A BROTHER to Love Me Tender, who won a bumper the previous evening at this venue, Kainsbourg completed a double for Jordan Gainford in the Group Packages And Discounts On tramoreraces.ie Maiden Hurdle.
With a rating of 122, the Gordon Elliott-trained five-year-old was expected to make the breakthrough in this seven-runner heat and was returned favourite at 8/13.
In first time cheekpieces and settled in second, the J.P. McManus-owned bay was ridden and pressed from the penultimate obstacle, keeping on well in the closing stages, beating newcomer Eye Of The Tiger by a length and three quarters.
“He deserved it and had the rating to do that,” Ian ‘Busty’ Amond, representing Elliott commented.
“He might get a bit of confidence from that and kick on. He’ll be kept going now and doesn’t mind any type of ground.”
Kainsbourg won two French bumpers before being imported into Ireland.
Leading Lass
Gainford had earlier guided the Philip Dempsey-trained Killinure Lass to victory in the Tramore Handicap Chase. In the colours of Tom Austin, the Morozov eight-year-old wasn’t fluent at times early on and moved into a closer fifth with a circuit to go.
Third before two out and ridden approaching the last, the 8/1 chance led shortly after that obstacle and kept on well in the closing stages to beat Pebble Bleu by a length.
“That was great, she was unlucky here before when she got to the front and pulled herself up a bit,” Dempsey reflected. “She had a nice run the last day in Sligo and she seemed to come on from that. She’ll go for something similar now.”
OWNED and bred by Michael Lacy, Early Bird provided Jonathan Sweeney and Adam Ryan with a second successive win in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares INH Flat Race.
A beaten favourite on her first two starts, the Shirocco six-year-old again topped the market for this 10-runner heat and was returned an 11/8 chance.
Never far from the pace on the outer, the bay victor was ridden and gained an outright advantage with over a furlong to go, keeping on well in the closing stages to score by four and a half lengths.
“It was an impressive run the last day and she came forward from it a good bit,” Sweeney, who was successful with Glannagaullitehous 12-months ago, remarked. “Adam said she struggled to handle the track and she might go out in the field now for a month or six weeks.”
Easy win
The Philip Rothwell-trained Kyle Valley (11/1) had an even easier time of things in the Racing TV Free Month Trial Handicap Chase. A dual point-to-point winner when in the care of Sean Osborne, the Doyen seven-year-old made all under champion conditional Tiernan Power Roche.
Running off her hurdles mark of 83, the Caroline Doyle-owned victor was pressed before two out, but went on again ultimately coasting to a six-and-a-half-length win.
“I told her owners that if we ran her in four handicap hurdles that she could run over fences off her hurdles rating,” Rothwell explained.
“She had experience from point-to-pointing and while she went up 3lb for being second the last day, Tiernan claimed 5lb off her today, so she was 2lb lighter.”
WILLIE Mullins saddled three in the Start Your Racing TV Free Month Trial Now Maiden Hurdle, with his Sunset Boulevard (16/5) leading home stable companion Ellis Mor (15/8 favourite from 4s early).
Completing a double for Mullins, the successful Malcolm Denmark-owned bay tracked the leaders under Sean O’Keeffe, gaining a narrow advantage before two out.
Ridden approaching the last and pressed by the market leader, he battled back gamely to prevail by three quarters of a length at the line.
“It was great and a super finish. Sean was brilliant on Sunset Boulevard, he got a great jump at the last,” Patrick Mullins disclosed.
“I thought Ellis Mor was coming to beat him, but he toughed it out. I think he is a horse that will improve the further he goes and probably over fences as well.”
May mix it on the flat
The champion trainer had earlier claimed the Dunmore East Handicap Hurdle, with well-supported favourite May Call You Back (4/6 from 9/4 early).
The 81-rated seven-year-old, owned by Pauline Carroll, tracked the leaders on the outer under Brian Hayes and was fifth with a circuit to go before coming with her challenge before the penultimate obstacle. Stretching clear approaching the last the pair ultimately eased to a 10-length win.
“She won on her first start for us and then disappointed here in August,” Patrick Mullins reflected. “We gave her a break after that, and she’ll mix it over hurdles and fences now. She’s a good fun mare.”
Solidarity
Femme Magnifique finished second for Mullins in the opening July 8th Family Day Mares Beginners Chase, with Amanha taking this five-runner contest.
On her first start over fences, the Dermot McLoughlin-trained seven-year-old was returned an 11/2 chance, having touched 12s in early shows.
Pushed along to lead before the penultimate fence under Paddy O’Hanlon, the Wild Geese Syndicate-owned French-bred soon shot clear and kept on well in the closing stages to register a comfortable eight-and-a-half length win.
Returned favourite, but drifting from 8/13 to 11/8, Gaoth Chuil made a bad mistake in rear at the fifth and never got involved thereafter.
“Paddy said she dived at the first a bit but after that then she got into a nice rhythm,” McLoughlin remarked. “They went a nice gallop and her jumping improving the further she went. She’s a big mare, so jumping is probably her game.”
Donning a keffiyeh, Mickey Hughes of the winning syndicate, added: “The horse is called Amanha and it means respect in the Palestinian dialect. It’s a show of solidarity.”