GAVIN Cromwell and Keith Donoghue teamed up for a double on a second successive day at Galway, highlighted by the victory of stable ‘legend’ Stumptown in the featured W.B. Gavin & Co. Handicap Hurdle on this rain-lashed student day card.
The Furze Bush Syndicate-owned gelding, whose CV includes wins in the Velka Pardubicka and at the Cheltenham Festival, made all in this near two-miles-and -six-furlongs event and drew clear on the run-in to beat Balko D’ange by seven lengths.
“He is a legend, but I didn’t expect that to be honest, as he was off for a long time. Keith gave him a lovely ride and got a fill into him,” said Cromwell of the 7/1 winner.
“A new rule, which was brought in last year, allowed the handicapper to put him up from his original mark (of 116, back in April 2022) to 127, but he could have put him up higher, to be fair.
“It is great to have him back and this is a bonus, before going for a banks race in Punchestown in early December. Cheltenham is his target again in March, although he is unlikely to go back for the English Grand National.”
Well-backed
If You Believe kicked off the 29/1 double in the Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction & Median Maiden Hurdle, with the well-backed 11/4 (6/1 overnight) chance also taking control after the last and ultimately beating Coolishael by nine lengths. “He is a fine horse, but we won’t see the best of him until he jumps a fence, and he also wants to go up in trip.
“For a horse who had won a point-to-point and had two racecourse runs, he is still very babyish and has loads to learn. Owen (Daley) has five horses with us, has spent a lot of money on horses, so hopefully he will reap the rewards this winter,” said Cromwell.
Richie Condon, rider of the front-running The Bosses Order, was given a combined total suspension of six days under Rule 208(v)(b), following two false starts before this race.
Elliott winner impresses
The Danestown trainer was also fancied to land the Corrib Oil Maiden Hurdle with Boycetown. However, the Cheltenham Festival Bumper fourth could only manage third, as fellow hurdle newcomer Thinkitdontjinxit, trained by Gordon Elliott for Gigginstown House Stud, stretched clear on the run-in for an impressive 11-length win.
“He had nice bumper form on soft ground, and this was a nice start for the season. He handled today’s conditions well and the way he finished was quite impressive. Jack (Kennedy) thinks he could be a nice horse,” said Elliott’s assistant Lisa O’Neill of the 3/1 winner.
LOCALLY-based Paul Gilligan was another trainer to record a double on the day with Moonshine Girl and Rockonfamouslee, the latter providing his son Ollie, who celebrated his 19th birthday the previous day, with a first winner under rules.
The Kap Rock gelding led just over a furlong out in the Electric Galway (C & G) (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race and kept on gamely to hold off Here’s Jim by half a length.
“I had four point-to-point winners previously and this is a great buzz. He stuck his neck out and the horse was good and tough,” said Gilligan, who was subsequently given a four-day ban for using his whip with excessive frequency and force.
“I’m based in Wexford with Sean and Donnchadh Doyle, so hopefully will give it a good go this season, although I have a long way to go to catch up to my older brothers!”
Gilligan senior added: “This means a lot, as my four boys have now all ridden winners for us. Liam is a big addition at home currently and the other lads are riding on the track.
“For Ollie to ride his first winner in Galway, for a good local man Peter Mulrooney, is a special day.”
Double up
Moonshine Girl initiated a 220/1 double for the Craughwell trainer in the Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Hurdle, heading the front-running Shotgun Jack at the final flight before drawing clear under Jody Townend to beat that tiring rival by 13 lengths. “Jody gets on so well with this mare and she just goes for her. We were cautious of the ground today, but she is all heart and is a great mare to have. The two gel together,” said Gilligan, who trains the 12/1 winner for his wife Natalie.
THOUGHTS turned to the recently deceased Hurricane Fly, after the famous Creighton Family colours were carried to a decisive success by the Willie Mullins-trained Sharkeyboy in the QuinnBet 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle.
The 8/13 favourite stretched clear on the run-in to beat Fits Perfect by nine lengths and Paul Townend recalled: “It is 18 years since I first rode in these colours, winning on my first ride in a Grade 1 on Hurricane Fly, who did an awful lot for me and my career.
“This horse probably won’t get to Hurricane Fly’s levels, but had run well on the flat here at the summer festival and I think jumping will improve him.
“He had schooled brilliantly at home, but it was a messy race, and he had a look at the first hurdle. Once I got a lead, he jumped away well and I was then able to go where I wanted.”
Paddy Power introduced the Zarak gelding at 33/1 for the Triumph Hurdle.
Good attitude
Evens-favourite Karl Des Tourelles showed a good attitude on the lengthy run-in to take the Sanserv Rated Novice Chase by just over two lengths under Sean Flanagan, with trainer Philip Fenton commenting: “He likes that ground but it was a trip short of his best and, when he had to dig deep, he did.
“The slow jump at the last wasn’t a help, but it being a stiff track, he powered home.
“He might turn up in a handicap at Cork or Punchestown in November. His owner Damien Tiernan, who is from Roscommon and heads CDL Racing Ltd, didn’t make it today.”