Captain powers home for Eddie Lynam
The victory of 80-rated Captain Power, in the famous colours of Mrs Sabina Power, worn by such stars as Sole Power and Slade Power, proved particularly sweet for the County Meath trainer.
Pipped in Naas last time, Captain Power came through inside the final furlong under stable apprentice Robbie Downey to beat stable-companion Future Icon by a length and three-quarters, prompting Lynam to state: “He deserved to win a little race. He gives his best every time and was unlucky in Naas, when he got hit across the snout by a whip.
“Robbie rides him every morning at home and gets on well with him. He wears a lucky set of colours! He’ll go back into handicaps now.”
Lynam saddled first and third home in the Whole Lotta Voltage Live After Racing Claiming Race, victory going to the Colm O’Donoghue-ridden Mr. Good Guy (7/1), in the colours of his wife Aileen.
The Diamond Green gelding beat veteran Six Of Hearts by two and a half lengths, with the winner’s stable-companion Iron Major (8/15 favourite), in the colours of his trainer, a disappointing third. Lynam quipped: “The one for the more important owner won.”
The market got it wrong in the opening two-year-old median auction maiden as the Dermot Weld-trained Rich Jade, the morning favourite but friendless on-track, being sent off as 2/1 second favourite, foiled well-supported 9/10 favourite Sevenleft by the minimum margin, a nose, after a protracted battle.
Pat Smullen sent the winner into the lead two furlongs from home, was headed before the furlong-pole before battle was joined. and the Moyglare-owned daughter of Henrythenavigator, visored for the first time, earned the spoils on the nod.
“The visors helped,” stated Smullen. “She got her head down and tried hard all the way to the line. It was lucky she hit the line well.”
Donnacha O’Brien registered his first success as a 5lb. claimer when Cradle Mountain, owned by his mother Anne-Marie and trained by his father Aidan, made most of the running to win the finale, the three-runner Cheaper Tickets Online Median Auction Race.
The 92-rated Mastecraftsman colt stayed on under strong pressure to beat market rival Gallope by a length and a half, prompting his rider to explain: “He has a lot of ability, but is very idle and needs driving. He’ll make a lovely hurdler when he’s gelded.”
Eleven pounds higher than when winning the race two years ago, Three Bells, locally-trained by Pat Downey, defied top-weight in the La Bucca Restaurants Handicap, scoring for Wayne Lordan by a length and three-quarters from Fairy Foxglove.
“I don’t know what happened the last day in Sligo – I thought he’d win – maybe it was the bad draw,” said Downey.
“I was worried about the ground tonight, but he handled it well.
“He’s been a good old servant – this is his fourth win – and, if he’s okay, he might run again in Bellewstown on Friday night.”
