'Everything is bouncing our way': Magic week continues for Eoin McCarthy at Listowel
Tropical Image won for trainer Eoin McCarthy at Listowel on Friday. It was his sixth success of this year's festival. Pic: Healy Racing
Casheldale Lad, trained for Noel and Valerie Moran’s Bective Stud by Gordon Elliott, gave amateur Josh Williamson the biggest win of his career when defying top-weight in the €100,000 William Hill Each Way Extra Handicap Hurdle on Ladies Day in Listowel.
The 3/1 favourite, a close third in the Guinness Galway Hurdle last time, tracked Royal Hollow until edging ahead three out and, pressed by veteran Lord Erskine in the straight, stayed on dourly to land the spoils by a length and a quarter, with the winner’s stable-companion Bowensonfire staying on to fill third spot.
“He’s turning into an easier ride and settling much better – Jordan (Gainford) and Jack (Kennedy) have done a lot of work with him,” explained a delighted Williamson. “This was only his second handicap and he did well to beat a battle-hardened horse like Lord Erskine.
"He had a great run in the Galway Hurdle and I really fancied him today, up only 2lb. I planned to make it, but we went a good gallop early and I decided to sit off Andy Slattery’s mare and take a lead. He was in front and looking for company at the top of the straight and went on again when Lord Erskine came to him. It’s great to be getting these opportunities from Gordon and, without my dad (Norman), I wouldn’t be where I am.”
But the story of the week is the phenomenal level of success being enjoyed by Eoin McCarthy, who trains just ten miles away in Athea, County Limerick.
McCarthy brought his tally for the week to six thanks to a superb 241/1 Friday treble, two of them in the colours of long-time supporter Sean Maguire, and declared, “This is champagne stuff. It’s just one of those weeks – you can see watching a race that the horses are jumping and travelling and the gaps are opening.”
The Jody Townend-ridden Ollie La Ba Ba set the ball rolling when getting the better of fellow 9/2 joint-favourite Half A Chance by a neck in the MCG Ladies Handicap Hurdle.
“Jody is a huge asset and gave him a peach,” said McCarthy, “We’re just having one of those weeks – everything is bouncing our way.”
Next up for the McCarthy team was Regards To Rose, a ‘point’ winner, who opened her account under rules when, produced with a perfectly-timed challenge by Gary Noonan, she proved too strong for Inchiquin Maid in the Trant Goodwill Stakes Handicap Hurdle.
“I’m delighted for her owner/breeder Mick Mortell, who’s in hospital. This is a lovely mare and will be nice over a fence in time.”
And there was even greater jubilation in the winner’s enclosure after McCarthy brought up his treble, thanks to Tropical Image, a convincing winner of the Guinness Listowel Mares Handicap Hurdle, in the hands of Thomas O’Connor.
Another local trainer Eric McNamara, who bagged five wins at last year’s meeting but has been enduring a frustrating week, enjoyed a change of luck when Gaelic Des Chastys got up on the line to deny Crowsatedeappletart in the Paud, Sarah & Mary Fitzmaurice Memorial Handicap Chase.
The winner was the second leg of a double for Gary Noonan, the meeting’s leading rider on four victories.
Tom Cooper, based outside Tralee, landed the mares bumper for the second successive year when Celestial Tune, ridden by Harry Swan, justified 9/4 favouritism in great style earning a tilt at a listed event in Navan.
Swan was denied a double when his mount Jetara failed by a head to cope with the Joseph O’Brien-trained, former Cheltenham festival winner Lark In The Mornin in the Listowel Races Supporters Club Failte Abhaile Race.
Lark In The Mornin was the second winner of the festival for rider John Gleeson.
Earlier, Nadia’s Boy retained his unbeaten record when making all under Paul Townend (who said, “his jumping was exceptional, like a handicapper”) to take the John J Galvin Maiden Hurdle, a fourth winner of the week for Willie Mullins.
