Ol Man Dingle makes winning start to life over fences
GOOD BATTLE: Ol Man Dingle and Ricky Doyle, left, win the Race In Pink Raceday On Sunday 26th October Beginners Chase from Will The Wise at Galway on Tuesday. Picture: Healy Racing
A three-time winner over hurdles but off the track since March, the Eoin Griffin-trained Ol Man Dingle made a successful start to his chasing career when outpointing fellow 7-4 joint-favourite Will The Wise in the Race In Pink Raceday On Sunday 26th October Beginners Chase in Galway.
A second winner in three days for jockey Ricky Doyle, the six-year-old wore down his rival on the long, uphill run-in to prevail by a half-length, the pair pulling nine lengths clear of the rest.
A delighted Griffin said: “He did well up to last Christmas but was disappointing at the Dublin Racing Festival and again in Navan — we found a little problem.
“We always looked forward him as a chaser and I’d say two and a half miles is his trip. It’s a bonus for a trainer like me to have a horse like this for good races.”
Out of luck with Will The Wise, Gavin Cromwell and Keith Donoghue had earlier struck with 1-4 shot Welonlyhavedone, who coasted to a 12-length success over Survivors Sister in the opening maiden hurdle.
The winning trainer admitted: “I fancied him for a bumper here at the festival, but he was disappointing. I know he was at short odds today, but I was a little nervous.
“This wasn’t much of a race, so we won’t be getting too excited. But he’s a grand horse and will head for a rate novice somewhere now.”
Inthenickoftime, placed in his three previous excursions over fences, came good when justifying 85-40 favouritism for JP McManus, Enda Bolger, and Simon Torrens in the Mongey Communications Handicap Chase, stretching clear on the run-in to score readily by five and a half lengths from Vaureal.
Bolger said: “He’s in again in Tramore on Thursday and, if he’s okay, will probably run again. He doesn’t want heavy ground and he’ll be a nice horse for next summer.”
Cian Collins, whose hat-trick-seeking favourite Sporting Glance exited at the first in the Ryans Cleaning Novice Handicap Hurdle, won by Brian McMahon’s Paul Collins, had enjoyed better luck with another top-weight Torquay Road, who dug deep under Eoin Staples to take the SIS Supporting Irish Racing Handicap Hurdle.
“He got a great ride from Eoin, who said he really wanted to win,” said Collins. “He’s a good, honest horse and is getting the hang of jumping. We have plenty of options for him.”
Trainer John Ryan and promising 7lb claimer Michael Kenneally, on the mark with Flidais in Tipperary on Monday, struck again with 10-year-old mare Killashee, all-the-way winner of the Guinness Mares Handicap Hurdle, her eighth win.
“She’s a great mare,” declared Ryan. “She had a few problems early in the year and was a bit sore after Kilbeggan. But she’s back and Michael Is a good lad and a good rider.”
And Andy Slattery, who has enjoyed a phenomenal summer with his bumper team, was on the mark again when Mullaghgloss made it third time lucky under Adam Ryan in the Student Raceday On October 27 Flat Race, foiling Joseph O’Brien’s newcomer Zeus Power whose rider John Gleeson received a four-day careless riding ban.
