Old reliables do bit to keep punters competitive with bookies
When the markets were formed there was divided opinion as to which of Thomas Hobson and Stuccodor should head the list, but punters came down firmly on the side of the former and it proved a prudent choice as he battled well to fend off his Weld-trained market rival.
Eighteen lined up behind the tape for the mares’ handicap hurdle and Lilly The Lioness, not unsupported at 8-1, denied 11-2 joint-favourites Crystal Pearl and Damefirth.
Trainer Gordon Elliott looked to hold many of the aces in the two-and-a-half-mile hurdle, but the best of his trio, Bank Bonus, finished second behind 12-1 chance Powersbomb.
Punters were back on top in the qualified riders’ maiden as the Dermot Weld-trained Time To Inspire routed his rivals, under Finny Maguire.
Drying ground looked likely to suit Galway Plate favourite Alelchi Inois, and that encouraged his supporters to shorten his odds to 7-2 favourite. He was well positioned throughout but never able to get competitive as 16-1 chance Shanahan’s Turn came up trumps for teenager Jonathan Burke.
Rule The World’s exit was a severe blow to punters who had backed him down from 16-1 the day before to a starting price of half those odds.
A wide-open one-mile handicap was next up and 16-1 chance Bribe The Bouncer obliged for Denis Hogan, getting up late to deny Plough Boy (13-2) by the minimum margin.
In the Bet Online At TheTote.com Handicap, the gambled-on Laganore (2-1 fav) suffered a nightmare run before finishing fifth behind Sacrificial. The Ger Lyons-trained winner had plenty of supporters at 7-2.
Although the Dermot Weld-trained New Agenda was ultimately well beaten at odds of 4-7 in the finale, bookmakers didn’t have it all their own way. Winner Boherbuoy, carrying the colours of JP McManus, was backed from a high of 4-1 down to 9-4 before obliging convincingly. On a busy day in Ballybrit, Tote turnover was significantly up on last year, with €993,399 returned, as opposed to €830,962 in 2014.
3 Willie Mullins, Dermot Weld; 2 Sheila Lavery, Henry De Bromhead, David Wachman; 1 Jessica Harrington, Aidan O’Brien, Matthew Smith, Michael O’Callaghan, Ado McGuinness, Harry Rogers, Garrett Power, Brian McMahon, Denis Hogan, Ger Lyons.
