DRAYCOTT Place has proved a great servant to Templemore owner/trainer John Ryan, and the Oscar gelding recorded his eighth win under rules when making all in the Follow Kilbeggan Races On Twitter Handicap Chase.
The nine-year-old gelding, who has won well over €200,000 in prize money, found plenty when asked by Danny Mullins and asserted on the run-in to score by two lengths from Eiri Na Casca, who stayed on well to just deny top-weight Conrad Hastings of the runner-up berth.
“He ran a bit flat the last day in Punchestown where the ground was probably a bit quick for him. He’s as tough as nails, and they have done a brilliant job on the ground here,” said a delighted Ryan.
“I can’t understand the price (16/1) he was this evening as I thought this wasn’t as good a race as the one he won in Listowel. Danny said he was never in any doubt that he was going to win, and he had the luxury of filling him two or three times.
“He was wrong all last year, and had a few wind operations that went astray but he has the heart of a lion. You have to keep running him as he’s always carrying a bit more weight than you like, and if you don’t run him he’ll go gross on you. No matter what way you work him at home he still needs racing to stay fit.”
The other €25,000 race on the card also produced a double-figure price winner as Treasure Chest (16/1-12/1) just prevailed in the Midlands National Ladies Day July 20th Handicap Hurdle.
J.J. Slevin’s mount led at the penultimate flight but needed to rally well close home to deny the Willie Mullins-trained pair Lareena and Bargy Lady by a short-head and three lengths.
The Galileo gelding is trained by Joseph O’Brien for J.P. McManus, whose racing manager Frank Berry said, “He jumped well and travelled well. He was probably getting a bit lonely in front but, in fairness, he battled back well. We’ll find another race for him, maybe in Bellewstown.”
Mullins went one better half-an-hour later as Robin Des Foret justified 4/7 favouritism in the Carmel Fay Memorial Novice Chase. The Byerley Racing Syndicate’s gelding headed Balzac Turgot after two out, and was well on top on the run-in to beat that rival by four lengths.
Winning rider Paul Townend said: “We went a good gallop. My lads jumping warmed up to it after a while as he wasn’t as good as I thought he’d be early on. He got very good when I wanted him late on in the race.”
Mullins’ great rival Gordon Elliott also got on the scoresheet as Ravenhill followed up a recent win at Downpatrick in the three-mile Add Kilbegganraces On Snapchat Novice Hurdle. Davy Russell produced the evens favourite to challenge at the last, and just got the better of Freewheelin Dylan on the run-in by a head, the pair drawing 18 lengths clear of the remainder.
“Davy gave him a good ride and said he just had to sit and sit. He didn’t go too wide on him because he’s a big horse. He was good and brave, and winged the last. It was close but we got there,” said Elliott, who trains the eight-year-old for the Try Ravenhill Syndicate.
“I was a bit nervous running back so quick but it was a good opportunity. He does nothing fancy at home but keeps galloping. Going up in trip didn’t do any harm and I’d say he’ll jump a fence sooner rather than later. He’s a big chaser.”
Racing got underway with another exciting finish as Katoptris just got the better of Cooldine Bog on the run-in to score by half a length under Andrew Lynch in the Book Online At www.kilbegganraces.com Maiden Hurdle.
The daughter of Beneficial is trained for Everina Kilfeather by Gavin Cromwell who said: “She’s a four-year-old and is still a bit weak but in fairness she dug deep. She’s improving all the time and the better ground obviously helped. She’ll be a lovely mare for breeding later on.”
The former Godolphin-owned Directional is proving a real bargain for the North Kerry-based Tingle Syndicate, and he followed up a recent Ballingarry point win by asserting before the last under Kevin Brouder to land the Greville Arms Hotel Mullingar Handicap Hurdle.
Athea trainer Eoin McCarthy said of the 10/1 chance, “I picked him up for £800 at Ascot two years ago and I’m delighted for the lads (Tingle Syndicate from North Kerry) who have been very patient. He won a point-to-point by 10 lengths the last day and that made a man of him. He loves that good ground.
“I’ve seven in training at present. Things are going fairly well at the moment and I’m looking at expanding.”
Under Surveillance went right away inside the final furlong for Conor Orr to take the Summer Party Pack Discount Group Booking Flat Race by nearly 10 lengths from Gateway To Europe.
Andy Lynch, who trains the Flemensfirth mare for Aidan Murray, said: “I’ve always thought a lot of this one but she ran twice on heavy ground and didn’t like it. Her mother didn’t like it either and we said that we’d give her a break.
“She works great, and she opened up fairly quick turning into the straight. She is a great jumper, and we might go to Galway now for a maiden hurdle.
“Hopefully she’ll get that ground. Conor (22) is an older brother of Oisin and he rides out for us in the yard. That’s his third winner in the space of a month (since returning from the UK).”
ACTING STEWARDS
T. Hunt, M.A. Onions, N. McCaffrey, P. McCartan, P.D. Matthews.
HORSE TO FOLLOW
UNDER SURVEILLANCE (A. Lynch): Won the bumper in good style and should pay her way over hurdles as connections reported afterwards that she has schooled very well.