ON what was a wonderful afternoon of racing, huge credit must go to the organising committee’s presentation of the track in such pristine condition to provide safe conditions for competitors, and they were duly rewarded with an eight-race card.
Proceedings got underway when the first division of the four-year-old mares’ maiden went the way of the Rob James-handled and ridden Jury Roses (5/2).
The debutante, a daughter of in-form sire Jukebox Jury, was always up with the leaders and began to make progress from the third last fence. She took up the running before the second last and quickly asserted after the final obstacle to win going away by five lengths from an improving Affric Kintail.
“She is a very nice filly, I had her half-brother last year by Harzand - Draco Malfoy,” commented James. “She travelled and jumped everywhere, she did it easily and is a nice filly going forward.”
Wide-margin winner
The Wexford rider brought up a double on the card when teaming up for regular partner Donnchadh Doyle aboard the Tiger Groom-sired mare Kamille Au Kanada (4/1) in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.
The French-bred debutante took a firm hold of the race after the opening mile and galloped her rivals into submission to beat Now You See Me when eased down to a 14-length victory.
“Rob said she was very impressive there, I thought she might be a little bit keen,” Doyle said. “He dropped her in, but I’d say they weren’t just going hard enough. She jumped very well, and it was over after the third last, and she was eased down. We will probably head to Doncaster now.”
Champion
East Galway proved fertile hunting ground for the yellowbellies yet again, as a second double was brought up by recently crowned Eastern Champion rider Barry Stone.
He first triumphed aboard the Jonathan Fogarty-handled Big Ticket (5/2 - 7/2) in the first division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.
The appropriately-named son of Soldier Of Fortune took up the running going out on the final circuit to ask questions of all of his rivals, and quickened away from the second last fence to record an impressive 16-length victory over the always prominent Paddy Please.
“His homework is good, and I am delighted,” commented Fogarty. “Tom Coleman didn’t sell him as a store and sent him to me to train, so I own him with Tom. He’ll go to Doncaster now.”
THE Rolling Stone made it a double on the day aboard the Gary Murphy-trained True Harmony (10/1), who took the five-year-old geldings’ maiden in impressive style to prevail by four lengths from a running on Katarcice.
The son of Mahler was always up with the pace and quickly struck the front from three out when asked, and was always in command thereafter to win with plenty in hand.
“He ran before Christmas, and my horses just weren’t right in Lingstown,” Murphy said. “I brought him to a good four-year-old there and fancied him that day, and just got a few niggly problems along the way.
“A good friend of mine, Dermot Considine, owns half of him with me, and it’s brilliant. We expected that today as he had done a lovely piece of work a few weeks ago.
Top of the leaderboard
Toni Quail went to the top of the lady riders’ leaderboard again when taking the honours on the Sam Curling-handled The Great Unknown (4/6 favourite) in the mares’ open.
The Adelia Greer-owned daughter of Walk In The Park recorded her fifth victory this spring when prevailing over great rival Bestaline by four lengths.
“It was the wrong thing to do running her today, but we were just trying to get winners for Toni,” Curling said. “That will be her now for the year. She was very flat there today and will be a good mare next year.”
Derek O’Connor continued with his rich vein of form as a handler in the second division of the four-year-old mares’ maiden when The Flaggy Shore (7/1) obliged at the first time of asking under Diarmuid Moloney to score by five lengths over long-time leader Moonlightinthepark.
The winner, a daughter of Hillstar who made progress into second at the halfway point, took up the running from three out and quickened away after the second last fence to win easily.
STUART Crawford made the long journey down from Larne worthwhile when Masked Man (4/1) took the second division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden in impressive style.
The patiently-ridden son of Masked Marvel was still settled towards the rear of the field jumping the fifth last, but began to make steady progress rounding the home bend to take up the running before two out, and soon quickened away from Quarry Street to win easily under Stephen Connor for the double green of renowned owners, Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.
“He has been going well, he has plenty of work in him,” Crawford said. “He has come from behind to win, has a touch of class about him, and is a lovely big strong horse.”
20-length winner
The Enda Bolger-handled Tippin And Tappin (2/5 favourite) justified favouritism in the older maiden to win by 20 lengths over a running-on Oldtown To Emly.
The son of Getaway went to the head of affairs after the first mile and was never really troubled from that point.
He jumped superbly throughout under the guidance of Luke Kelleher for the Storytellers’ Syndicate.
“He had a very good run the last day, so it was the obvious choice to come here for the ground and everything.
“Fair play to everyone, they have done an amazing job on the place,” remarked Bolger.
“I left it up to him anyway, and he is a very nice lad, Luke Kelleher. The horse will probably go to the track now, and he is handicapped over fences.
“He is owned by a syndicate from Dublin, all friends of mine, and they got a beautiful cup there now.”
Horse to follow
Paddy Please (D. P. Murphy): He is a fine big chesnut son of Free Eagle out of a Giant’s Causeway mare and comes from a predominantly flat pedigree. He was always prominent throughout and threw down a strong challenge from three out to stay on well into second. He can improve a place next time, as he just bumped into a smart rival here.