BALLINROBE’S big meeting of the year was run in glorious weather and Native Speaker (12/1) made most of the running under Darragh O’Keeffe to land the featured €100,000 McHale Mayo National Handicap Chase over two miles, seven furlongs.
The Henry de Bromhead-trained gelding, owned by Patrick Hale, came here a fresh horse after a five-month break and stayed on strongly to beat Conyers Hill by seven lengths.
Stable representative Robbie Power said: “He got a good start and Darragh soon had him in a lovely rhythm and he jumped from fence to fence. Henry felt he had him in a good place at home and Darragh was fairly confident about his chances coming up in the car.
“He wanted to be positive on him, because that’s how he’s won his races in the past. He needs good ground and obviously goes well fresh. We’ll see what the handicapper does. If it comes up good at Galway, the Plate would come into consideration.”
Back to his best
Daddy Long Legs recorded a fifth career win but his first in 19 months when landing odds of 8/11 in the McHale ProPel Hurdle over two miles, two furlongs.
The Almanzor gelding, trained by Willie Mullins for Marie Donnelly, tracked the leaders under Paul Townend and squeezed through between horses off the final bend to beat Thecompanysergeant by three and three-quarter lengths.
Townend said: “He’d a lot in his favour and it’s brilliant to get him back in the winner’s enclosure. He’d been keeping good company since his last win.
“He’s a high-class horse and, although the cheekpieces did him no harm, he probably would have won without them today. He wasn’t too keen and it’s good that he’ll allow himself the chance to go further, if we need to, in future.”
Triumphant Tinto
Owned and bred by Charlie Latta, Tinto De Verano (10/3) confirmed the promise of his third-place finish at the Punchestown Festival, when opening his account in impressive fashion in the McHale Fusion 4 Range Maiden Hurdle.
The Order Of St George gelding made smooth headway approaching the final flight and soon swept to the front under Cian Quirke, posting a six-length verdict over Young Doran.
Winning trainer Yvonne Latta was represented by her son and assistant Andrew, who said: “Today was probably the best he’s ever settled. He raced in the middle of them and would have learned a lot.
“I didn’t really want to go two-mile-six (furlongs) with him, but Cian won’t be available in the next few weeks with the 15 (winners) or less races. He’ll have a break now and, if he’s not sold, we’ll think about Galway or we might wait a bit longer into the autumn.”
TRAINED by Philip Rothwell for the Blind Squirrels Syndicate and William Esdaile, Billy Lee Swagger (14/1) recorded a third career win when taking the McHale Mayo Handicap Hurdle in decisive fashion.
Tiernan Power Roche’s mount quickened clear bypassing the final hurdle in the two mile, six furlongs contest to beat Jacovec Cavern by eight lengths.
Power Roche said: “He’d quite an impressive run in Punchestown, where he was seventh in a good handicap. He likes a bit of dig in the ground, but they’ve done a great job watering and he just barely got away with it.”
Boy likes Ballinrobe
Net Boy (12/1) again showed his liking for Ballinrobe when making all in the McHale Tiger Roll Beginners Chase over two miles, one furlong. Owned and trained by Barry Connell, the French-bred gelding had won a maiden hurdle at the course last year and came home 11 lengths in front of Scalpnagoon.
Rider Sean Flanagan said: “There was no point doing anything else (front-running) because he carted me at Leopardstown (unseated early).
“He had a good look around in front, but he’s an economical jumper and gets from ‘a to b’. It was a good performance because he only jumped two fences the last day, so it was effectively his first run over fences.
“We hadn’t done a whole pile of schooling with him, because he’s so hot and bothered. He’s a massive, big horse and is relatively lightly raced. If he learns to settle, then he’d stay a lot further.”
JETOILE (25/1) turned the clock back when bridging a lengthy gap without a victory in the McHale F5 Range Veterans Handicap Chase over just short of two miles, four furlongs.
The Jeremy gelding was last successful when winning the Old Roan Chase at Aintree for Ryan Potter in October 2023. Now trained by Liam Burke for the No Handbreak Syndicate, the 11-year-old was prominent throughout under Josh Williamson and beat Dreal Deal by three and a quarter lengths.
Williamson, who was replacing Michael Kenneally who was unable to ride on the day due to injury, said: “It was a great spare to pick up. He had been dropped in on his last few starts, so maybe the change of tactics and bouncing out in front helped.”
Stoirin reels them in
A Stoirin confirmed the promise of her debut third at Cork earlier in the month when justifying 11/8 favouritism in the McHale Orbital INH Flat Race over two miles, half a furlong. The Harzand filly, ridden by Adam Ryan, reeled in Bacharach in the straight to score by four and a half lengths.
Owner/breeder Dr Ronan Tynan, who treated racegoers and Racing TV viewers to a verse of ‘Summertime’, added: “It’s great. When a singer starts to shout her on, like I did, you soon lose your support!
“I foaled her myself. I said I’d only have five mares max, but now I have 10! It’s the first time I’ve ever won a bumper. I’d like to go to Galway, but team Slattery want her to have a break, so we’ll see.”