A GOOD Galway October meeting for J P McManus became even better after a Sunday double. Bank Holiday Monday saw three runners pass the post in front in the green and gold and retained rider Barry Geraghty donning the famous silks for the 44/1 hat-trick.
Tom Mullins supplied both of McManus’ winners on Sunday, and here the Co Kilkenny trainer weighed-in to complete the treble for his principal National Hunt backer. Geraghty guided Scoir Mear (7/2 favourite) home by three lengths in the John Mulholland Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle.
“He should be a nice money spinner and he’s a nice chaser in the making,” said Mullins of his winner, following-up on a Tipperary victory from 172 days back. He added: “There are two or three sets of colours running racing at the moment, and I wouldn’t be training National Hunt horses now if it wasn’t for Mr McManus.”
The richest race on the programme, the Ennis Lifts Handicap Chase, fell the way of McManus and Geraghty courtesy of the Michael Hourigan-handled Hash Brown (3/1 favourite). This Vinnie Roe seven-year-old was repeating his win in the race in 2015.
A second win of the season was achieved for Hourigan, as Hash Brown asserted in the closing stages to have the upper hand over Dromnea by four and a quarter lengths at the line.
“When the loose horse arrived alongside me in the straight it was a help,” disclosed Geraghty.
For his part, Hourigan commented: “Maybe he’ll come back here next year and try to win the race again. He’s quite adaptable ground wise and in the meantime we’ll probably look for something similar next time.”
Unfortunately Martin Ferris was taken to University Hospital Galway with a broken left leg after a fall from Another Rebel six out in this event.
Kalopsia (6/4) set the ball rolling for McManus and Geraghty. Joseph O’Brien has taken care of this daughter of Flemensfirth, and she was game in victory in the opening www.galwayraces.com Mares Maiden Hurdle.
It could have been so different in this two-miler though. Lettre De Cachet (11/8 favourite) travelled better than Kalopsia to take over at the last, but a mistake here proved disastrous.
Geraghty wasn’t long about seizing the opportunity to take command again, and Kalopsia kept on well to defeat the unlucky Lettre De Cachet by half a length.
“She had a few niggly problems that have kept her off the track since July. It’s great to get her back and winning,” remarked McManus’s racing manager Frank Berry.
TIGHT FINISH
Lettre De Cachet’s trainer and jockey, Noel Meade and Sean Flanagan, were on the right side of a tight finish with a McManus, O’Brien and Geraghty horse later on. She’s A Star (7/2) beat Oathkeeper by a neck in the Barna Recycling Rated Novice Hurdle.
Owned by Meade’s unrelated neighbour, Philip Meade, She’s A Star overcame trouble in running to gain a fourth success from five starts. “She’s very small but boy is she gutsy! The trip suited her and she fought back well after being in trouble at the second last, where she over-jumped and ran into the back of the horse in front of her,” commented the Tu Va operator. “She’ll have a good break now before she runs again.”
Lettre De Cachet’s owners, Gigginstown House Stud, had two winners on the day down at Wexford, and they got on the scoresheet at Ballybrit with the Mouse Morris-trained and Mark Enright-ridden Nambour (4/1), in the W.B. Gavin & Co. European Breeders Fund Beginners Chase.
The German-bred put in a good display of fencing on his chase debut, triumphing by four lengths for his new trainer Morris, who stated: “His jumping was very good and he clearly has plenty of stamina.”
Jelan (evens), a sister to the multiple Grade 1-winning hurdler and former champion Jezki, and a half-sister to two other Grade 1 winners in Jered and Jetson, sent favourite backers home happy after her win in the Reaneys Of Galway Supporting NUIG Volunteer Services Abroad 4-y-o Fillies (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race.
Katie Walsh partnered Jelan for owner/breeder Gerard McGrath, and trainer, Jessica Harrington. After their filly had disposed of Monastery by three and a quarter lengths, the Moone handler exclaimed: “She is some mare (dam La Noire) - yet another one! She (Jelan) is lovely and it’s only her third run.”
Mrs Harrington, who also saddled the third home, Fintara, further explained: “She’ll keep going and might run in a mares’ listed bumper at Navan next. She has gotten stronger and might be able to handle soft ground better now.”
“La Noire is dead but I’ve a Flemensfirth four-year-old out of a sister to run next. She was an incredible mare.”
With an official mark no less than 28lbs lower over fences than his hurdle’s assessment, Capture The Drama (7/1) made most to bag the Corrib Food Products Handicap Chase by four and three-quarter lengths.
Andrew Ring did the steering on Capture The Drama, one of only two horses that owner Aengus King trains near Newmarket-On-Fergus in Co Clare.
A third track win to add to this fellow’s point-to-point victory, he was matching stable companion, Change The Rules, as that Kutub gelding has managed a similar level of success. “He’s a very good jumper and the hill here suited him well,” said King.
ACTING STEWARDS
P.J.A. O’Connor, A. Ryan, N. Rooney, D. Gavin, L. Walsh.
HORSE TO FOLLOW:
A GENIE IN ABOTTLE (N. Meade): A point-to-point winner who finished off encouragingly for third place on his debut over racecourse fences behind Nambour.