ONE of four J.P. McManus representatives in the line-up, Mica Malpic led home 14 rivals in the Tote Connacht National Handicap Chase of €25,000.
Unplaced on his return from a lengthy layoff at Tipperary last month, the Enda Bolger-trained eight-year-old didn’t go unsupported and, having touched 20s in early shows for this feature contest, he was eventually returned at 9/1.
Settled in mid-division by Charlie O’Dwyer, the French-bred chesnut was ridden away from the third last and ultimately found plenty for pressure battling past Ambitious Fellow on the run-in, with a length and a quarter between them at the line.
“His jumping has been a bit in and out and I think the rain helped as it made the ground a bit easier for him,” Bolger reflected. “He got a touch of a leg at Punchestown in November 2023 and patience has paid off. He got a lovely ride from Charlie.”
Second best
Bolger and McManus were earlier just touched off in the Strokestown Handicap Chase, with Inthenickoftime (11/5 favourite) playing second fiddle to Charlies Pride.
Well-supported from 6s into 7/2, the Paul Power-trained victor raced mainly in second under Liam Quinlan, improving to the front from three out. He was pushed out on the run-in to fend off the effort of the market leader, with three-quarters of a length separating them.
“We were very happy with him the first day over fences. He was a little bit novicey in the last half mile, but seemed to learn plenty from that,” Power said of the Going Global Syndicate-owned bay. “He was good today, he was handy away the whole way and never missed a beat.”
THE first part of a quick double for Gordon Elliott and Kevin Sexton, Pied Piper maintained his unbeaten record over fences in the three-runner Dermot Hughes Car Sales Novice Chase.
Despite drifting from 2/5 to 6/5, the New Approach chesnut disputed the lead with Zenta (8/11 favourite from 13/8 early), before gaining an outright advantage approaching the seventh.
Stretching clear of the market leader from four out, the Mark Roden and Ray Nolan-owned victor eased to a 27-length win.
“It was as straightforward as you can get,” the winning rider remarked. “His jumping was a bit exuberant the first day in Down Royal, he was brave and a bit silly, but it’s a massive asset to him now. He probably galloped the other horse into the ground with his jumping.”
Double up
Boston Rover completed the Elliott, Sexton brace in the George & Joan McCourt Memorial Beginners Chase. A runner-up on his debut over fences at Limerick, the Derek Barry-owned six-year-old was sent to post a 4/1 joint-favourite and he tracked the leaders from flag fall.
Improving to dispute the lead when not fluent two out, the Rajj bay gained an outright advantage over the last and drew clear on the run-in, coming home five lengths to the good.
“I got a nice lead off Iamagetaway (runner-up), who is a horse that I know very well and I actually had the choice of the two of them,” Sexton explained. “I just had my lad locked up behind him the whole way and picked him off when I wanted to. He’ll improve again from it.”
ITSALLADREAM (16/5) claimed an incident-packed Castlerea Novice Chase, with his trainer Paul Gilligan later admitting: “He’s just a lucky winner”.
The first of seven on this all-chase programme, drama ensued from early, with Birdie Or Bust (5/4 favourite) blundering at the second and badly hampering A Law Of Her Own, giving Ben Harvey no chance of keeping the partnership intact.
Soon establishing a clear lead, the Willie Mullins-trained Runcok (drifted from 7/2 to 11/2) still held a sizeable advantage when falling three out.
Picking up the pieces, Itsalladream sailed over the last three fences and came home 16 lengths to the good under Gavin Brouder for the Dapper and Nat Partnership.
“I don’t think he would have pulled back Willie’s horse,” Gilligan added. “It looked a messy race and thank God all horses and riders are up safe and sound. We’ll look forward to going to Galway with this lad now.”
Hard luck
Mullins was again out of luck in the www.roscommonracecourse.ie Beginners Chase, with his runners finishing second and third to Brave Fortune.
Trained by Pat Doyle and ridden by his son Jack, the six-year-old was available at 3/1 in early shows but was returned the 6/5 favourite.
Owned by Linda Mulcahy and Mary Wolridge, the gelding gained an outright advantage after three out and came home seven and a half lengths to the good.
“He jumped and travelled and picked up well down to the third last. He’s a horse we always liked but he’s just after taking a bit of time to mature,” the winning rider reflected.
“There is a nice day in him somewhere.”
Last to first
The concluding Racing Here Again On The 1st July Qualified Riders Handicap Chase went the way of Ardfert Mary, with this John Ryan-trained eight-year-old coming from last to first under a patient Josh Halford ride.
Tried in a tongue-strap for the first-time and well-backed from 12s to 5s, the 76-rated bay was still in rear with a circuit to go but made rapid headway from five out.
Ridden to challenge the front-running Burru (4/1f) approaching the last, she ultimately drew clear of that rival on the run-in and had four and a half lengths to spare at the line.
“She was always going to win this type of race. She’s probably better than her rating, she had lots of injuries,” Ryan said of the James Killeen-owned victor. “The kid (Halford) did what I told him to do.”