McCarthy delight at more Kerry glory
Wholelotofbusiness and Gary Noonan win for trainer Eoin McCarthy. Healy Racing
Trainer Eoin McCarthy followed-up his recent Listowel bonanza when saddling Wholelotofbusiness to justify 6/4 favouritism in the Killarney Racegoers Rated Novice Hurdle on the opening day of Killarney’s October meeting.
Ridden by Gary Noona, leading rider in Listowel, the six-year-old raced prominently throughout and stayed on dourly in the closing stages to see off Tassarolo by more than four lengths.
“He wasn’t winning out of turn,” declared a delighted McCarthy, “He should have won here in August and bumped into a good horse of Declan Queally’s (I’ll Sort That) in Listowel.
“To be honest, I couldn’t see him getting beaten, although I was worried when they went no gallop. I hope he’s a nice horse going forward.”
The Torc Waterfall Handicap Chase produced its share of drama as Prince Of Air, trained locally in Faha by Charlie Coakley, was disqualified in a Stewards Enquiry, having beaten Henry de Bromhead’s Zurich (Mike O’Connor) by a head.
O’Connor and de Bromhead enjoyed another slice of luck when completing a double with six-year-old mare Nastya in the Devil’s Punchbowl Beginners Chase on a day when the stable also landed the Tipperary bumper with newcomer La Cote Fleurie.
Nastya was chasing market-leader Darcy’s Friend when that rival blundered badly, almost unseating Keith Donoghue, at the third last.
This handed the initiative to Nastya and, although Donoghue’s mount rallied to chase the winner up the straight, two and a half lengths separated them at the line.
“That’s a good couple of winners after my injury (returned at Listowel recently after a six-week break with a broken wrist),“ declared O’Connor, “We went a good gallop and I was going well when Keith’s horse made the mistake. My mare was left in front and I knew that she’d stay going.”
Trainer Francis Casey savoured his first success in over three years (Max Flamingo, also in Killarney), when 28 race maiden Rock Ya Boy Ya (14/1) ran out a clearcut winner of the O’Sullivan’s Cascade Handicap Hurdle, giving Alix Balfe his second success in the saddle.
Casey acknowledged, “He was off the track for two years and was dropped 12lb. He was a bit unfortunate a few times and probably lacks an extra gear, but it’s great that he’s won.”
Favourite-backers had started the day well as even-money ‘jolly’ Galileo Springs (Ricky Doyle) saw off market rivals Jazzy Rock and Our Girl Ellie in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle.
“She’s threatened to do that a few times,” said winning trainer Martin Brassil. “I thought she’d win a bumper, but she ran into a few good horses. Her hurdle experience stood to her today. She’s very straightforward and jumps well enough to go handicapping.”
