De Bromhead records treble to dominate Limerick undercard
Presentation after Kir and Josh Williamson won for trainer Henry de Bromhead with Dylan and Caroline McNamara and Arabella Scanlan. Pic: Healy Racing
Henry de Bromhead dominated the undercard on Sunday’s Munster National programme in Limerick, recording a treble returning a little over 11-1.
Point to point winner Walks In June, who ran with promise in two bumpers, made the perfect start to his career by taking the Irish Wire Products Maiden Hurdle. Darragh O’Keeffe dictated aboard de Bromhead’s runner and a prodigious leap at the last sealed the deal for the promising sort.
Josh Williamson, who was at his debs on Saturday night, notched the second leg for de Bromhead with a beautifully judged front-running ride aboard Kir in the John Thomas McNamara Qualified Riders’ Handicap Hurdle.
With his mount, a five-year-old, carrying 12-4 in testing conditions, it was imperative that Williamson got the fractions exactly right, and he do so with aplomb as his mount picked up again when challenged to win with a nice amount in hand. Jumping like an old hand, he looks a typical de Bromhead type who will improve again when sent over larger obstacles, even if he was a casualty on his only outing in a point to point.
July Flower completed the stable treble, and a double for O’Keeffe, by taking the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares’ Beginners’ Chase. A class act over hurdles, she had a clear edge over her rivals and while there was a somewhat cavalier approach to her jumping, when push came to shove, she was in a different league. If she can curb her enthusiasm at her obstacles, she could develop into a leading light in all the top mares’ chases.
Three races into a promising-looking career, four-year-old Walk In The Park filly Chosen Comrade now has point to point, bumper and maiden hurdle victories to her name.
Contesting the afternoon’s opener, the PwC Mares’ Maiden Hurdle, the Peter Fahey-trained 6-4 chance moved up stylishly on the turn for home before quickening away to see off market leader Aruntothequeen in great style, the pair a proverbial mile clear.
Winning rider Sam Ewing quickly added to his afternoon’s tally when Midleton Rare, having his first run since joining Ian Donoghue, took the LubriSyn Handicap Hurdle.
Tir Og tried to make all but made a mistake at the last, which opened the door to his three closest pursuers. Midleton Rare, who had good form in younger days but was out of form when last seen, was on hand to take full advantage.
Said Ewing: “I’m delighted for Ian and his team of owners. Ian’s doing very well in just a short space of time. This horse hadn’t great form of late but back in earlier days he had bits and pieces of nice form, so it was nice to see it coming back together.”
Only the Munster National winner was more popular than Crowsatedappletart, who took the valuable STL Logistics Handicap Chase for Mick Winters and Gavin Brouder.
With a light weight to carry, the eight-year-old moved well throughout and, after travelling best to the turn for home, he quickened away to secure the seventh win of his career – this one the most valuable, with a winner’s prize of €29,500, compared to a previous best of €6,195. That’s tremendous placing and training for a horse rated 109.
