DESPITE his advancing years and the lack of a recent run, Bythesametoken came out on top in the feature Kerry Dairy Ireland Handicap Chase.
Returned a 16/1 chance (from 22s), the Ross O’Sullivan-trained 11-year-old was given a patient ride by Danny Gilligan, making steady headway on the final circuit.
In a share of the lead from the usual two out, he was soon engaged in a tussle with Jasko Des Dames and outstayed that rival after bypassing the final fence, with two and a quarter lengths between them at the line.
“That’s great. We had a winner (Howya Luveen) for the boys last Friday as well and the two horses were out in the field together,” O’Sullivan said of the Downtown Syndicate-owned victor. “The track suited him well and he got a great ride off Danny.”
Six horses inadvertently jumped the first fence after the second of two false starts, with Daniel King, Sean Flanagan and Darragh O’Keeffe all picking up two-day bans. Eoin Staples and Phillip Enright were also suspended for a day.
Going one better
While having to settle for the runner-up berth in that extended two-mile and a furlong heat, Henry de Bromhead and Darragh O’Keeffe went a place better with Birdie Or Bust (5/1) in the Kerrymaid Rated Novice Chase.
Leading home a 1-2 for de Bromhead, the J.P. McManus-owned victor blundered at the first and fourth and was left second by the fall of Macinamillion four fences from the finish.
Pushed along to challenge the front-running Hashtag Pretender approaching the penultimate obstacle, she was soon ridden to the front and held off the late effort of stable companion The Electrical Kid by two and a half lengths.
“She’ll tip away for the winter in those sorts of races and we’re delighted with her,” Frank Berry, McManus’ racing manager, reflected.
“She’s 129, so she probably needs to improve a little bit for some of those graded races.”
BOUNCING back from a disappointing effort at Galway, Farfromnowhere readily accounted for four rivals in the Cheestrings Irish EBF Mares Hurdle.
Returned an easy-to-back 11/1 chance, the Paul Nolan-trained seven-year-old raced mainly in third under Sean O’Keeffe and, while not fluent three flights from the finish, she came with her challenge between horses approaching the next.
Soon getting to the front, the John Brennan and David Flynn-owned bay stretched clear on the run-in and ultimately came home five lengths to the good.
“She was slow to take off in Galway and didn’t seem to have any appetite for it. The race was over after two hurdles,” Nolan remarked.
“She was an awful lot better today; she jumped well and travelled away. I’m just happy that she’s back on track.”
Close finish
There was a much closer conclusion to the Farm and Home Store (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race, with Casterly Rock prevailing by just a nose.
Not seen since March, the Pat Collins-trained victor was available at 18/1 in early shows for this two-mile heat, eventually going off at just 4s in the colours of owner Sean Mulholland.
Making virtually all under Eoghan Finegan, the five-year-old son of Lauro was all out at the line to hold off the late lunge of State Pension (9/4 joint-favourite from 6s early), with a nose between them at the line.
“He was very unlucky the first day he ran, greenness beat him. He’s learned his job and put his head down there,” Co Down-based Collins commented.
“He’s a pure National Hunt jumping horse and will go over hurdles now.”
PAMPAR Lady (15/2) has gone from strength to strength since breaking her maiden in Cork and completed a hat-trick in the Bloom Feeds Irish EBF Mares Handicap Hurdle.
Given a patient ride by Eoin Staples, the Gavin Cromwell-trained six-year-old made steady headway on the final circuit and came with her effort from two out. Not fluent over the final flight, the Wash Yer Hands Syndicate-owned bay dug deep when ridden in the closing stages, beating Music Of Life and Ballycashin by a neck and a head respectively.
“She has tended to over-race before but today they went a right good gallop and I was able to settle early,” Staples explained. “When I needed her at the back of the last, she put down her head and galloped to the line.”
High Hopes
Cromwell’s Gforcejenny was an eye-catching third in the opening Charleville Cheese 3yo Hurdle, with Bill Durkan’s Hopes Are High (5/2 from 9/2 early) claiming this 10-runner contest under Philip Byrnes.
Registering his second win over flights, the Shaman grey got to the front after two out and skipped clear before the final flight, ultimately coming home a length and three-quarters to the good for the Don’t Tell Your Mother Syndicate.
“Bill and his grandsons own him with a syndicate of lads from America. That’s their first horse and they bought him in July along with Touch The Moon. They have been two good purchases,” assistant trainer Paul Bannon reported. “I don’t know if he’s good enough to go to Cheltenham in November, but we’ll see what the lads want to do.”
Lovely start
Good Girl Kathleen was the only winning favourite on the programme, with this well-backed 5/4 chance (from 9/4) taking the Dairygold Maiden Hurdle under Donagh Meyler. The well-bred Lions Mouth Racing Club-owned five-year-old gained an outright advantage approaching the straight and kept on well in the closing stages, coming home two and a half lengths clear of Soldiers World.
“She got a lovely ride from Donagh, he kept it simple, and she jumped well for her first run over hurdles,” winning trainer Emmet Mullins enthused. She had that point-to-point experience coming from Colin Bowes’ and that stood her in good stead. She’s a very nice filly and she’ll get a trip no problem.”