BANDON trainer James Dullea had never met 7lb claimer Conor Orr, who rattled off a memorable first treble, before yesterday’s Limerick fixture but their association was quick to bear fruit with a long-priced double through Just Get Cracking and Rocky’s Silver.
Up until then, the former was always referred to as a Tramore specialist but the eight-year-old’s three-quarter-length triumph in the Fexco Asset Finance 80-123 Handicap Hurdle was his first outside the seaside venue.
“When I heard they were racing on the inside track, it wasn’t a bad thing,” said the trainer who has care of the 7/1 winner for the West Cork trio of Sean O’Connor, country and western singer Catriona O’Donovan and her husband Jerry, who has been under the weather of late.
“He’s not the easiest horse to train, He gets little niggly problems and that’s why he hasn’t run since August,” was the comment from Dullea. “We always thought he was a good horse and there’s a good pot in him in a nice handicap. He’ll go for something at Christmas, probably at Leopardstown.”
Market leader Bay Hill never travelled and could finish only 10th.
SHOCK WINNER
Stablemate Rocky’s Silver ran out a shock 33/1 winner of the Book Online At www.limerickraces.ie Maiden Hurdle, an outcome the trainer admitted came as “a bit of a surprise”. Orr’s mount took it up after two out and sealed the issue with a good jump at the last, being pushed out to account for Lill Smith by three and a half lengths. The favourite, Wigs On The Green, faded into fifth place.
Rocky’s Silver is owned by Margaret and David Kiely from Dungarvan and Dullea said: “Conor gave him an exceptional ride and has obviously found the key to him. We always rode him very prominently in point-to-points but he was happier coming at them today and seemed to enjoy passing horses.”
The trainer is anticipating Rocky’s Silver getting a good hike from the handicapper and thinks he will have little choice but to go back over fences.
Donegal native Orr was again seen to good effect when bringing Austin Leahy’s 10/1 shot Killacolla home by one and a half lengths in the rated novice hurdle, a race in which the favourite Commandant struggled.
Leahy trains the winner for his wife Ellen and pondered: “I thought a rating of 104 was high enough but I’d say he’s progressing, without winning. I always thought a lot of him and wouldn’t say he let us down but he’s a tall horse and could be one for next year. He’ll come back here for Christmas for another one of those.”
BANDWAGON
Joseph O’Brien’s bandwagon of winners shows no signs of slowing down but, just to spice things up a little, both Aforementioned and Scarlet And Dove carried the maroon and white silks of Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud to success.
Evan Daly had the leg up on 6/5 favourite Aforementioned in the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle and matters went very much according to plan for the French-bred who went to the front between the final two flights. Driven out from the last, he had five and a half lengths to spare over the longtime leader, Free Ranger.
The successful rider reported: “He did it well and was entitled to do that on his first run over hurdles at Navan last year in what was a decent maiden. He’s a fine big raw horse and he should come on plenty for it and get better with experience in time.”
Scarlet And Dove (4/1) made a victorious debut for the same owners and trainer in the ladies pro/am bumper when powering away from joint-favourite Dolly Dancer for a decisive six-and-a-half-win. The four-year-old provided a win on home turf for Laura Hourigan, who confirmed: “That’s my first ride in those colours and my first time riding for Joseph and it was nice to get it.
“She’s not too bad and quickened and did everything you’d want from one having its first run.”
CHAMPION
Point-to-point champion Barry O’Neill did the steering on Henry de Bromhead’s Plan Of Attack (7/2) who cut out most of the running in the amateur riders 80-109 handicap hurdle to hold the favourite Whatsinthecorner’s effort by a four-and-a-quarter-length margin.
The Wexford amateur said of the Alan Halsall-owned scorer: “He travelled lovely, jumped well and the first time cheekpieces helped him. Like one of Henry’s, he’ll improve for a fence in front of him.”
Tom Foley was a happy camper, following Therellalwaysbeone’s four-length defeat of the favourite Silver Planeur in the opportunity 80-116 handicap hurdle on his first outing since April. “I wasn’t expecting to win today and would have been happy to finish in the first five or six because I know he’ll come on for it,” he said.
Michael and Damien O’Dowd from Goresbridge are the joint-owners of the big strong 8/1 shot and their trainer added: “I thought we were going to struggle with the ground because he wouldn’t mind going down eight or nine inches into it.
“I’m looking forward to going over fences with him and the handicapper will probably make our minds up when that is but he’s a horse you can’t over-race.”
Acting Stewards
J. Moloney,T. McDonagh, Ms Kate Horgan,
G. Coughlan, L. Walsh.
HORSE TO FOLLOW
FREE RANGER (N. Meade): Has proved expensive to follow but first-time blinkers seemed to wake him up in the opportunity maiden hurdle. Surely only a matter of time before he picks up a small race.
Gilligan overweight
LIAM Gilligan was suspended for two days for breaching Rule 231 by weighing in at 2.4lbs overweight in the second race.