Ballyadam seals Listowel double for Henry de Bromhead
KERRY GOLD: Ballyadam and Billy Lee win for trainer Henry de Bromhead. Pic: Healy Racing
Veteran Ballyadam, a Grade 1-winning hurdler in his youth and a regular at the Cheltenham festival, opened his flat account when defying top-weight in the Lane Family Memorial Handicap, providing trainer Henry de Bromhead with the second leg of a double on Listowel’s flat card.
The 11-year-old, making his flat handicap debut off 74 and confidently handled by Billy Lee, tracked the pace. made his move turning for home and, soon clear, stayed on to beat Cala Gracioeneta by three lengths.
“He had been running well in Dundalk and again in Ballinrobe, but he needs this sort of trip (two miles)," explained Lee, “He loves being ridden confidently. He can put him anywhere and he loves to travel.
“Henry told me he didn’t worry about how far I won. He’s love to get him into Royal Ascot and, if he doesn’t, there are plenty of other good days to be had with him. I think he’d love Galway and he’s be a good ride in the Cesarewitch.”
De Bromhead, bagging doubles at the North Kerry track on successive days, also took the featured Cocvo At The Arcade Race with unexposed five-year-old Tim Toe, who came from last to first and got up late to foil God Of Power by a half-length in a blanket-finish.
Tim Toe was ridden by Ronan Whelan, who explained, “He’s been running over further and always showed a bit of pace. But he was outpaced early today. I gave him a chance and he rallied home. He’s only getting the hang of things and is an exciting horse going forward.”
Like Ballyadam, the Gordon Elliott-trained Ndaawi might be Royal Ascot-bound following his gutsy 8/13 win over market rival Sky Captain in the Acro Fire & Safety (Amateur) Race.
Ridden by Harry Swan, the six-year-old awarded last year’s Galway Hurdle in the Stewards Room, got home by a half-length.
“He’s a classy horse,” said Swan, “I’m sure Gordon will chat to his owners, but I’d say he’ll be heading back for another Galway Hurdle.”
Trained by Joseph O’Brien for his mother, home-bred Beibhinn opened her account in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies 2-Y-0 Maiden, getting the better of protracted pace duel with favourite Big Negotiator by a half-length.
“We went hard early and she battled hard, which is a good quality,” said winning rider Declan McDonogh, “She enjoyed the ease in the ground and, hopefully, she’s a black-type filly.”
The opening median sires series maiden also went to a horse ridden prominently as The Scallinator made it third-time-lucky under Wesley Joyce, giving his trainer Mick Mulvany a third juvenile success of the season.
The Calyx colt beat Ischgl by three lengths, prompting his trainer to comment: “He’s improving with each run. His owners want to go to the ‘Norfolk’ (at Royal Ascot) and he’ll head straight there. He has loads of gears and carries the Dubs colours.”
In Kilbeggan, Brian Hayes rounded-off a memorable weekend when partnering Warriors Wood, trained locally by Andy McNamara, to a clear-cut victory in the GUT Clothing & KODE Clothing & Footwear Handicap Chase, beating Trasna Na Pairce by seven lengths.
Hayes, who was adding to his three winners on Saturday (one in Listowel and two in Tramore), stated, “He hit the line well the last day and the experience stood to him. He’s improving over fences.” Local News, a 100/1 winner on her debut in Cork recently, followed-up for Castlemartyr, County Cork-based Richard Hennessy when landing the four-runner Gannon Eco Novice Hurdle, giving Alan O’Sullivan his third success since joining the professional ranks.
“This is super,” declared Hennessy, “She’s very hard to place and we had to take a chance going up to three miles. She enjoys good ground and doesn’t mind toughing it out. We’re farming at home, but we get a good buzz out of the few horses.” And Cian Collins and Danny Gilligan shared a double, initiated when Blue Reed, a twenty-two race maiden, mastered Justicialism in the Joe Quinn Transport Handicap Hurdle.
The double was completed when Secret Rock, successful three times for Tony Martin, scored impressively on his stable debut in the Midland Veterinary Handicap Hurdle.
