SAM Curling continued his excellent run of form at Wexford last Friday, where last point-to-point season’s leading handler scored with his own He Who Dares (12/1) in the Clearwater Construction Handicap Hurdle (Div I).
Ridden by Philip Enright, the son of Harzand was held up in mid-field and while he improved into fourth-position jumping the final flight, and finished well to score by three and a quarter lengths from Esticky End.
Enright reported: “I crept away, they went very quick so they came back to me and it worked out well. The horses came back on top of me a little bit but in fairness to him he was brave and kept going to the line.
“I just happened to be in the right position throughout the race. Hopefully he’ll pick away during the summer, he likes good ground. The good ground was a big help to him.”
Curling’s big rival between the flags, Colin Bowe, was also on the mark and bagged a five-and-a-half-length win in the Curracloe Beach Maiden Hurdle with Mayo Shirocco (11/1), for owners Alberta Capital Ltd and jockey Ricky Doyle.
Six-year-old Mayo Shirocco made all the running and won easily from Benner Wenner, with jockey Doyle reporting: “It was a good performance after coming back from a break but obviously she pulled up a bit lame. Hopefully she might have just struck into herself and hopefully will be fine in a few days. There will be a bit of sport in her if she is okay.”
JOCKEY Danny Gilligan completed a double on the day, and began by scoring on the Gordon Elliott-trained Newbrook Diamond (11/4 joint-favourite) in the Shamrock Enterprises Maiden Hurdle.
Carrying the colours of KTDA Racing & Nick Courtney, the son of Balko made all and scored readily, by nine lengths from Fou De Toi.
Gilligan completed his double when successfully teaming up with trainer Ross O’Sullivan for the second time in two days, winning on Giant Haystacks (5/2 favourite) in the Save Dave 7th August Ladies Day Handicap Chase.
Last successful when scoring at the 2024 Leopardstown Christmas festival, Gilligan raced prominently in Giant Haystacks’ fifth chasing start and went on to score by two and a half lengths from A Snow White Park.
O’Sullivan’s assistant Tom Harney said: “I’m delighted for the Keep It Simple Syndicate. He’s taken well to chasing and we found a little niggle after his run the last day, which we got sorted.
“We’ll get him home and see how he comes out of the race but there might be something in Galway. They are a good bunch of owners and they’d enjoy a day out in Galway.”
Lad enjoys handicap switch
Ex-hunter chaser Lisleigh Lad (11/2) justified his switch to handicap chasing when landing the featured €25,000 Molloy Metals Recycling Handicap Chase for trainer Eleanor Broderick and in-form claimer Alan O’Sullivan.
The Living The Dream Partnership-owned eight-year-old tracked the leaders and kept on well in the home straight, to score by three and a half lengths from Nouvotic.
Trainer Broderick’s partner Matty Slattery reported: “Eleanor is on holidays in Lanzarote and as she couldn’t view the race properly, thought something had happened the horse, but I rang to say ‘he’s after passing the winning post’! Alan rode him in Listowel and told me if we got him in his own company, that he’d be there or thereabouts. He came on from Listowel and today was his day. He’ll probably go to Galway now.”
DAN King is another who has made a fine start to the new season and combined with trained Denis Hogan to win the Clearwater Construction Handicap Hurdle (Div 2), with gambled Backinabit (morning 40/1, retuned 10/1).
The seven-year-old gelding sported first-time blinkers and having raced with the pace throughout, defeated runner-up Le Diablo by three and a quarter lengths.
King commented of the Frances Dunne-owned gelding: “Denis said he’d stay further so I was happy when something went on as we had that horse to aim at. I thought we went a nice even gallop, so I just let him roll into the straight. He put his head down and galloped to the line and the blinkers helped him as well.”
Like a fine wine
Darragh O’Keeffe and Henry de Bromhead combined to win the Slaney Valley Beginners Chase with the Basil Holian-owned Pinot Gris (5/2 favourite).
Previously successful in two flat and two hurdle races, the six-year-old gelding led at the last and held on well to score by five and a half lengths from Mickie Angel.
De Bromhead said: “We said we’d try stepping him up in trip, he jumped well and I thought Darragh gave him a brilliant ride. He seemed to stay well.
“I think you need four runs for the Galway Blazers so would need another run, but would have been a nice one for that. We’ll find something for him in the next few weeks.”
Highlander off the mark
The concluding Racing Again 22nd July Bumper was won by the Pat Flynn-trained, David Doyle-partnered Highlander Addict (5/1 - 11/4), who gained a deserved first success.
The son of Highland Reel made all the running and held on well to score by a length and a quarter from Cotswold Blue.
Part-owner and ex-amateur jockey Glen Norris, who heads the successful Mates Rates Syndicate, said: “I’m absolutely delighted and knew there was a race in him.
“We’ll go hurdling now and he’s a good fun sound horse who is a pleasure to do anything with. All the lads in the yard love riding him and if I can ride him, then he’s straightforward!”