Sam Ewing wins in style aboard Ash Tree Meadow

Early Doors became the second Galway Plate winner to be successful on the card when he won the Dan Linehan’s Celebrating 50 Years Of Hospitality Hunters’ Chase.

Tue, 14 May, 2024 - 06:07

Tommy Lyons

County Antrim jockey Sam Ewing broke his Killarney duck in great style by riding a Monday double which included the featured Grade Three Boylesports An Riocht Chase aboard the Gordon Elliott-trained Ash Tree Meadow. Last year’s Galway Plate winner made every yard of the running, jumped with great enthusiasm and accuracy, and had his three rivals in trouble from some way out.

“He did it very well,” said Ewing. “His jumping is exceptional, he takes lengths everywhere, so I was happy to drive on with him, and I had plenty left from a long way out. I was waiting for something to come to me going down to the last, but he kept finding and won well at the line.”

That leg completed the 144-1 double which he had initiated aboard 28-1 chance Uhtred, also trained by Elliott, in the M.D. O’Shea & Sons Handicap Hurdle. Ceroc attempted to make all the running and gave generously all the way to the line, but the winner, who won a listed bumper in younger days, responded well to Ewing’s calls and got up late to win by a neck.

Early Doors became the second Galway Plate winner to be successful on the card when he won the Dan Linehan’s Celebrating 50 Years Of Hospitality Hunters’ Chase. Enda Bolger’s horse, given a typically well-judged ride by Derek O’Connor, hit the front for the first time halfway up the run-in and readily accounted for favourite Romeo Magico.

Racing opened with the Executive Helicopters Mares’ Maiden Hurdle and point to point winner Littlebiggie, ridden by Liam Quinlan and trained by Ray Hackett, made all the running to put a first track success on her card. Wudya looked a possible danger going to the last, but the leader met the hurdle on stride, sailed across it and on to victory.

Park The Giant, also a point to point winner, emulated Littlebiggie by posting a first victory inside the rails, doing so in the Diarmuid Cronin Electrical Ltd. Maiden Hurdle. Trained by Philip Fenton and ridden by Brian Hayes, he was prominent from the outset and after leading from three out, held the game run of Winning Smut by half a length.

There was a stewards’ enquiry following a tight finish to the Shire Novice Hurdle but Nas Na Riogh, who finished a nose in front of My Lyka, held onto the race. Trained by Henry de Bromhead and ridden by Rachael Blackmore, he looked set for a smooth victory going to two out, but debutant My Lyka picked up well and hit the front on the run-in. To the credit of Nas Na Riogh, he battled back and shaded the verdict. The pair bumped in the air at the last and once after the last, but it wasn’t enough to affect the result.

A Mere Bagatelle put victory number three on his card when taking the Oyster Tavern Handicap Chase. Getting Shane Fenelon off the mark for the new season, Shark Hanlon’s horse was clear over the last few fences and won with a nice bit in hand.

The Willie Mullins-trained Jump Allen made a winning debut in the finale, the Beaufort Golf Club Ladies’ Bumper. Having been odds-on for most of the day, he drifted markedly near the off and when he came under pressure in third place as they turned for home, it looked as though the market was right. However, Jody Townend got a great response from her mount, and he slipped through along the inside to lead quite early in the straight. He was clear before Major Barry made late gains to reduce the margin to less than two lengths.