RACES at Ballinrobe’s well-attended final meeting of the summer were confined to riders who hadn’t ridden more than 15 winners last season and Aidan Kelly capitalised with a double.
Kelly’s first strike came aboard Carried With Love (3/1), a useful handicap hurdler for Joseph O’Brien and having her first start since February, in the P&D Lydon Mares Beginners Chase over two miles and seven furlongs. J.P. McManus’ home-bred daughter of Camelot led after the third last and was ridden from the final fence to account for market leader Straight Home by a length and a quarter.
It was the mare’s first start for Jonathan Sweeney, who said: “I don’t know how good a race it was, but she jumped well and I’m delighted.
“I’ve better facilities now and am hoping that a better quality of horse will follow. John Ormonde put in a five-furlong sand and fibre gallop, I’ve a proper schooling strip over almost three furlongs and another deep woodchip gallop of two furlongs, plus we’ve built a new barn.”
Swing soars clear
Kelly followed up in the proceeding race over the same trip, the Lodge At Ashford Castle Handicap Chase, as Swing Time (25/1) spreadeagled the field on his second start over fences. Trained by Val O’Brien for his brother Sean, the always-prominent Pour Moi gelding, racing off an initial rating of 78, scored by a whopping 20 lengths from Mistyburn.
“I didn’t have a ride in the last three weeks, then I had four tonight and it’s great to get a double. These meetings are a great initiative,” said Kelly.
“I’ve probably won too far, but he jumped from fence to fence and just didn’t stop.”
Ready-made chaser
Phoenix Arizona (9/1) was another to make his second start over fences a winning one, as he landed the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase over two miles and one furlong. Trained by John Cullen for the Harbour Bar Syndicate, the Soldier Of Fortune gelding headed Farrokh after the last to score by two and a half lengths.
Jockey Thomas O’Connor reported: “He’d been knocking on the door over hurdles at Sligo, and when John said he was going chasing, I was delighted. He’s a fine, big horse and this is his game.
“I was busy this evening and that’s my fifth winner of the season.”
HENRY de Bromhead sent out a double at the previous meeting here and repeated the feat when successful with a pair of mares. Close up throughout, Cobra Queen (6/1) landed the featured Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Handicap Hurdle, over two miles and six furlongs, for the second year in a row.
Alan O’Sullivan’s claim meant she was effectively off the same mark and the daughter of Milan repelled the challenge of Run For The Border by two and a half lengths. British-based owner Matt Fitzgerald was on hand to see his seven-year-old record a fifth career success.
“It’s my first ride for Henry as a professional, he put me on Waterford Whispers in the Kim Muir in March, and I’ve started going into his yard a couple of days a week,” said O’Sullivan.
Third time lucky
The Dotski (9/2) and Mike O’Connor initiated De Bromhead’s brace in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares’ Maiden Hurdle over two miles and two furlongs. Jamie Allday’s Getaway five-year-old headed front-running Brave Lady at the last and ran on to beat that rival by four and a half lengths.
“She’s a good-looking mare and her last couple of runs, on heavier ground, had been encouraging,” said assistant trainer Robbie Power.
“She’s probably strengthened up a little bit for her summer break. Mikey’s a very solid rider. He works very, very hard, he’s in every day and, when he gets his opportunities, he takes them.”
SENT off the 6/5 favourite, Iron Sword made all under Adam Ryan to win the five-runner John Madden & Sons (Pro-Am) Flat Race over two miles.
By the Motivator stallion For Fun, who was a Grade 1 winner over hurdles in France, Mr J Wilson’s four-year-old defeated market rival Le Grand Retour by four and a half lengths.
Willie Slattery, representing his brother Andy Slattery, explained: “He was very unlucky at Roscommon (third). Adam had to ride him the way he did then, just to give him a bit of experience, but he got wiped out.
“It was a small field here, and he kept things simple. I’d say he’ll go jumping a hurdle now.”
Perfect start
Bell Ex Too made a winning hurdle debut in the Burke’s Clonbur 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle over two miles and two furlongs after being well-backed into 2/1 favouritism. Paddy Cody’s mount looked in trouble two out, but finished strongly to collar Neon Eyes by a neck.
“He’d prefer a more galloping track,” said Ray Cody, who trains the Elzaam gelding for his wife Gillian.
“He’s a fine, strapping horse, probably over 17 hands and with legs like a hunter, and he’ll be better on softer ground. He might go for a winners’ of one at Punchestown next, it’s a race we’ve won before.”
Ridden to a tee
In front from early in a slowly-run affair, Luck Between Us (7/1) lasted home under Niall Moore to beat In The Minus by half a length in the Michael Cawe Suspended Ceilings Handicap Hurdle over two miles and six furlongs.
“I told Niall to be handy and, if there was no pace, to let him on,” said winning owner/trainer Donncha Duggan.
“He’s a good claimer and rides to instructions as much as possible. He said he hung left all the way, and he might be a better horse at a left-handed track.”