Swan flies to another milestone
Nine times Irish champion jockey Charlie Swan reached yet another career milestone at Navan when Over The First became the 1,300th winner of his outstanding riding career.
Over The First, the middle leg of an 881-1 treble for Swan, just got home in the Listed Proudstown Handicap Hurdle.
Despite what could have been a costly error at the final flight, Swan rallied the 5-1 chance, whom he also trains, to deny On The Mend by a short head.
“Navan has been a lucky track for me over the years and I remember Novello Allegro giving me my first century of winners in a year here quite some time ago,” said Swan.
Swan, 34, had started the day with a surprise 20-1 victory on another of his charges Shancoduff, taking the lead round the last bend and gaining sufficient advantage to hold the late challenge of the 1-2 favourite Marigold in the first division of the Mullacurry Maiden Hurdle.
Swan later moved on the 1,301 mark as a jockey when completing his three-timer in the saddle on My Name’s Not Bin.
The 6-1 chance made virtually all the running in the second division of the Mannix Dowdall Maiden Hurdle.
My Name’s Not Bin maintained a relentless gallop to beat Equivocal, who had been third at Folkestone on his previous outing.
“I just have two home-breds in training and it has been an ambition of mine for Charlie to ride a winner in my colours. I galloped this mare at his farm and Charlie was more confident than I was today,” said owner-trainer Johnny Kenny.
Another former champion jockey, Ruby Walsh, got in on the act with a double on the card despite his first-race defeat aboard the Willie Mullins-trained Marigold.
However, Marigold’s stable companion Joueur D’Estruval made no mistake half an hour later in the second division to open his jumping account for Florida Pearl’s owner Mrs Violet O’Leary.
Walsh was soon back in the winner’s enclosure after the following Conway Group Novice Hurdle as Nil Desperandum recorded his third victory for the Frances Crowley stable to advertise his Cheltenham potential.
The 2-1 joint-favourite maintained a relentless gallop in the home straight to confirm Leopardstown form with the runner-up Fota Island to remain a 16-1 chance with Cashmans of Cork for the Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Heads Onthe Ground opened his account for leading owner JP McManus with a smooth success in the first division of the Mannix Dowdall Maiden Hurdle.
Always travelling well for jockey Kieran Kelly, Heads Onthe Ground delighted his Curragh trainer Dessie Hughes by improving on his close second to Azur Tonic at Clonmel.
“This is a promising horse which should make a good chaser next season as he is a three-parts brother to Marlborough. We won’t overdo it with him this season,” said Hughes.
