Walsh taken to hospital
Ruby Walsh was in the wars at Navan following a fall from McGruders Cross in the Leinster Petroleum European Breeders Fund Beginners Chase.
The rider came to grief four from home on the Anthony Mullins-trained seven-year-old and was taken to hospital for X-rays on a suspected dislocated shoulder.
The race went to Noel Meade’s Father Matt (7-1), ironically a spare ride for Michael Darcy who was deputising for Paul Carberry after he was stood down by the racecourse doctor following a fall earlier in the day.
Elsewhere on the card, Prince Of Tara landed the biggest prize of his career when storming to success in the William Hill In Ireland Troytown Handicap Chase.
Considered by trainer Stephen Mahon as a Gold Cup horse in his early days, the eight-year-old showed great determination on just his third outing over fences to score by a length.
Barry Geraghty always had the 11-2 chance in the front rank but a whole host of challengers looked to be queuing up in behind over the final four fences.
Michael Hourigan’s A New Story, winner of the Cork National seven days ago, made steady headway from off the pace under Andrew McNamara and looked likely to make a fight of it heading to the final obstacle.
But Prince Of Tara was always going well in front and ran on too strongly for his rival, with the 7-2 favourite Monterey Bay finishing third.
“I always thought this could be a Gold Cup horse but unfortunately things went wrong and twice the vets told me he should be put down, but I said over my dead body he will,” said Mahon.
“Barry said he wasn’t doing a stroke in front and he carried 2lb over but I wouldn’t have minded if he had put up even more overweight.
“He is entered in the Paddy Power at Leopardstown at Christmas and could go there.”
Geraghty added on At The Races: “He jumped brilliant at the first and all the way round, but for some reason at the third-last he just put down.
“He was about a stone better off than his hurdle rating with 10st 4lb so I thought there was no point hanging around with a light weight and I know he stays well.
“He was very good for a horse with so little experience but Stephen does well with his horses and does a great job schooling them.
“He wasn’t doing a lot in front but he winged the last and I would say there would still be some left in the locker.”
Powerstation followed up a promising effort at Cheltenham’s Open meeting by going one better to take the Tote Exacta “Monksfield” Novice Hurdle.
Charles Byrnes’ charge chased home Black Jack Ketchum at Prestbury Park two weeks ago and had to battle hard to see off 13-8 favourite Travino to take the Grade Three event.
The market leader held a slender advantage jumping the last flight but Davy Russell drove Powerstation out with great determination to lead on the line for a short-head victory.
“He made a slight mistake at the last but he battled well,” said Byrnes.
“It was a super run at Cheltenham and all he had to do was reproduce that to win here. I couldn’t understand why he wasn’t favourite. He will be back here next month.”
