SHE’S A Fine Wine belied a drift in the market to land the featured Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Handicap Hurdle over an extended two and a quarter miles for Henry de Bromhead and owner Michael Dempsey. From as short as 7/4 in the morning, she went off at 13/2 on her return to action since winning a handicap chase at Cork in October.
The eight-year-old mare tracked the leaders for Mike O’Connor and made her effort after the penultimate flight. She came through to share the lead before the last and saw off You Make Me Smile by half a length.
O’Connor said: “We were hopeful coming here today that she seemed well-in on her hurdles rating. Straightf-orward enough, I was probably a little bit worried I was going to get boxed in coming down the hill. Lucky enough, she had a bit of toe to get out. I just had to come wide, and I kicked on just from the last and she stayed going well.”
Harry Sexton, jockey on runner-up You Make Me Smile, picked up a four-day ban for frequency with the whip.
Charlie O’Dwyer guided Surfin Usa home by two lengths on her jumping debut in the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle. The 11/2 chance got on terms two out and O’Dwyer sent her on approaching the last. Acheron was still well in contention in a close second over that obstacle. However, Surfin Usa stayed on best up the hill to deliver in Luke McMahon’s colours for Willie Mullins. The jockey said: “She jumped very, very well and was maybe a touch keen early on, but she has been running in bumpers, and it is her first run in a while, so a bit of gassiness too. She put it to bed very well and I always felt I was in my comfort zone.”
Gavin Cromwell’s In The Trenches certainly wasn’t winning out of turn in the Randox Maiden Hurdle over the extended two and a quarter miles. Placed no less than 17 times, the six-year-old gelding loomed large two out and worked his way to the front over the last. Eoghan Finegan drove him in by five lengths at 9/4 for the Horsey Boys Syndicate.
Finegan said: “He has been a bit frustrating. I think he has 14 seconds before today, so it was well overdue. To be fair to him, he did it very easily on the bridle. I’m down to my 5lb (claim) after that one so hopefully we can keep kicking on for the year ahead.”
FOLLOWING a double at Downpatrick on Saturday, Dermot McLoughlin saddled another winner with Malbay Madness in the Racing TV-sponsored handicap hurdle. Paddy O’Hanlon brought the 8/1 shot with his challenge between the final two flights. He picked it up before the last and was tough in the closing stages in coming home by four lengths for Mrs J.P. Duffy.
McLoughlin said: “Paddy said to me that he seems to be improving with every run. Find good ground and an undulating track and go from there.”
Close finish
Andrew Kinirons and Conor Smithers teamed up for a winner with Blue Moon Boy (17/2) in the Dunlop Homes Rated Novice Hurdle. Smithers held him up and the pair took much closer order three out. From a close sixth over the last, they improved into second inside the final furlong and stayed on to lead in the closing stages. The four-year-old gelding held fast-finishing Sea Of Doubt by half a length.
Kinirons said: “Conor actually rode my first runner probably six years ago at the start of August, so I know Conor a good while. We’ll tip away with Blue Moon Boy. I was going to run him in the 0-100 and the conditions of this race were like a 95-110. He is 95 and he got in with the allowance and Conor did the weight on him. I’m delighted for the owner (Gerhard Matte). I’ve never met the man, he lives in Germany and is a doctor.”
Sea Of Doubt’s jockey, Caragh Monagh, was banned for five days for frequency with the whip.
GEORGINAS Jet sprang a 20/1 surprise with a wide-margin victory in the Cab Plant Handicap Hurdle. Gavin Brouder sent her on after the second flight and she raced mostly clear thereafter.
Her advantage was mostly whittled away by the last, but she ran on well to hit the line 10 lengths to the good for the S & M Syndicate.
Trainer Paul Gilligan said: “It wasn’t really the plan. We were to sit in behind the leaders, but she got hold of the bit and she was running keen on him, so he said he’d let her slide on. She was gassy everywhere and Gavin gave her a grand ride. Her half-brother (Jerry From Kerry) bolted in there last Sunday in Punchestown.”
Stuart Crawford’s Irish Lace (5/1) made a very pleasing debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares (Pro-Am) Flat Race.
The Crystal Ocean filly was never far from the pace and Stephen Connor guided her into the lead two and a half furlongs out.
She increased the margin a furlong down and swept in by two and a half lengths for owner Warren Ewing.
Crawford said: “She’s nice. She’s Warren’s, obviously, and he had done a lot of work with her over the wintertime.
“She just wasn’t ready for the point-to-points and Warren gave her to me a couple of months ago. The filly has improved hand-over-fist the last lot of weeks. You couldn’t have faulted her today.”