LISTOWEL jockey Gavin Brouder rode Cadatharla to win the featured Tote Killarney National Handicap Chase over two miles and three furlongs at the Kerry track on Sunday.
Trained by Colm Murphy, the 11/1 chance carried the colours of leading owner J.P. McManus to a nose success over Paggane.
Frank Berry (Racing Manager) said: “He is not that simple and Gavin gave him a fantastic ride as he has his own way of jumping and it was a tight track today.
“He has ability but is tricky, and it was a lovely race to win. He had been unlucky a few times previously and will now tip away for the summer. He could go to Ballinrobe in a few weeks.”
Budds’ big day
Ken Budds enjoyed his biggest success to date as 9/1 chance Stormalong kept on strongly to win the two-mile, one-furlong Listed MD O’Shea’s Tourist Attraction Mares’ Hurdle. Ridden by Darragh O’Keeffe, the seven-year-old prevailed by three-quarters of a length from Royal Hollow.
Budds said: “Today was the plan as she is a proper summer mare. Her owners, Barbara and Edmond Coleman, bred Lord Windermere (Gold Cup winner) and It Came To Pass (Foxhunters), so are big breeders and the more blacktype she gets, the better.
“She is a real good-ground mare and we decided to race down the paint early, but Darragh said she was struggling and decided to come wide turning in.
“He said the minute she hit the good ground and from the second-last, he knew she’d catch the leader. She could go chasing and can also go back to the flat.”
BATMAN Girac won the two-mile, one-furlong Michael J. Doyle Memorial Handicap Hurdle under an ice cool ride from J.J. Slevin. Held up in rear, the Willie Mullins-trained 7/2 chance led at the last, going clear to score readily by three lengths in the colours of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.
Slevin said: “He can be a little keen, and was so in the middle part of the race, but jumped great. He has one run in him, so I tried to conserve as much energy as I could. It was a small field which helped, the ground has been well-watered and it worked out well.”
Easy winner
Pied Piper was never off the bridle to win the two-mile, seven-furlong Gerard O’Sullivan Memorial Novice Chase under Danny Gilligan. Sent off 4/9 favourite, the Gordon Elliott-trained gelding cruised home to win easily by 23 lengths for owners Mrs M Roden and Mrs R Nolan.
Lisa O’Neill reported: “He looked the class horse in the race and you’d have to love the way he improved his jumping from Down Royal. Danny said he was very clever and he looks like he is using himself well over fences.
“He did it at his ease and hopefully they can have plenty fun with him through the summer months. There should be plenty of novice options for him. He had run over staying distances on the flat and, while it was an unknown for him today, he showed he was well-capable of staying.”
Mixed emotions
Owner J.P. McManus enjoyed a double, as Birdie Or Bust made all to win the two-mile, five-furlong Donie Sheahan Memorial Irish EBF Mares’ Beginners’ Chase under Mark Walsh. Trained by Henry de Bromhead, the 1/1 favourite kept on strongly to score by seven lengths. However, it was a race of mixed fortunes for McManus, as Out For A Stroll was running a big race when coming to grief two out. Racing manager Frank Berry reported: “It was a bummer to lose the mare (Out For A Stroll) and she was running well when she fell. The winner was nice and jumped lovely. It was nice to see her do that, as she had a few disappointing runs earlier this year. She will tip away for the summer.”
MIDNIGHT Jet made a winning racecourse debut to take the concluding Killarney Racegoers (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race over two miles and a furlong. Ridden by Derek O’Connor, the 7/2 chance got the better of a sustained battle with Galileo Gold, asserting close home to score by a length and three-quarters.
Winning owner/trainer Sam Curling commented: “His dam won this bumper (in 2015) and Marine Nationale, who is his uncle, also won a bumper here. He is a very nice horse and it is his first time on grass. The band playing near the parade ring got him revved beforehand, but he is a very talented horse and will be sold now I’d say.”
Father and son success
The Pat Doyle-trained Romany Brown rallied close home under son Jack (Doyle) to win the Mongey Communications Maiden Hurdle over the same distance. Headed after jumping the last, the 5/2 chance fought back well on the run-in to beat Wholelotofbusiness by half a length.
Jack Doyle said: “Going to the second-last I thought I was in trouble, but when the other horse didn’t get away from me, he just kept sticking his head out. He is probably better going right-handed as he lugged out with me the whole way. He had been keen in his bumpers, but settled well today and I think he will stay further.
“Our horses have been in great form all year and Martin (Dwyer, owner) is my father-in-law, so this is great.”
Autumn’s redemption
Daniel King and Denis Hogan won the opening two-mile, one-furlong Killarney Avenue Hotel Maiden Hurdle with Autumn Twist. Carrying the colours of the Premier Racing Club, the 11/4 chance led two out, staying on well to score by two and a quarter lengths.
King reported: “It was a bit unfortunate what happened him the last day (saddle slipped), but it got another run into him and he had experience coming here. It went simple enough, he travelled nicely, jumped away and picked up when I asked him. The only worry was when he was awkward at the last, but he did it nicely. He is improving and hopefully there’s plenty more fun to be had with him.”