Rose Hip wins feature race at Listowel
Pat Smullen notched a brace on day six of the Listowel Harvest Festival when guiding Rose Hip (13-2) to victory in the feature Guinness Handicap today.
Smullen, who won earlier on Galileo's Choice, had the Joseph Murphy inmate perfectly positioned just behind the pacemakers and moved up to pass long-time leader Toraidhe with a furlong remaining.
That rival had enough left in reserve to hold on for second, but the winning margin of a length did not fully represent Rose Hip's superiority.
"She's a very good filly, she's progressing all the time," said Smullen.
"Joe's a very shrewd trainer and he was very confident of a big run.
"You need a bit of luck around here and I got it today."
Murphy said: "She's a very genuine filly and she's tough and courageous. She's owes us nothing.
"We will try to get her some black type next. We will probably go for the Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Fillies Group Three Race at Gowran Park on Saturday week."
Dermot Weld's Galileo's Choice had struck in the Listowel Printing Works Maiden as the 8-11 favourite.
Smullen said: "That was a good performance but it was a weak race - his two previous runs entitled him to win today.
"He had a break and had been gelded since he ran last. He is maturing all the time."
A nasty fall by The Phantom Piper at the second-last left Barry Geraghty and Duers (9-2) clear to secure a hat-trick with victory in the Southampton Goodwill Chase.
Those two rivals contested the lead from start to finish, although Duers did appear to travelling the best of the pair when The Phantom Piper hit the deck.
Ruby Walsh's Reisk Superman attempted to level a challenge approaching the last but found little for pressure and could get no closer than a length.
Winning trainer Paul Magnier said: "He's a big, safe horse and he jumps really well.
"We were a little bit worried about the trip, we thought it might be a shade short for him.
"He is progressing all of the time and the main plan would be to run him in the Aintree Grand National next year. He's within a win of getting into the handicap."
In a sad post-script The Phantom Piper had to be put down following his crashing fall.
