Decent Excuse bounces back to form on his favoured quick ground
Under Galway Plate-winning rider Jonathon Burke, the 12-1 chance travelled well on the quick ground he relishes, and could be called a winner from a long way out.
Said O’Sullivan: “We were a small bit disappointed in Roscommon (over hurdles), where we thought he’d run a bit better, but chasing is his game. He got a very bad cut at Listowel, which kept us out of a lot or races we should have been in.
“We had hoped to get into the race in Galway (Galway Blazers Handicap Chase) - he went close in it last year - but this was the alternative.
“I don’t know where we’ll go next – maybe Killarney and Listowel. He loves fast ground. He’s very genuine, but a bit lazy. Johnny says he’s learning a bit more about him every time he rides him. The owners, the Kilshannig Racing Syndicate, are my longest-standing owners, and it’s (syndicate member) Paddy Twomey’s 82nd birthday, so it worked out very well.”
Another Cork trainer was on the mark when Give Her Bach, one of just three horses in training with Doneraile-based Paddy Cronin, ran out a convincing winner of the opening mares’ beginners’ chase.
A model of consistency since her return, in April, the well-supported 15-8 joint-favourite jumped fluently and pulled away late to see off the challenge of fellow market leader What A Jewel.
“That’s her second (ITBA NH Fillies’) €5,000 bonus this year, and to get that today is like winning two races for me,” said Cronin. “I was a little nervous coming here, taking on Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh - it isn’t easy for a farmer - but it’s great to win.
“She’ll probably go back over hurdles, because there isn’t much for her over fences, but she’s an unbelievable mare - she could run every day of the week.”
Dandridge, ridden by David Casey, made it third-time lucky over fences, when arriving with a telling late challenge to deny Company Coming in the Noel Cummins Bookmaker Beginners’ Chase.
Said winning trainer Arthur Moore: “It was an ordinary race, but it was nice to get his head in front. He jumped well, and should be even better at bigger tracks. Hopefully, he can go on from here.”
Local trainer Eoin Doyle secured his first success of the meeting when St Peter’s Square (2-1fav) finished strongly to take an incident-packed Michael Guiry Auctioneers Maiden Hurdle in which Mark Enright suffered a broken leg when unseated from Annadiamond at the fourth flight.
At the same obstacle Le Troisieme Gris and Mikey Fogarty parted company, as did Sean Flanagan from Glance Of Doon.
Enright fractured his right tibia and also suffered facial lacerations.”
Said the winning trainer: “He may have had a bit of luck, with the fallers, but we’ve had a lot of un-luckiness lately.
“Mark (Walsh, jockey) said he didn’t handle the track – he wouldn’t come down the hill, but flew when he met the rising ground.
“He may go for a 0-65 flat race at Killarney next, and could go to the sales in Doncaster, in September.”
