TED Walsh’s Batcio scooped the biggest success of his career and put himself in line for bigger targets over the coming months as he emerged victorious under Brian Hayes in the Grade B BoyleSports Handicap Chase.
The Luke McMahon-owned grey was stepping up to two and a half miles after a run over the minimum trip at this track in July and was returned a strongly supported 4/1 chance to relish this longer distance.
The grey never missed a beat for Hayes and emerged to take control of the race early in the straight. The likes of Abbey Magic and The West’s Awake remained in contention over the final three fences but Batcio never looked likely to relinquish control and he got home by three lengths.
“The step up in trip and slightly easier ground helped him and he got into a lovely rhythm,” said Walsh.
“I’ll give him an entry in the Kerry National but he is a horse that’s probably well suited by being fresh and his big target is the Grand Sefton Chase at Aintree in November.”
Byrnes team up
Philip Byrnes wasted little time making his mark amongst the professional ranks as he teamed up with his brother Cathal to land the BoyleSports-sponsored two-and-three-quarter-mile handicap hurdle on Run For Oscar (15/2).
This useful 128-rated six-year-old was travelling strongly in a first-time visor as the leaders faced up to the last three flights and when he had to knuckle down under pressure, he responded well to the promptings of his 17-year-old rider.
The Top Of The Hill Syndicate-owned six-year-old got on top after the last for a one-length success over Line Out.
“He ran well at Downpatrick a couple of weeks ago (finished second to Dollar Value) and the step up in trip was a big help to him today.
“He’ll keep going in these types of races through the autumn. It’s great for Philip as he only turned professional last week,” declared the trainer.
IT was quite a day for Joseph O’Brien’s jumping string as he reeled off a treble which was brought up by the impressive Level Neverending in the BoyleSports-sponsored winner’s bumper which made it five winners over three days for the yard. The Galway Festival winner made short work of the three other previous bumper scorers in the line up to look a fine prospect. Tom Hamilton eased to the front on the Annus Mirabilis Syndicate-owned 7/4 favourite around two furlongs out and the Flemensfirth gelding stormed clear for a 15-length success.
“He was very impressive as it looked a very strong race. He has improved from each run and is a very exciting horse going forward,” declared the winning rider.
The Annus Mirabilis colours were also carried to victory by O’Brien’s Druid’s Altar in the Download The BoyleSports App Novice Chase over two-and-a-half-miles. This four-year-old was making the most of a substantial weight for age allowance as he recorded his second win over fences this summer. J.J. Slevin began to press for home before the end of the backstraight on the 9/4 favourite who went on to defeat Jungle Junction (conceded 16lb) by four and a quarter lengths.
The treble began with 141-rated Embittered in the beginners’ chase over an extended two miles. Gigginstown House Stud’s 4/6 favourite, responded to Donagh Meyler’s promptings.
IT was a day to remember for Gowran-born Dylan Cleere (20) who rode his first winner on the track when Shiroccoville (100/30) bagged the first division of the 80-95 rated Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle over two and a half miles.
On her first start for Emmet Mullins, this 81-rated six-year-old had shown promise to finish fourth in a similar event at Tipperary a few months ago and she was restored to that form.
Shiroccoville appeared to have the measure of the front-running Trouble And Strife from two out and she went on to defeat that rival by three lengths.
“It’s great for Dylan. He’s a big part of the yard and has been with me since he left school. This mare was off a basement mark and she’s done it well, hopefully there might be a bit more to come from her,” declared Mullins.
The second divide of the handicap hurdle went to the Shane Nolan-trained Yulong Voice (9/1) who was adding to the maiden success he recorded on the flat this time two years ago.
Strong pace
Mike O’Connor was on board the four-year-old who benefitted from being held up off a strong pace. Yulong Voice came through to hold every chance from the second last and he defeated Elite Des Mottes by just over three lengths.
“He had been doing things wrong and he was very keen initially but Ian McCarthy has done a great job in getting him settled.
“Hopefully he can go on from here and there might be another one in him on the flat,” remarked Nolan whose charge is owned by the Red Green & White Syndicate.
The day began with a winning favourite as Given Wings (7/4) made a successful debut for Henry de Bromhead in the M.L. Lynch Civil Engineering Maiden Hurdle over two miles.
This Annette Kinsella-owned six-year-old finished second in a Leopardstown maiden hurdle on his racecourse debut in March and bounced back to that form following an unplaced run in a Cork bumper the following month.
The Darragh O’Keeffe-ridden gelding took charge of this race from before three out en route to a three-and-a-half-length victory Babylon Beach.
“He had a good first run and I suppose he was dropping down in class here. He jumped super, handled the ground well and kept going well,” remarked the winning rider.
OVER the course of the two days of National Hunt action at the meeting the starts proved to be something of a contentious issue.
On Friday evening six jockeys picked up a suspension after the stewards looked into a false start before the handicap chase won by Mister Bells.
This followed into Saturday afternoon where the handicap hurdle won by Run For Oscar was preceded by a couple of false starts and this resulted in two jockeys picking up suspensions.
AN enquiry into the performance of the ninth-placed Mister Rocket Man in the race won by Given Wings resulted in jockey Conor McNamara given a 10-day suspension and the horse suspended for 42 days. The stewards noted the explanation by Eric McNamara but Conor McNamara was found to be in breach of Rule 212 (A) (ii). The stewards acknowledged the difficulties the horse had encountered before but deemed that the rider had not made timely, real and substantial efforts to gain the best possible placing.