Positive tactics work a treat for Johnny Burke on Viconte Du Noyer
Viconte Du Noyer ran out the easiest winner of the afternoon, when gaining a deserved first success over fences in the Dawn Hi + Lo Milk Beginners’ Chase. Logical Song set off in front and quickly opened a clear advantage, with the winner settling in second place.
The positions remained largely unchanged until the leader made a bad mistake at the final fence down the far side. That allowed Viconte Du Noyer range upsides and, after taking his time before asserting, Burke rode the well-backed 5-4 favourite clear for a facile success, from The Herds Garden.
“Tramore was very disappointing – he made a woeful mistake with a circuit to go and that put him out of the race,” said winning trainer Henry De Bromhead. “He’s probably better on flatter tracks, anyhow.
“He’s a nice horse, he’s rated 132, but we were finding it hard to win a beginners’ chase in the winter, with him. He jumped really well today. We changed the tactics: we had been holding him up but Johnny wanted to be good and positive on him, so we did that and it really worked well.”
The winning rider had to work far more vigorously to complete his brace aboard Knockraha Prince, in the Dawn Run Milk Handicap Chase. Never far off the pace aboard the Pat O’Connor-trained 6-1 chance, Burke pushed his mount to the front going to the third last, and had to be strong to deny the fast-finishing Bottle Rattler by a head.
“He was second at Wexford 11 days ago, and I was afraid this would come a bit too soon,” said O’Connor. “He’s in a Tipperary on Sunday, but much will depend on what the handicapper does.
“I’m delighted for his owner, Michael O’Donoghue, an 85-year-old publican from Knockraha, who bred him, and also had the family back along.”
Swansea Mile secured back-to-back victories over obstacles when taking the opening Ahern’s BMW Castleisland Novice Hurdle under Ruby Walsh. Patiently ridden for much of the journey, he was switched outside to make progress turning for home, and challenged between the third-last and second-last.
A good jump two from home carried him clear and, though he had to fiddle the last, he was well on top, and duly saw off the late run of Fearachain.
“He’s improved a lot from Bellewstown, and his jumping was super,” said Walsh.
“The flatter tracks seem to suit him, but he’s a novice, he’s improving, he’s two from two over hurdles, and it’s onwards and upwards.
“He ran 10 days ago at Bellewstown, so Galway may come too soon for him.”
Although returned 14-1, Beautiful Ben wasn’t without his supporters prior to victory in the Europe Hotel & Resort Handicap Hurdle. Owned and trained by Denis Hogan, he travelled quite keenly but that didn’t prevent his producing a strong finish. Just in front racing to the final hurdle, he ran on well to beat Give Her Back a little more than a length.
“That’s more the horse,” said Hogan. “We’ve found out a few things about him, so we put a tongue-tie on him and dropped him back in trip. He’s a bit hot, but has the ability.”
Gusty Rocky was well backed when having to settle for fifth place at Limerick last month, but the Pat Flynn-trained gelding gained compensation with a fine effort in the Killarney Grand Live Music Venue Handicap Hurdle.
Never far off the pace, he lost ground and looked to have conceded his chance on the turn for home. However, he picked up well along the inside line, jumped the last couple of hurdles well, and beat the well-supported Draco with a little to spare.
Said winning rider Danny Mullins: “Mr Flynn said that if he needed the run, not to be too hard on him but he got him here spot on. I thought when I got done off the bend that it might have been all over, but he was good and sharp to get through the gaps, and jumped the last few well.”
Buster Dan Dan gave a bold sight from the front in the Dawn Omega Milk Handicap and, under a perfectly judged ride from Jack Kennedy, the 8-1 chance remained beyond reach of his rivals all the way. The winner is trained by jockey Mikey O’Connor, who is currently side-lined due to injury.
“Jack Kennedy’s 7lbs is a penalty kick, if the horse is good enough,” said O’Connor, who also voiced his frustration at a “technicality” which is preventing him from receiving the injured jockeys’ allowance while out of the saddle.
Bookmakers certainly came out on top in the closing race of festival as 25-1 chance Pashtunwali got up late to deny favourite Avichi in an exciting finish.
Said winning trainer Eoin Griffin: “He wasn’t running to what we had expected of him, but he loved going left-handed today, and the flat track suited him. He (Finny Maguire) gave him a great ride. He got him switched off, brought him around the short way, and the penny dropped with the horse. He’ll go straight over hurdles now, and good ground is key to him.”
