THE Noel Meade-trained Jesse Evans won the featured Grade 3 Kevin McManus Bookmaker Grimes Hurdle at Tipperary on Thursday evening. Sent off 7/2, the Jack Singleton-owned gelding stayed on best under Donagh Meyler to get the better of Enniskerry (17/2) in the final 110 yards by half a length.
Meyler said, “He’s been great and has brought the owners all over the place and was in Ascot not so long ago. He’s a yard favourite. He’s grinded it out and is as tough as nails. He had a nice weight on the ratings and had match fitness on his side which definitely paid off there. He’s toughed it out the whole way up the straight. I’m not sure what plans are but he’s won a graded race today and we’ll celebrate that.”
Excellent start
Henry de Bromhead and Darragh O’Keeffe continued their excellent start to the new season by completing a double. Red Glory was first up when landing the Donovan Transport Handicap Hurdle. Owned by Garristown Aintree Syndicate, the 11/1 chance led narrowly from two out and stayed on strongly to win by a length from The Banger Doyle (2/1 joint-favourite) who was challenging all the while.
O’Keeffe reported: “He was fit coming here and in good nick. I rang Rachael beforehand and she said to keep it nice and simple and she felt when he came under pressure that he would find plenty. When I jumped the second last well he was looking around and had his ears pricked but when The Banger Doyle came to him he picked up and went to the line well. He loves a bit of nice ground and hopefully he can have a good summer.”
De Bromhead double
Adaliz brought up the double for de Bromhead and O’Keeffe in the Cappawhite CE Handicap Hurdle. Carrying the colours of Syndicates Racing, the 7/1 chance relished the step up in trip to beat Emily In Paris by three lengths.
O’Keeffe said: “Mikey O’Connor, who had ridden a winner on her and was third on her the last day but was suspended today, was confident that she would stay.
“She jumped well, picked up well and galloped all the way to the line. She loves good ground and is taking her racing well. Hopefully she can go forward again.”
JOHN Nallen sent out the first juvenile hurdle winner of the season as Minella Study easily landed the opening Tipperary Town 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle.
Also owned by Nallen, the 9/4 chance was up with the pace and led from two out.
Pulling clear of the field, Felicity Smoak (12/1) laid down a challenge before the final flight but the winner kept on best under Daniel King to score by a neck.
Nallen reported: “He’s a staying horse and wasn’t quick enough for the flat.
“He was schooling all spring with the point-to-pointers and jumps well so we said we’d wait for this job.”
Classy but ‘lairy’
Keith Donoghue produced the Ross O’Sullivan-trained Strong Link from off the pace to win the O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Maiden Hurdle.
Owned by Tinnahinch Construction Limited, the 9/4 chance scored easily by a length and a half from Coded Welder (22/1).
O’Sullivan said: “He got the same ride from John Gleeson to win his bumper.
“He’s a classy horse but gets lairy if he gets there too soon and we learned that from his earlier bumpers. He pulls himself up a little bit in front.
Keith was impressed, and he just needs to tidy up his jumping a bit.
“He’ll go novice hurdling now and the plan is to go for the two and a half miles on the Thursday at Galway.
“He was bought from Jamie Codd and came well recommended. He’s fine, big, lovely looking horse.”
QUEENOFTHELODGE won the Easyfix Handicap Hurdle for Sam Curling and Phillip Enright. Sent off 11/2 joint-favourite, the Sink Or Swim Syndicate-owned mare stayed on nicely to beat Storm Mahler (10/1) by a length and three quarters.
Curling said: “She’s a nice mare and was unlucky the last day. She got a horrible fall and Toni Quail got a terrible fall off her but they are both okay which is the main thing.
“She did it nicely there and will go to Killarney for the 110 series final. I’d say she’ll keep improving and could go even further out in trip. She only ever does enough and hopefully can win a few more.”
Cross-card brace
Amongst the winners at Bellewstown earlier, trainer Andy Slattery completed an across the card double as Ebony King landed the concluding Tipperary INH Flat Race.
A well backed 7/4 favourite(from 8/1), the Adam Ryan-partnered four-year-old won by three and a quarter lengths from Siouxfonic (15/8) for owners Ladies Choice Partnership.
Slattery said: “The horses are flying so hopefully they keep that way. Adam had a lot of confidence in the horse, and he worked up the Old Vic last week. He’s still on the weak side and we had him under trained more than anything and he said he was very green and idling in front.
“Tom Meagher bred him and he has the sire. His wife, her sister and another woman own him so they’ll have a bit of fun. He jumps very well and his work has been good, but I still think there is a lot to come. We’ll see how he takes the race and if he comes out of it well he’ll probably go for a winners bumper.”