Andrew McNamara’s perfect farewell
The weight of expectation was aboard the broad shoulders of trainer Shark Hanlon, with whom McNamara has long been associated, and, having been given plenty of notice by the rider, he nominated Most Honourable as the right horse with which to bring the rider’s career to a conclusion.
Whether through astuteness or sentiment, the five-year-old was popular in the betting, and was eventually sent off a 5-1 chance.
McNamara rode his mount prominently from the outset and as the race entered its final stage, he travelled noticeably strongly.
Outside him, however, Luimneach Abu also looked full of running, and a ding-dong battle ensued. With virtually the entire population of the racecourse behind him, McNamara drove his mount to a half-length victory, to provide a fitting conclusion to a career which has seen more than 500 winners.
Well-wishers gathered 10-deep around the parade ring to greet the winner, while his fellow jockeys lined the entrance to the winner’s enclosure as McNamara rode back in for the last time.
“I rang Shark a couple of weeks ago, to tell him I was going to finish up, and he said ‘hang on, and we’ll get you out on a winner’. Looking at the form figures today, though, I didn’t really believe him,” joked McNamara.
“I was happy in the early stages of the race, but he seemed to fall asleep mid-race. I woke him up again going to the third last and he found plenty. I haven’t had too many rides in the last couple of weeks, so I was hoping fitness wouldn’t come into play.”
McNamara, whose focus will now switch to training, added: “I’ll miss days like this, but I’ve had this in mind for some time, and in my head I’m ready for the change.”
My Manekineko benefited from a tremendous ride from Ruby Walsh to win the Flynn Hotel Group Rated Novice Hurdle for trainer James Nash.
As Cecil Corbett set the tempo, and Fiosrach and Coolfighter chased the leader, Walsh was content to sit in a share of last place for much of the journey.
The leader was proving a very tough nut to crack until Walsh sent his mount for a daring run down the inside between the last two hurdles. That carried him into a challenging position and, though Cecil Corbett battled bravely, My Manekineko ran on stoutly to get on top late.
“I didn’t think he should be as big a price as he was,” said Nash. “He did win a maiden hurdle, and he got into a lot of trouble at Kilbeggan, with fallers in front of him — but no-one seemed to pick up on it.
“And Ruby gave him an incredible ride. I would have been disappointed if he wasn’t involved at the finish.”
Walsh completed a quick-fire double when Escape Footwear made a winning debut over hurdles in the Martha’s Pub Mares’ Maiden Hurdle.
Trained by Willie Mullins, the 11-8 favourite tracked clear leader Lenora until moving to the front between the third and second-last.
Barbalicious and Miss North Light loomed as dangers at the second last, but the favourite relished every yard of the two miles and five furlongs, as she pulled away in the closing stages.
Mullins said: “Her pedigree suggests she’s going to love summer ground, and being a point-to-point we knew she’d have no issue with the trip, or her jumping.”
Gordon Elliott hasn’t had the best of luck in recent weeks, but enjoyed a change of fortune when 16-1 chance Brougthons Bandit prevailed in the EY Beginners’ Chase under Keith Donoghue.
Never far off the pace, he was delivered to challenge long-time leader Lettermacaward in the straight, before forging clear to win with something to spare.
Old Supporter was drafted in from the reserves for the Tom Murphy Car Sales Handicap Chase, and took full advantage of the opportunity to record a pillar-to-post victory.
Apart from a “hairy moment at the ditch”, as jockey Shane Shortall described it, the Denis Cullen-trained 10-year-old jumped well, and battled bravely to deny Island Peak’s late challenge.
Of Collen Beag, who battled to victory in the Chia Bia Handicap Hurdle under Jonathon Burke, trainer David O’Brien said: “I thought she’d run well, and Johnny was very confident. She is in again Sunday and if she is alright we might pull her out again.”
The easiest winner of the night came, in the bumper as Eoin O’Connell gave Bluegrass Princess, trained by his father, Eamonn, a patient ride, before delivering her late to stroll clear of favourite TT’s Star.
