THE Shark Hanlon-trained Hewick made all the running on his seasonal reappearance to win the three-runner featured www.thurlesraces.ie Hurdle.
Sent straight to the front by jockey Paddy Hanlon, the 8/15 favourite was never troubled in beating Moon D’orange, who was left in second after Run For Oscar and Philip Byrnes parted company at the last, by four and three quarter lengths.
Hanlon Snr reported: “Paddy said he took a good blow at the top of the hill but I knew he would, as he is only back in training seven weeks. I’d like to see Paddy staying on him for the year, but T.J. (McDonald - owner) might have different ideas.
“He has the Betvictor Champion Chase in Down Royal or the Charlie Hall in Wetherby next, but it depends on the ground. I know he is a 10-year-old, but I feel he is better and stronger this year and he has put a backside to himself now.”
Blacktype bound
Runner-up on her debut over flights at Listowel, the Charles Byrnes-trained Run For Mahler went one better when winning the opening Thurles Mares Maiden Hurdle.
Prominent throughout under Philip Byrnes, the 8/11 favourite led two out, before holding the late challenge of Qualimita by a neck. Byrnes Snr said of the Top Of The Hill Syndicate-owned mare: “She probably repeated her Listowel run as she was beaten by probably a graded mare then.
“She got in under a few hurdles today, but it is her first day racing over the new white hurdles, so hopefully that was the reason. I haven’t looked at the programme, but we could now have a look at getting blacktype before the good mares come out.”
1-2 for Hogan
Tassarolo led home a ‘1-2’ for trainer Denis Hogan in the Moyne Rated Novice Hurdle. Gavin Brouder produced the 5/1 chance to lead after the last and quickened well to score by a length from stablemate Tatateo.
Hogan reported: “Gavin gave Tassarolo a very good ride and, while he has only ridden a few horses for us, he had won a maiden hurdle on this horse and is a talented young rider. Gavin rode Tassarolo the last day and knew him, so we kept riding arrangements the same.
“Tassarolo is owned by our local publican (in the Full Of Hope Syndicate) and unfortunately one of the members, John O’Shea, passed away the day the horse won his maiden hurdle. He has a rating of 62 on the flat, so can go back to there too, so there are options with him.”
A DUAL bumper winner in France, the Henry de Bromhead-trained Katakana registered a belated first success in this country when easily landing the Leugh Handicap Hurdle.
Sent off 11/1 under Darragh O’Keeffe, Katakana travelled strongly in third entering the home straight, before taking over in front after two out. Soon stretching clear, Katakana scored by five lengths.
O’Keeffe said: “Today is the first day she did everything right, as she had been quite hard on herself. We always hoped she’d be capable of doing something like this and I think today’s ground brought about plenty of improvement in her. It is great for her owner Duncan (Angrove).”
Stewards’ enquiry
The Dermot McLoughlin-trained Heron’s Butler was awarded the www.thurlesraces.ie Maiden Hurdle following a stewards’ enquiry. Tracking leader Additional Time for most of the race, the Peter James Toole-owned 2/1 chance came through to challenge approaching the last. Nothing separated the pair on the run-in, with the latter just edging it by a short head. However, the subsequent enquiry overturned that result due to the ‘winner’ drifting close home.
Jockey Liam McKenna said: “It was a small margin and being carried left made the difference, as the other horse didn’t run in a straight line. He is a big baby, is a real stayer and the last day at Clonmel, I was suspended so couldn’t ride him.
“I couldn’t say he was done with (when exiting at the second-last) but looking back now, it was a good job as he was able to get into today’s race (for unplaced horses). That ground is as quick as he wants and he’d like softer ground and a more galloping track.”
ALRIGHT Darling got off the mark at the 13th time of asking when proving a rather fortunate winner of the Premier County Mares Handicap Hurdle. Leading narrowly into the straight, the 8/1 chance was headed two out and looked booked for third.
However, with both Sallap and Great Bird falling independently at the last, the Lettermacaward Partnership-owned mare was left in front for a three-length win.
Trainer Daniel Murphy said: “She is an honest mare and carried her lightest weight ever today. Philly (Donovan - jockey) thought he was coming back at the leaders at the last and, in fairness, she did gallop away from the rest of the field.
“She is by Walk In The Park and her dam is a sister to Lord Windermere, so it is a good pedigree. She was bought to go breeding, that’ll be her job and we’ll see where we go from here.”
Push Button
Press The Button made a winning racecourse debut for Gavin Cromwell in the concluding Munster INH Flat Race. Sent off 6/4, the Mrs Anthony O’Callaghan-owned five-year-old was held up towards rear, before going second entering the straight.
Once jockey Declan Lavery let out an inch of rein over two furlongs out, Press The Button went right away from his rivals to win easily by four and a quarter lengths.
Lavery reported: “He was never out of second gear and he did it well. Some of the other horses were very green, but my horse was good and forward and was ready. He is a big horse who will win plenty of races and will be better when he steps up in trip.”