional, it was only a matter of when.”
He has greatly impressed for a while now and gave Gusty Rock a typically polished drive to outpoint the front running, Oscar’Swan.
Said a delighted Flynn: “That was my 701st winner, I’m heading for the thousand.”
Pat Fahy’s Mount Gunnery, who was proving a trifle costly to follow, found his level in the Clonacody Maiden Hurdle for colts and geldings.
He made every yard of the running, under Ruby Walsh, and found plenty for pressure to go clear in the straight. Commented Fahy: “That was nice, it was badly wanted. I’d say we will keep going with him, the trip (two and a half miles) made the difference.”
The St Patrick’s Well Maiden Hurdle wasn’t much of a contest, but contained an impressive winner in the Denis Hogan-trained and ridden, Ridestan.
The former Michael Halford inmate cruised into the lead downhill to the home turn and only had to be pushed out by Hogan to trounce market leader, Reflet Ambre, by seven and a half lengths.
Hogan disclosed afterwards that he bought the four-year-old on the recommendation of flat jockey, Conor Hoban.
Hogan completed a double when guiding the Philip Byrne-trained Rosin Dubh to victory in the Nire Valley Mares’ Handicap Hurdle.
The daughter of Winged Love could be mapped as the likely winner a fair way out, coasting away in the closing stages to easily beat Jolaine.
Said Byrne: “Denis was good, he knows her very well. She could go back on the flat and might win another hurdle race. She could also jump a fence this year.”
Ryan Treacy, who rode fourth placed Kalico Kalista, was suspended for two days for disobeying the starter.
Cloudy Morning, trained at Bartlemy, Co Cork by Michael O’Donovan, sprang a 20-1 surprise in the Powerstown Park Handicap Hurdle.
“Relief”, exclaimed O’Donovan, after the aforementioned Treacy had driven his charge to a three parts of a length success over Emmy Lou.
Continued O’Donovan: “We knew the horse had ability, but he never seemed to be able to do it.”
The layers got another decent result when 33-1 shot Mallards In Flight took the Summer BBQ At Clonmel Races June 13th Handicap Hurdle.
Partnered by 7lbs claimer Danny Benson for Gavin Cromwell, the winner kicked on early in the straight to easily beat Shantou Shine.
It was a welcome turn for Cromwell, who has just four horses in his care at Balrath, Co Meath, while it was just a second success over jumps for Benson.
