DYLAN Robinson had a night to remember at Kilbeggan last Friday as he notched a brace at the midlands track courtesy of Fusain and Visioman, both trained by his boss Henry de Bromhead.
It proved plain sailing for 2/9 shot Fusain in the first division of the Pat Doyle Memorial Maiden Hurdle as he sauntered to a 12-length success.
The grey, in the colours of Robcour, took it up before the final flight in the two-miler and soon settled matters.
“You couldn’t ask for any more. He was as straight as you’d want, jumped like a buck and travelled all the way to the line,” said Robinson. “He had a good blow coming in so there is plenty more improvement in him.”
The double came in rather more dramatic style as Visioman lunged late to deny stablemate Abbey Magic in the Kilsaran Handicap Chase.
The mare Abbey Magic was returning from a lengthy absence and looked set to score, jumping the last, but was pipped late on as Robinson conjured a late surge from the 7/2 favourite to record a head success. “Once I started sending him at fences he started coming up for me and he was enjoying it then. He was full of running going to the line,” reported the winning rider.
Someday lands hat-trick for Kiely
GOODBYE Someday continue on a fine run when landing a hat-trick of successes in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.
Eoin Walsh gave the Stowaway gelding a confident ride, producing the even-money shot to lead after the second last. The John Kiely-trained gelding, carrying the well-known Flynn colours, kept on well when asked for an effort before the last to post a two-length victory over Mandarin Monarch.
Tommy Kiely, nephew and assistant of the trainer, said: “He seems to be an improved horse this year and we’re delighted with him. He’s a light-framed, good-actioned and a quick jumper so two miles on that ground is probably his optimum.
Another horse to do the business in style was the Philip Dempsey-trained Broomfields Jeremy in the second division of the two-mile Pat Doyle Memorial Maiden Hurdle for owner Raymond Fitzgerald.
The 11/8 favourite disputed a furious pace early on before chasing Spiorad Saoirse from the third.
He picked it up again four out and made the best of his way home for a cosy six-and-a-half-length win over Fortune Street. The winning trainer said: “I was a bit afraid with the speed they went down over the first and I was glad to see James (O’Sullivan) taking a pull as they were going a crazy gallop.
“We’ll see what mark he gets now and could also look at a novice. He’s not a slow horse, Luke rode him here the last day and felt he was a horse that could maybe do something on the flat towards the back-end.”
Gavin Brouder found himself in hot water after finishing third, beaten 17 and a half lengths, on the tenderly-handled Stoneyford Boy.
He picked up a 14-day ban with the stewards finding that he “failed to make a genuine attempt to obtain from his mount timely, real and substantial efforts to achieve the best possible placing.”
THE money came for Oscar Thyne in the Sean Hughes Memorial Opportunity Maiden Hurdle and he battled gamely to land the spoils in the two-mile, three-furlong contest.
Conor McNamara sent his mount up to dispute after the second last and he gained a narrow advantage over Fakir D’Alene jumping the last. The 5/2 shot (7/1 in morning) held his advantage to the line for a head victory.
Trainer Gavin Cromwell said afterwards: “He’s a big raw horse and it was nice to win a maiden with him. He’s a chaser in the making. He didn’t really seem to handle the place very well and was off the bridle from a long way out.”
A step up to three miles was given as the main reason for improvement from Hewick as the 16/1 shot ran out a cosy winner of the Coola Handicap Hurdle for ‘Shark’ Hanlon and owner T.J McDonald.
The Virtual gelding was produced to lead before the last by Jody McGarvey and asserted in the closing stages to post a five-and-a-half-length margin over Trouble And Strife.
The winning trainer was full of praise for the jockey: “He’s a great pilot and he does everything right. He’s had two winners for me in two days with the one owner so it’s great for the man that owns him as well.”
Hackett gets due success
CATHAL Landers also received plenty of plaudits after his ride on Jack Hackett in the beginners’ chase.
He produced the Dot Love-trained gelding to dispute at the last and the 7/2 shot got the better of long-time leader The Echo Boy close home for a half-length win in the colours of Sean Reilly. “He deserved that, he’s been knocking on the door for a while and just met a better one a few times,” said Love.
“He jumped himself into position today and Cathal gave him a fantastic ride. He waited and waited and it was a great performance. He didn’t come too early and knew he had enough horse.”
Mason City was easy to back in the bumper, going off 9/4 joint-favourite having opened evens, but got the job done under Jamie Codd. The leading amateur produced Gordon Elliott’s charge, owned by Thomas Friel, to lead over a furlong out and he galloped on strongly in the closing stages to beat Mahler’s Dollar by two lengths.
“He’s improved from Tipperary and he appreciated that two-mile-three there today,” said Codd.
“He’ll be a lovely fun horse. We’ll see what Gordon wants to do with him, he’s an older horse (seven) so he’ll probably go jumping now.”