‘Cap’ follows up in style
The nine-year-old mare, in foal to Robin Des Champs and having her third run since joining Elliott’s string, was following-up a win at Perth last month, coming from off the pace under a motionless Carberry before easing clear on the run-in to score by four and a half lengths from Mount Gunnery, which had taken over from Kilcarry Bridge before turning for home.
Joey Elliott, representing his trainer-brother, commented: “Paul was good on her. He got her switched off and kept wide for the better ground. She won well.”
Successful over fences at Fairyhouse and Punchestown, Knockanarrigan completed a quick hat-trick when justifying 11/8 favouritism in the three-mile Castlerea Handicap Hurdle, travelling well before getting the better of Polish Partisan by almost two lengths after a protracted tussle.
The progressive six-year-old, which was ridden by Mark Enright, will revert to chasing, as his trainer Dessie Hughes explained: “We thought he’d win another handicap hurdle off that mark but, as you saw, he just about managed it. He’ll go back chasing and could go for the Midlands National in Kilbeggan next month.”
The Charles O’Brien trained Shutter Island, confidently handled by Mark Walsh, got favourite backers off to a flying start when coasting to a seven lengths win in the Follow Us On Facebook 4-Y-0 Maiden Hurdle.
The J P McManus-owned son of Jeremy, runner-up in his last two outings over hurdles and boasting a rating of 107, stretched clear on the run-in to slam Reflet Ambre by seven lengths and will mix it, on the flat (lowly-rated) and over hurdles for the summer.
Trainer Adrian Murray admitted that the victory of 40/1 shot Olwenbrook in the first division of the www.roscommonracecourse.ie Maiden Hurdle was “unexpected” while acknowledging: “The mare has been working well, but my horses have been running badly for a year.”
Olwenbrook got the better of fellow longshot Don’t Budge Me, with front-running favourite Overcall third, sparking a double for Andrew Lynch, also successful on Jim Dreaper’s mare Ellie Mia in the Regan’s Bar & Quinntin’s Restaurant Maiden Hurdle.
“She’s been staying well in her races and deserved a crack at two and a half miles,” said winning trainer Jim Dreaper.
