NARA (8/11 favourite) was the second leg of a J.P. McManus-owned double at Clonmel on Thursday, where the Henry de Bromhead-trained mare landed the Suir Blueway Mares Chase in good style.
A first winner for Mark Walsh since returning from an injury, Nara made a quick reappearance following a first-fence exit in Sunday’s Munster National and made all the running to easily defeat Ad Caelum by 11 lengths.
De Bromhead stated: “She seemed fine since Sunday when she just landed a bit steeply. We’ll look for something similar to the Munster National again, but down in trip. There is a second-season novice at Punchestown for her or the Paddy Power Gold Cup (Cheltenham in November) is an option.”
Off the mark
McManus had earlier won with the Charles O’Brien-trained No Big Deal (10/11 favourite) in the Kilclooney Woods (QR) Handicap Hurdle, which scored under Josh Williamson.
The five-year-old was scoring for the first time at his 18th attempt and, while having drifted badly left in the closing stages, just held on by a head from She’s On Line.
McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry reported: “I didn’t know whether he had won or not, but the horse did his best to throw it away and is a bit of a kinat. He had been knocking on the door, so it is nice to get the win out of him. Josh gave him a great ride as the horse didn’t help.”
Two in a row
An ex-McManus horse Spellacy’s Cross (5/2 favourite) registered a second consecutive win in the Botanica International Handicap Chase, scoring for new trainer Jimmy Barcoe and jockey Donagh Meyler.
Successful at the course three weeks ago, the gelding improved on Thursday to lead at the second-last and scored readily by five lengths from left-leaning Ceroc.
Barcoe reported: “He is very uncomplicated and has a great style of racing, as he is very relaxed in himself. We’re very lucky John O’Neill (joint-owner) got involved in him and we’re delighted with him. He really takes to fences, but his hurdle mark also looks nice, so he can do both.”
THERE was a gamble landed in the concluding Clonmel Oil Chase Day November 6 Handicap Chase as Kobalt St Georges was heavily backed in morning prices from 7/1 to 13/8, before eventually returning a 9/2 chance and scoring for trainer Robert Tyner and jockey Philip Enright.
Unplaced in 10 previous starts, the returning five-year-old raced with the leaders and, having led before the last, stayed on well to beat Toor Moon by two lengths.
Tyner explained: “The owner (Brendan Keogh) was actually going away on holidays today, so maybe that’s where the money came from - I hope he paid for it!
“He was owned by a friend of mine, Jonathan Birkmyre, but wasn’t sold as a three-year-old and we liked him, so recommended Brendan to buy him. He works better than he runs, but has taken time and maybe isn’t all that tough. He travels and jumps, but is what he is.”
Hooray for Heidi
Biggest-priced winner was March’s Gain Mares Final-winner Carry On Heidi (20/1) in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle, providing Jerry Baragry with a first racecourse training success.
Ridden by Jockeys’ Championship-leader Darragh O’Keeffe, Carry On Heidi raced behind the leaders before leading approaching the second-last, eventually scoring by a length and a half from Two Pair.
Owner/trainer Baragry reported: “She won the Gain Mares Final (in Ballynoe) last year and ran well last month at Kilbeggan, but got a kick below at the start and was knocked out for three weeks. Fair play to her as she is still short of work, but isn’t too bad.
“We knew she’d be in the first three today, but Darragh said he was cantering all over them all the time. This is lovely and the farther (in distance), the better. She loves soft ground too, so we’re hopeful she will go a bit of a way.”
THE Tony Mullins-trained Ballycashin (4/1) gained a second course success in the Mahon Falls Handicap Hurdle, scoring for owners Cora Greene and Vera Deegan, and jockey Anna McGuinness.
Patiently ridden, the eight-year-old mare was produced to lead before the second last and, while she jumped right at that obstacle, went on to score by a length and a quarter from Dairy Force.
McGuinness reported: “She was disappointing at Punchestown the last day and I had been hitting the crossbar on her a few times, so it was very good of Tony and the owners for keeping me on her.
“It worked out and she used her good form today. She obviously likes it around here, seems to handle the track and it brings out the best in her. She stays well at that trip.”
Wide margin winner
Shortest-priced horse on the day was the Crottys Lake Maiden Hurdle-winner Irish Panther (2/9 favourite), who scored for Eddie and Patrick Harty. 128-rated Irish Panther was ridden by 7lb-claimer Cian Cullinan and scored very easily by 31 lengths from In The Trenches.
Eddie Harty stated: “It’s the owners’ first winner and they bought him well. Brian Whelan, who is from Dublin, has a camera business and is our yard sponsor and Jennifer (Coyle) works for the IHRB. We bought online last year.
“He’s a very good horse on his day and was running in top-class company. He ran a great race at the Dublin Racing Festival, and he was entitled to win this as he did.
“We told Cian to keep it simple, don’t try and be clever, just let him enjoy himself, and he did and he won well.
“He could go back for a good handicap hurdle or another option we’re throwing around is to go chasing with him, as he’s such a good jumper and he’s got the engine for it.”