THERE was drama in the four-runner Ballymore Group Irish EBF Kilbegnet Novice Chase over two miles with A Snow White Park (11/2) coming out on top for Mags and Danny Mullins.
The defection of Daddy Long Legs made this a very winnable Grade 3 and Miss Fourie looked set for victory when blundering badly at the last, leaving the successful five-year-old in front to beat Femme Magnifique by four and a quarter lengths.
“We dropped her in trip as it was a graded race, and jumping probably won it for her late on,” said the winning rider.
“She’s a Walk In The Park mare that won as a four-year-old over hurdles and is now a graded winner over fences, so she’s going to be worth a lot of money to breed with.
“Unfortunately, Mags and Paul (Willis, joint-owner) might be robbing her off me now for the covering shed!”
Mullins doubles up
Mullins had earlier ridden a winner for his uncle Willie, as well-backed Culldoo (9/2) led home a stable 1-2 in the Kelly Hearing Specialists Mares Maiden Hurdle over two and a half miles.
Dr Peter Fitzgerald’s home-bred daughter of Doctor Dino got up late to deny the Paul Townend-partnered Kimi De Mai by a head.
“It’s difficult to come and do that on her first run over hurdles,” said Mullins. “It was a good, tough, performance and she saw out the trip well. She might be at her best over a bit of a trip.”
Dylan O’Connor, rider of ninth-placed Bluebell Breeze, was found to have been in breach of the rule concerning use of the ProCush when out of contention, and was suspended for eight days.
THE Railway Bar Handicap Hurdle over two and a half miles saw Tim Doyle’s Getaway Charlie come from well back to win readily at odds of 28/1.
It was just a second success for the 10-year-old, who was ridden by the trainer‘s son David and is owned by his wife Claire.
Four and half lengths was the margin of victory over Let Him B and the winning rider remarked: “He had dropped down the grades and had cheek pieces on today.
“They went a good gallop early and that suited, as he likes to be passing horses. It’s great to ride a winner for my father. That’s my 7lb claim gone as well and it’s great to do it for him.”
Winning debut
Doyle completed a double on Sam Curling’s debutant Greattobeable (14/1) in the GavinLynchRacing.com Flat Race over two miles.
The Snow Sky five-year-old beat Jessica Harrington’s Aruntotheace by four and a half lengths in the colours of his trainer.
“He’s always worked well, Roger Loughran pre-trained him and had all the work done,” said Curling.
“The first and second pulled a long way clear and I’d say they are two nice horses. I’d imagine he’ll be sold now, hopefully.”
’Smallcraft’ doing big things
Smallcraftwarning (7/2 favourite) has hit a rich vein of form and recorded his second win in the month of September, when taking the three-mile handicap hurdle in the hands of Daniel King.
The nine-year-old made steady headway from mid-division and led jumping the last to beat Milan Forth by a length and a quarter.
“He’s an extraordinary horse, a real fun horse for a big (We Win Farming) syndicate,” said trainer John Ryan. “He has a lovely mark over fences, and he’ll hopefully win a chase and then go to the Cork National.”
ANDY Slattery’s Ladies Well (7/2) has thrived over fences this summer and recorded a third win over the larger obstacles in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Handicap Chase over two miles, five furlongs.
Cian Quirke’s mount picked off rivals in the straight to beat Jolie Jewel by two and a quarter lengths.
Assistant Willie Slattery reported: “She has to have good ground and be ridden like that.
“She’s a brilliant jumper. The boys (Mrs Crogh’s Syndicate) would like a day out, so we might go to one of those meetings in Cheltenham off a light weight.”
Sam sees success
The well-backed Telegram Sam, owned by trainer Adrian Murray, in partnership with Mrs Paul Murtagh, landed odds of 8/13 in the four-year-old maiden hurdle over two miles.
Racing prominently throughout under Sean Flanagan, the Order Of St George gelding jumped left at times, but went on early in the straight to beat Direct Approach by two lengths.
Murray reported: “Sean said he was a little bit keen going down the hill, but still he did it nicely.
“We’ll see what mark he gets and might go for a rated novice hurdle.
“He’s a nice horse going forward, but we won’t be too busy with him.”
Howard on a roll
After a winner at the Curragh the previous afternoon, Aidan Howard was on the mark again with 50/1 shot Inver Bay in the Gary’s Gardening Services Handicap Hurdle over two miles.
The seven-year-old, owned by Mr C Mullen, came from off a strong pace under Simon Torrens to score by two and a quarter lengths from Nukie’s Artic.
Howard explained: “Running in her first handicap, I wasn’t expecting her to be good enough to win today, but they went so hard in front, I think they cut each other’s throats and it fell into her hands.
“I’m absolutely delighted, as I thought the handicapper was a bit hard on her.”