Ravished on-a-roll in National
Cooper sustained a suspected dislocated thumb in an earlier fall, giving Townend the opportunity on hat-trick seeking Ravished, one of four runners for Gigginstown House Stud in the highlight of the midland track’s season, a race which Michael O’Leary’s stud won with Night Busker back in 2004 and which it sponsored for a number of years.
Another Gigginstown runner — Akorakor — prominent throughout, had been joined by the eventual winner when blundering and unseating Kevin Sexton at the final fence, leaving Ravished to beat Rohan’s Pride by four and three-quarter lengths.
“It’s nice to win it for Michael at his local track,” stated Morris. “He’s improving the whole time, jumps well and stays all day. He might get into the Plate now.”.
Townend explained: “The plan was to be handy and let him warm-up. He was foot perfect everywhere and, when I gave him a couple of flicks turning for home, he picked up. I felt I had Akorakor’s measure, but the fences are there to be jumped.”
Jessica Harrington registered her fifth win of the week when the experienced Tri Na Ceile, ridden for J P McManus by Barry Geraghty, justified favouritism in the opening Tom McCormack Memorial Cup Mares Maiden Hurdle.
But supporters of the five-year-old daughter of Galileo had to sweat as the 11/8 market leader laboured to get on terms with the leaders on the final circuit before ultimately asserting and beating Tigroney by almost five lengths.
“She did it well enough in the end,” said the winning trainer. “The ground is as fast as she’d like and we’ll stick to mares races with her,” while Geraghty added: “She had the experience, but made hard enough work of it. She stays well and would appreciate more of an ease.”
The McManus colours were back in the winner’s enclosure when Carraiganog, trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Mark Walsh readily turned over odds-on favourite As De Ferbet in the beginners chase.
The Gavin Cromwell-trained St. Maxime, a dual-winner over fences in Perth in recent weeks, took advantage of a favourable hurdle mark when landing the Michael Moore Car Sales Handicap Hurdle, beating Naughty Molly narrowly. A return to fences — probably in Galway — is planned for the seven-year-old mare.
Dylan Robinson, formerly apprenticed to Jim Bolger but with Henry de Bromhead since January, savoured his first success over hurdles when partnering 2/1 favourite Damefirth to victory for his new boss in the handicap hurdle.
