Egyptian Warrior out battles rivals
The 11-8 favourite, owned by J P McManus, travelled strongly for Robbie Power throughout and was produced to challenge between the final two flights.
He joined issue with Supreme Doc at the last and soon forged away on the flat to score by an easy three lengths.
Frank Berry represented connections and said: “That was workmanlike, it was nice to see him doing it. We will try and find another one for him now.”
Power completed a double when giving the Colm Murphy-trained Presenting Beara a fine drive to land the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Captain Christy Rated Novice Chase.
The progressive six-year-old jumped beautifully and made all of the running to beat the fast finishing Bose Ikard by half a length.
“He seems to be improving and relishes every yard of three miles,” said Murphy. “He is in the Munster National (Limerick) and we will have a look at that.”
Paul Carberry, a terrific pilot, obviously, will not look back on his display aboard Bose Ikard with any great relish. The well-backed favourite appeared to be cantering all over the eventual winner in the straight, but Carberry’s confidence proved to be misplaced.
Bose Ikard was nowhere near as fast or clean over the last two fences as the winner and so simply had too much ground to make up, in a short space of time.
Philip Enright was on the easy list for ten weeks, with a broken wrist, until returning to action on the Friday of Listowel.
He sprang a real shock when powering 20-1 shot Castle Bar Sling to victory in the Kilmore Maiden Hurdle.
Willie Mullins’ Alileo, who has been most disappointing, was the horse most punters wanted to be with and he looked all over a winner early in the straight.
But Enright was soon getting a steady response from the Thomond O’Mara-trained jumping debutant, who outbattled the hot pot from the back of the final flight.
“Thomond told me not to get into a pocket coming down the hill, if I could, and that the horse likes to come wide,” reported Enright.
The rider landed a double, taking his total for the week to four, when guiding Massinis Adventure to victory in the Killenaule Handicap Chase.
The Dr Massini gelding is trained by Robert Tyner and owned by his wife, Mary. Powerfully handled by Enright, he stayed on dourly to collar the flattering Old supporter.
“The owner couldn’t come, she is busy working at home,” quipped Tyner. “I thought he would run better at Killarney, but was disappointing. He was working well before Killarney and working well before today.”
Shark Hanlon has his team in good shape and was on the mark again when Fennis Moll won the Nire Valley Handicap Hurdle.
Ridden by Danny Mullins, the daughter of Presenting was driven ahead gong to the last and was soon clear to beat Perrie Hill.
“She was murdered the last day at Navan,” said Hanlon. “She’s in again on Tuesday (Tipperary) and will probably run.”
Only four of the eight possibilities contested the Laganore Maiden Hurdle. Stynes, trained by John McConnell and partnered by Mark Bolger, ran out a ready winner.
Bolger, enterprisingly, dashed his charge into a healthy lead before four out and Stynes never flinched in the straight to win with loads in hand.
The layers ended on a good note when 16-1 shot Pan Wandle, ridden by Damien Skehan and over 35-1 on the Tote, went to the front at the furlong pole to beat the market leader, Table Tips, in the Bumper.
