A LOW-key fixture at Clonmel on Thursday was lit up somewhat by the success of Potters Pal in the second division of the Glenary Handicap Hurdle, as the Tom Cooper-trained gelding landed an on-course gamble (10/1 - 7/2) for the delighted Kingdom Red Syndicate.
The five-year-old had managed two fourth-placings in point-to-points and one encouraging handicap run last month and today, wearing a first-time hood, was patiently ridden by Daniel King when scoring readily by eight leangths from Marlpark.
Strong-travelling Potters Pal had avoided a melee at the second-last flight when under-pressure leader Qaasid slipped up and brought down three rivals, but the winner nonetheless scored with a little in hand.
Cooper commented: “The syndicate are local lads including Gerry Mangan (former amateur jockey) who has been with me for a long time and rode plenty of winners for me. Myself and Gerry go back a long time and he had this horse for point-to-pointing, when he didn’t quite stay.
“He was very keen throughout his racing but the hood made a big difference today and helped him relax - I have great faith in the jockey.
“The lads were hoping for the best so they won a few quid as well!”
Quick success
The opening division of the race was won by the Anthony McCann-trained Silent Guardian (18/1), who credited the recently-expanded EveryThingforsale Syndicate with success.
Ridden by Conor Brassil, Silent Guardian led after the second-last and finished well to score by six and a half lengths from Uncle Gerhard.
McCann said: “Colm White (bookmaker) and Aidan O’Brien (former school principal) bought into him just after declarations on Tuesday so it is great for them.
“He is a fun horse who should handle summer ground and a big thanks to Niall ‘Bubba’ Amond who knew the horse and recommended him to us.
“He is a fun horse who didn’t handle the ground the last couple of times. He ran-away with Conor the first day at Navan, so we had to teach him and put the hood on him. He was down to a low grade today and it has worked out.”
THE Peter Fahey-trained Live To Laugh (9/2) was another popular winner, when following up a recent Thurles win with success in the Careys Castle Novice Handicap Chase.
Carrying the colours of Jimmy Whittle, Michael McEvoy, Good For A Laugh Syndicate and Anthony Callan, Live To Laugh led from the seventh fence under jockey Ethan O’Sullivan and maintained his gallop to score by two lengths from Plain Or Batterred.
Fahey said: “He is a cracking horse and I suppose it took him a while to find his way, although definitely fences has improved him. Ethan gets on grand with him, he travelled very keenly today and took it up early but for a horse who hadn’t been finishing out his races, he finished out great.
“The horse is getting more and more followers now that he is running better. The syndicate is from all over the country and I bought him after he was placed in a point-to-point. I don’t think he is in any way ground-dependant and we could switch him back over hurdles as well.”
Byrnes sits tight
Trainer Charles Byrnes’ heavily-backed Youlita (5/1 - 7/5 favourite) survived a frightful penultimate fence blunder in the Kilmanahan Beginners Chase which had son and jockey Philip Byrnes grimly clinging on, but the pair recovered to score by a half-length from Is Charlie Around.
Regarding the Charles Flaherty-owned gelding, Byrnes senior stated: “I was disappointed with him on the goodish ground the last day but he jumps well, although he kind of landed on top of the second last. Philip didn’t really say what happened, to be honest.
“It was nice to get that and the conditions of the race suited. Jumping was always going to be his job but he could go back over hurdles at two miles, and ride him handier the next day.”
Timely success
Trainer Con O’Keeffe’s Kilbarry Saint (6/4 favourite) scored a timely second success in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase, as the mare is to be covered in the coming months.
Ridden by unrelated jockey Darragh O’Keeffe, Kilbarry Saint took a keen hold by scored readily by four lengths from Gaoth Chuil.
Trainer O’Keefe, who part-owners the winner with Tadhg O’Sullivan and Anthony O’Keeffe, said: “She had run well in good company and was well overdue that second win. She has loads of blacktype and is a good honest mare
“All credit goes to the lads at home as well, who have been great, and we’ll try and get one more run into her before the ground turns. She will be going to stud this year, to our new stallion Dschingis Secret.”
TOP trainers Willie Mullins and Henry de Bromhead were also the scoresheet, with Mullins landing the Nire Valley Maiden Hurdle with Boedic (10/11 favourite), under champion jockey Paul Townend.
The Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding out-battled San Hilario to score by nine and a half lengths with Townend reporting: “It was a nice find for him, although coming back to two miles was a concern It wasn’t the strongest race ever ran around here but I think the penny is only starting to drop with him now and he is improving with every run.
“He had a little look when he hit the front and is still immature. He is a typical Gigginstown horse, who will jump a fence.”
De Bromhead later combined with Cheltenham festival-winning jockey Paddy O’Brien to land the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle with Tangara Bay (3/1), which raced prominently and scored by two and three-quarter lengths from Early Bird.
Good run
The trainer reported: “She had a good run in Thurles, where she made a mistake, and the step up in trip helped her today I’m delighted for the Fitzgeralds (owners) as she has always looked nice and previously had some nice bumper runs.
“We will kick on now and I think she likes nice ground.
“Paddy is riding really well, we’ve had plenty of luck with him and he is a lovely rider. He comes in a day a week and is with us since last year.”
Bumper delight
The concluding Next Meeting April 2 Bumper was won by the well-supported Tadhg’s Rock (morning 7s, returned 3/1), for trainer Terence O’Brien, owner/breeder James O’Connor and jockey Darragh Allen.
Afterwards O’Brien reported: “There was money for him all morning but it wasn’t mine and anyone who rang me, I told them I’d be delighted if he was placed. We think he is a nice horse but thought the ground would be too soft.
“He was due to run last autumn but scoped wrong so we left him off and while we had been waiting for nice ground, it has been fierce wet and this was the only bumper for him in a month.
“I’d have been disappointed if he wasn’t placed but that was pretty impressive and he is for sale.
“His owner James O’Connor, who bred him, manages the Waterford minor hurling team and managed Carrigtwohill to win the 2011 county championship, so we almost genuflect to him at home!
“He is a lovely horse who has had no issues and hopefully we will find a home for him.”