Sligo brace takes Keane back to summit
KEANE EDGE: Antoine De Paris wins the Carlsberg Optional Claiming Race in the hands of Colin Keane. Picture: Healy Racing
Champion jockey Colin Keane re-established his lead in the title race thanks to a double on Lady Lunette and Antoine De Paris in Sligo, an 89-1 brace which leaves him one ahead of Dylan Browne McMonagle (56-55).
A three-time winner last season, the Ray Cody-trained Lady Lunette bounced back to winning form when defying top-weight in the featured Irish Stallion Farms EBF Connacht Oaks, coming from off the pace and staying on strongly to beat Galway scorer Thatwilldoso by two and a half lengths.
“She was the classy filly in the race, but was giving away lumps of weight,” stated Cody. “But, when things fall her way, she’s very good. The ground in Leopardstown the last day was too firm for her and today’s small field helped.
“Of course, the man on top (Keane) is a genius and gave her a super ride. Her owner (Karen Curtin) would like to get some black type for her and she’s capable of getting it.”
Six-time champion Keane had kicked off his evening on board Noel Meade’s Antoine De Paris in the Carlsberg Optional Claiming Race, the Elzaam gelding proving a length and a half superior to favourite Tartaraghan.
“He’s named after the comedian Noel V Ginnity,” explained Meade, “We put him in light enough, so he’d have his chance. He’s not big but he’s genuine enough.”
Antoine De Paris was subsequently claimed, for €10,000, by trainer Noel Kelly.
Trainer John O’Donoghue is planning a step into stakes company for Felix Somary, an Acclamation colt, following his debut success in the Irish EBF Auction Series 2-Y-0 Maiden.
Ridden prominently by Ronan Whelan, the 7-1 shot found plenty in the closing stages to hold the challenge of favourite Raphello by a head.
“He looked professional,” declared the winning trainer. “I think we’ll look at the Killavullan (Group 3, at Leopardstown on October 18) and work back from there.
“He’s a big, scopey colt and likes an ease. It was encouraging that he handled the track so well, which isn’t easy first time.”
Apprentice Gabriella Hill, set to join Stuart Williams in England next week, registered her third success and rode out her 10lb claim when the Henry de Bromhead-trained Trubshaw, in the familiar Dawn Run colours and helped by first-time cheekpieces, captured the Guinness Handicap, battling to beat God The Highness by a head.
In a subsequent stewards’ inquiry, Hill received a nine-day whip ban (excessive frequency).
In Wexford, Patrick O’Brien, handed a 14-day ban in Roscommon on Tuesday, enjoyed better luck when landing the Tote Handicap Chase on Dermot McLoughlin’s Finnians Row who held the late surge of Birdsandthebees by a short-head.
Narrowly denied, having lost his whip on the run-in, on Birdsandthebees, Peter Smithers bounced back in the featured Traynors Of Wexford Handicap Chase, making all on the Padraig Roche-trained top-weight Outside The Door to repeat last year’s win in the race, off an 11lb higher mark.
The winner might now be aimed at the Guinness Kerry National at Listowel.
Sean Flanagan, just back from Australia, partnered the Jessica Harrington-trained 33-1 shot Ashdale Flyer, a 14-race maiden over hurdles, to land the Treo Eile Beginners Chase on his fencing debut.
The Wexford man completed a double when Martin Hassett’s mare Bynx, on her handicap chase debut, proved best in the Ladies Day 29th August Handicap Chase.
And Andy Slattery struck again in the bumper as Adam Ryan partnered 2-1 favourite Beir Bua to a battling all-the-way victory over the Mullins runner Mahon Falls, the trainer’s fifth winner in nine days.
- Jockey Ben Harvey received an eight-day whip ban (excessive frequency) for his ride on Jumping Susie in the Tote Handicap Chase.
