WITH two typically positive, attacking rides, Darragh O’Keeffe recorded a double at Ballinrobe and made all on Philip Rothwell’s Ocean Murphy (5/2) in the featured five-runner Hollymount Nursing Home Handicap Hurdle over two miles, two furlongs.
A winner over a longer trip at Wexford last month, the Julie Thomas-owned Crystal Ocean gelding had two and a quarter lengths to spare over Houndsworth.
“He’s a small, little horse and I knew he’d act well around here,” said O’Keeffe.
“He jumped brilliantly and was getting plenty of weight, and it was a good bit of placing by Philip.”
O’Keeffe later landed the Corrib Oil Beginners Chase over two miles, seven furlongs on the Henry de Bromhead-trained Rusty Harkness (5/2 joint-favourite).
Led early
The home-bred son of Walk In The Park, in the Honeysuckle colours of owner Kenny Alexander, led from early and was ridden out to score by a length and a half from Fou De Toi.
“He jumped well at Limerick (second on chasing debut), but I was taking him back and didn’t make enough use of him. Today, I said I’d let him gallop and jump, and he gave an exhibition. Every time I got a length, I was able to keep it and, long or short, he was brilliant.
“He likes a bit of nice ground and stays well. Hopefully, he has a bright future.”
Trainer double
Trainer Henry de Bromhead followed his stable jockey in completing a brace when Elegantemente (8/1) made a smart winning debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies INH Flat Race over two miles.
By No Risk At All and out of a half-sister to a Grade 1-winner, the Robcour-owned four-year-old was prominent throughout and raced clear in the straight to beat the well-backed She Was The One by six lengths.
Winning rider John Gleeson remarked: “She’s a well-bred filly and we liked her at home. She was green and should improve plenty for the experience, but I liked her attitude.”
COLLIERS Quay (11/2) got up close home under Thomas O’Connor to win the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle over two miles, two furlongs.
A €7,000 purchase in April following some decent point-to-point runs, the Wings Of Eagles gelding raced just behind the pace and, when the front-running Minella Post edged left in the closing stages, nipped up on the inside to win by half a length.
It was an eighth winner for O’Connor, who carried the colours of the Rogue Boys Syndicate, and trainer Eoin McCarthy reported: “He had a lovely run in Galway where, for a horse that had a lot of racing done, he was quite green. He sharpened up for that and, for a big horse, he did well to squeeze through that narrow gap.
“This trip would be his minimum, so I thought he’d finish third, and we’d have him for a maiden hurdle in Listowel!
“The owners are still mad keen to go to Listowel, but I’m not sure what direction he’ll take there now.”
Favourite obliges
With three scratchings, just three lined up for the Boyle Sports Home Of The Early Payout Chase over two miles and a furlong and Bunting (10/11 favourite) made a winning start over fences, when readily seeing off his two rivals.
Trained by Willie Mullins for Tony Bloom, and ridden by Mullins’ nephew Danny Mullins, Bunting was to the fore throughout and scored by 15 lengths from Runcok.
“He has always promised so much and luckily Paul (Townend) picked him in the Coral Cup last year, which meant I got onto Jimmy Du Seuil!” said the winning rider
“That’s the sort of ability he has, and he’d been running some good races, including on the flat last year.
“The fences seem to have woken him up. He was very good and even when he made the one mistake, he was so quickly away from it.
“This trip around here is on the sharp side for him, but it’s all about finding a rhythm over the fences and he was able to do that.”
FIVE-pound claimer Peter Smithers made it five winners from 10 rides since the beginning of August, when guiding Princess Felicia (3/1 favourite) to a first victory in the Jerry McDonnell Memorial Handicap Hurdle over two miles, six furlongs.
The Jukebox Jury mare went away after the last to beat Joshua Chamberlain by two and three-quarter lengths.
Trainer Harry Kelly explained: “She’d a good first run for us in Clonmel last year, but has small feet and the ground went for her. Her owner Andria Kemp and Johnny Cummins took her home for the winter.
“She came back to me a lot heavier and it took just a while to get her ready. She was just nabbed in Tramore and the longer trip suited her here.”
Amina stays on
Trained by John McConnell for Pimlico Racing Amina and Munster Van Centre, Amina justified 6/4 favouritism in the Paddy Smyth Memorial Mares Maiden Hurdle over the distance of two miles, six furlongs.
The winner and Ronnie’s Rascal were up front throughout and, after a barging match on the home turn, Amina stayed on well to win by a length and a quarter, with her rider Alex Harvey picking up a two-day ban for careless riding.
“Ideally she wants three miles on slower ground, but there weren’t that many opportunities coming up,” said McConnell.
“She has a big frame and isn’t fully furnished yet, and there should be more to come from her.”