Pat Foley celebrates maiden double as Fad Eadrainn storms home at Fairyhouse
Fad Eadrainn and Simon Torrens win for trainer Pat Foley at Fairyhouse. Pic: Healy Racing
The outsider of four runners and second leg of a first double for trainer Pat Foley, Fad Eadrainn captured the featured Group Discounts For Winter Festival Rated Hurdle in Fairyhouse.
Ridden patiently with Simon Torrens aboard, the seven-year-old survived a mistake after halfway before sweeping to the front following the second last flight and stayed on strongly to beat Cheltenham Festival heroine and favourite Air Of Entitlement by almost five lengths.
“It’s great to get one winner and brilliant to get two,” declared Pat Foley, “It’s my first double in my name, so it’s great. We thought going to Mallow that he’d have no problem with three miles, but we were very wrong. Two and a half is probably his ideal trip, as he proved today.
"He has always shown plenty of gears and is very pacey. I couldn’t be happier with him. We’ll see what the handicapper does, whether we’ll go for a novice with him.”
Foley had initiated his 67/1 double when Castle Field Boy (Eoin Staples), a dour stayer, defied top-weight in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase.
The Mouse Morris-trained Bossofthebrownies made a successful start over fences when powering clear on the run-in to slam Union Station by 13 lengths in the opening beginner's chase, sparking a double for the season’s leading rider, Darragh O’Keeffe.
“He had some good hurdle form and has a bit of age,” said Morris, “He’s been crying out for fences – that’s his game. He jumped great and I’ll have to play it by ear with him. Three-mile races are hard to find and he’ll have to prove he’s a graded horse.”
O’Keeffe struck again when John Nallen’s Minella Yoga (10/1), the second reserve, landed the second race in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Academy Hurdle series, outpointing Apache Peak and favourite Hygge.
Nallen quipped, “He’s a proper horse – we call him Elvis at home – he’s one for the money. We’ve been mad about him and, if we still have him, could go back to the flat in springtime. He’s very laid-back, a real cool customer.”
A maiden on the flat and third on her hurdling bow at Punchestown, Adrienne got off the mark for Ted and Helen Walsh, Shane O’Callaghan’s mount taking the WTW Willis 3-Y-0 Maiden Hurdle, at the expense of I’ll Be Handy.
"She didn’t have a lot to beat, but did it well,” said the trainer, “She jumps and stays and has a bit of toe. She’s a fine, big scopey mare. Shane gave her a nice, confident ride and she galloped well to the line.”
Walsh went on to complete a double when Sticwitheprocess, smashed into 8/11 favourite, won the GavinLynchRacing.com Maiden Hurdle under Mark Walsh, helped by the last flight exit of long-time leader Khmer before idling on the run-in and holding a couple of longshots.
“He didn’t do a lot in front – he’s a lairy so and so,” declared trainer Walsh, “He has a rating of 114 and only ran up to his mark – Gordon’s horse (Whinney Hill) didn’t operate. If he goes forward from this, there’s a few more in him. If he goes the other way, we’re in trouble.”
Mark Walsh delivered a double for owner JP McManus when swooping late on the Robert Tyner-trained Better Times Ahead to deny Kingkong Ciergues in the three-mile finale.
And in-form trainer Eoin Griffin described the Calum Gogan-partnered Good World as “a cheeky, cheerful little chap” following his victory under top-weight in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle.
