Well backed Bay completes hat-trick
Peter Fahey’s charge has come on in leaps and bounds of late and was completing a hat trick, to go with a bumper and a maiden hurdle at Ballinrobe.
Little King Robin set the pace, but it was too sedate and literally played into the hands of the favourite.
Walsh asked Alton Bay to quicken early in the straight and he soon lengthened away to score by six lengths.
Said Fahey: “He’s a lovely horse and has improved a good bit since last year, he wasn’t strong enough. A winners’ of one over hurdles will be next.”
Tony Mullins’ Coolfighter, fresh from a solid effort at Galway, was the one punters wanted in the Bet Online At Thetote.com Claiming Race and he duly obliged.
Partnered by Mullins’ son, Danny, the winner cruised into the lead up hill to the straight and was far too good for Paple Blessing.
Commented Mullins senior: “When he gets competition, he is not as brave as he looks! Hopefully, that will give him confidence and he will probably come back here on Saturday for a Rated race on the flat.”
Coolfighter, however, was subsequently claimed for €10,000 by Robert Dooly, while the runner-up, Paple Blessing, was claimed for €4,000 by John Queally.
Cin Cin, successful at Wexford previously, followed up by defying top weight in the Like Us On Facebook Handicap.
Trained by Andrew Heffernan in Co Dublin, the winner was brought with impeccable timing in the straight by Emmet McNamara to beat Prospectorous.
McNamara was on the mark again when taking the O’Neills’ Bar Handicap on the David Broad-trained Little Stampy.
The 7-1 shot edged ahead off the home turn and stayed on to beat Oceania Queen by three lengths.
Said Broad: “We’ve been waiting a while for that, she is only a little pony, but has the heart of a lion.”
McNamara, enjoying his first double of the season, has left Ger Lyons, “we parted on good terms”, and now rides out six mornings a week at Ballydoyle.
Gary Halpin was suspended for three days, after his mount, Pennys Angel failed to start in this race. Halpin was found guilty of failing to take all reasonable measures to take part in the contest.
Harpsy Cord went off an odds-on shot for the four-runner Noel Cummins Chase, but was in trouble a long way out, trailing in last.
Victory went to the Martin Ferris ridden and Eoin Doyle-trained Days Ahead, who led two out to easily beat the front-running Highbrow Blue.
“That was grand”, exclaimed Doyle. “We will probably be in trouble with Noel O’Brien (handicapper) again, but small fields suit him. If okay he will come back here on Sunday for a hurdle race.”
John Kiely’s On The Way Out shrugged off top weight to land the Pat Woodbyrne Memorial Handicap Chase.
Partnered by rising star, 18-year-old Jonathan Burke, the winner eased to the front just before two out and was soon nicely in control. It was a 27th success for the rider.
“It’s lovely to win a local race”, said Kiely. “He (Burke) is pretty good to do what he’s told.”
Un Beau Roman, who would have got off the mark over fences at the first time of asking, but for falling at the last at Killarney, made no mistake in the Waterford 1100-Ireland’s Oldest City Beginners Chase.
Confidently handled by Paul Townend, he cruised into the lead heading to the second last and was soon clear.
