Burke draws plaudits as he eases Game Changer home
It was a comment with which few would disagree and was fair praise, considering that Swan was one of the best National Hunt riders this country has ever produced.
Burke took his time on the Galway Hurdle third, but arrived with every chance early in the straight.
Going equally smoothly, however, was Queen Alphabet and Davy Russell and a real buckle looked assured.
It soon became clear, however, that The Game Changer held all the aces and he eased away from the back of the last to beat Queen Alphabet by a cosy three parts of a length.
“He gave him a fine ride,” said Swan. “This is a horse with so much ability and pace and is probably best on flat tracks.
“He will keep going as long as the ground is good. There are some conditions races coming up for him, there is one at Cork.”
Russell was later suspended for a day, having weighed in 1.6lbs overweight on Queen Alphabet.
Burke then rounded off his evening on the perfect note by enjoying his first double since turning professional aboard Discover Wexford in the Killarney Oaks Hotel Maiden Hurdle.
This was as modest a contest as you could get, with Discover Wexford sweeping past the flattering Hard Fought heading to the last to take the pilot’s career-total to 30.
Denis Hogan’s horses continue in fine form and he was on the mark again when Winter Lion put up a decent display to win the seamusweldon.com Handicap.
Winter Lion was raised 12lbs for winning at Galway and appeared to have a stiff enough task on here.
But not a bit of it and, in fact, he scored with lots in hand for Chris Hayes. The four-year-old kicked on heading to the home turn and was soon in control to beat the morning price, gamble, Modem.
Said Hogan: “That’s an improving horse, I was worried coming here from Galway, they are totally opposite tracks. Chris was very good, he’s riding really well.”
Aidan O’Brien’s Rule The Waves, who had been somewhat disappointing previously, shrugged off top weight with the minimum of fuss to win the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Nursery.
Confidently handled by Seamie Heffernan, the War Front colt quickened ahead just outside the furlong pole to easily beat Yulong Xiongba.
Jim Bolger’s Cruidin went off a well-backed favourite, but was in trouble a fair way from home.
Bolger soon gained compensation, however, when Fiscal Focus took the Easy Clean Limited Rated Race.
The winner was having his first outing since early June, but stripped fit and well and found plenty for Kevin Manning pressure.
Fiscal Focus and Ruler Of France had it between them through the final furlong and the battle was always going in favour of the former.
Bolger and Manning then completed a double when the well-bred newcomer, Altesse, shocked long odds-on Fastnet Mist in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Fillies Maiden.
When Fastnet Mist cantered ahead over to furlong down those who had traded at the prohibitive odds had reason to feel pleased.
But soon the distress signals started, with Wayne Lordan beginning to look decidedly uncomfortable.
His fears were well founded, as Altesse kept finding for Manning driving and the daughter of Hernando was nicely on top at the line.
Ger Flynn represented Bolger and reported: “She took time to come to herself, Kevin said she was green the whole way round.”
Luke Dempsey won his first ever race over flights when Philip Fenton’s On My Own took the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.
“He’s ten and we hobdayed him, it helped some bit,” said Fenton.
