THE stewards’ room was the focus of attention on the return of jumping action at Thurles with two results overturned on an eight-race card in which Darragh O’Keeffe and J.J. Slevin both partnered doubles.
There was a contentious outcome to the opening beginners’ chase with Might Be The One awarded the two miles, two furlongs event after going down by just a nose to The Monkey Pole.
The latter was prominent throughout and held a slight advantage when jumping left towards the 9/4 favourite at the final fence. The minimal interference was enough for the stewards to reverse the placings in view of the slender winning margin.
Might Be The One is trained by Andrew McNamara for O’Rourke Construction Ltd and rider Darragh O’Keeffe commented afterwards: “Obviously it was good to get the result. I did feel we got a bump at the last fence, and the winning margin was a nose. You are never confident in an enquiry, but I thought that we had every chance.”
Quickfire double
Clear championship leader O’Keeffe is now on the 57-winner mark for the season after completing a quickfire double on 11/4 favourite Stoneyford Lady in the Horse & Jockey Handicap Chase.
The Henry de Bromhead-trained mare struck the front at the home turn and kept on well on the run-in to beat Potters Pal, who made a mistake at the last, by three-quarters of a length.
“That’s her second win over fences here. We were looking forward to bringing her back and thankfully she got the job done for the Landys. It was nice and smooth, and she jumped brilliant the whole way,” said O’Keeffe.
Three wins for Way Down South
WAY Down South recorded a third victory this year when making most of the running to land the other race over fences, the two miles and five furlongs handicap chase.
The 5/1 chance, trained by Gillian Scott for the WDS Syndicate, only had a loose horse to worry about in the straight and despite jumping right at the last, had plenty in reserve beating Island McCoo by five and a half lengths.
“We ended up getting it easy enough in front. I’ve never really seen another rival probably because the loose horse kept us going,” said rider Alan O’Sullivan of the 5/1 winner. Darragh O’Keeffe was taken to hospital with abdominal injuries after an unseat off Onefortheditch and misses the weekend.
Stewards again
The stewards were again called into action after Shoda led home a 1-2 for the Joseph O’Brien yard in the mares’ handicap hurdle. Richie Deegan’s mount tightened up stablemate Fratas when reaching the stands’ side railing after bypassing the final hurdle. Just a neck separated them at the line and the stewards reversed the placings in favour of 7/2 chance Fratas, owned by the Thoroughbred Racing Syndicate and ridden by J.J. Slevin. Deegan was given a four-day careless riding ban.
Slevin initiated his double aboard Zambezi Moon (5/2), owned and bred by Patrick Culloty, in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle.
The Dave Barry-trained gelding headed 8/13 favourite Doctor Elvis just after two out, with the hot-pot later reported lame after being pulled up and dismounted by Jack Kennedy on the run-in. Zambezi Moon kept on to beat The Goose’s Acre by four and a quarter lengths.
“He’s a nice horse without being a graded horse. We’re delighted to have him. He wants good ground and could go to Leopardstown at Christmas or leave him off to the spring,” said Barry.
Better fortune
Kennedy and Doctor Elvis’ trainer Gordon Elliott enjoyed better fortune when Gunnery Sergeant justified odds-on support in the Sign Up To GavinLynchRacing.com Maiden Hurdle.
The 5/6 favourite, placed twice in maiden hurdles last month, travelled well to lead at the penultimate flight but needed to be driven right out by the champion jockey on the run-in to hold off Flashy Fred by a length and a quarter.
“He jumped and travelled well. He could have done with a bit of company for a bit longer but thankfully he held on. Getting his head in front should give him confidence,” said Kennedy of the Ed Mulligan-owned gelding.
Duke Otto keeps Flynn run going
CONOR Smithers and Eoghan Finegan are two claiming riders who are both enjoying a successful season and they enjoyed further success in the two divisions of the two-mile handicap hurdle.
Pat Flynn’s Carrick-on-Suir yard has been in good form at Dundalk in recent weeks and added to those gains when Duke Otto finished strongly under Smithers to beat Liceo by a head.
“The plan was to jump out nice and quiet and just let him find his feet. The first-time blinkers today were a huge help and he travelled everywhere.
“His best work is always late on; he loves passing horses,” said Smithers of the Duke Of Saxony Syndicate-owned 18/1 winner. Finegan adopted contrasting tactics on Euro Maker (11/2), trained by Adrian Murray for owner/breeder Michael Dervan, who made all in division two and took control approaching the last for an easy five-length victory over Bowgate Street.
“He likes getting out on the front end and dictating things and I got it easy enough in front today,” said Finegan of his 17th winner of the campaign.
“The last day he didn’t jump well with me, but he winged the first today and got into a good rhythm.
“He likes good ground and hopefully he can keep improving.”