Captain takes charge in Clonmel
Glenfinn Captain showed he has fully recovered from a bout of colic that almost cost him his life by winning the Clonmel Oil Chase.
The nine-year-old, who was following up a win over the course and distance two weeks ago, hit the front before the second-last fence.
The 5-2 second favourite was kept up to his work by Barry Geraghty after the last to beat long-time leader One Cool Cookie by five lengths, with Light On The Broom third.
“Obviously he’s coming back to himself,” said trainer Tom Taaffe.
“I’d like to thank J P McManus (owner), who’s been very patient with me and let me do my own thing with this horse.
“He had a bad case of colic in January 2007. It was touch and go, the horse nearly died.
“We’ll have to have a think now where we go next. He probably won’t run again until Christmas or just before.
“The Boylesports Gold Cup at Cheltenham in mid-December is a possibility.”
The disappointment of the Grade Two race was the 13-8 favourite Snowy Morning. The Grand National third failed to mount a serious challenge and finished a well-beaten fifth.
While Snowy Morning’s trainer Willie Mullins was out of luck, his brother Tom was on the mark with Chelsea Harbour in the Clonmel Service Station Handicap Hurdle.
The eight-year-old showed his liking for a test of stamina with a game victory over the staying-on Sonnium.
Ruby Walsh brought the 7-4 favourite to head long-time leader The Bay Lad before the second last and go on for a smooth four and a half length success from Sonnium. The Bay Lad was a length away third.
Mullins was not at Clonmel, but his wife Helen said: “The plan is to go next for the Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan. Tom was really happy with him.
“Ruby was thrilled with the horse and thinks he could be a Welsh National horse, he stays so well.”
Tote left Chelsea Harbour at 33-1 for the John Smith’s Grand National in which he was ninth last season.
Bohemian Lass ran out a ready winner of the EBF T.A. Morris Memorial Mares Chase to give John Cullen a double.
Cullen, who also won on the Brian Moran-trained Fortune Seeker in the first race, always had the five-year-old in a handy position to give trainer Bill Harney one of the biggest winners of his career.
After winning at Thurles recently the mare looks to be improving rapidly and had no trouble in beating Stonehouse by eight lengths.
Yet again a Willie Mullins favourite was disappointing with Pomme Tiepy beaten a long way from home much in the same manner as Snowy Morning, although she was reported to be lame behind afterwards.
Harney had his arm was in a sling after breaking his wrist when he was kicked by a horse in his stable yard.
Bohemian Lass carries the colours of Riona Molony. Her husband Pierce is the owner and manager of Thurles racecourse and said: “The main target now will be in Thurles on January 29th in a Coolmore-sponsored mares chase.
“She might have a run before that in a mares race at Limerick or maybe at Thurles before that as well.
“She’s only a five-year-old and has exceeded our expectations already.”
