REST OF THE CARD

COEUR De Lion showed that his first two efforts over hurdles were in no way a reflection of the full extent of his abilities as he denied red-hot favourite Jenkins to bag the Goffs Land Rover Bumper for Robert Tyner and jockey Barry O’Neill.

At Goffs last June the Voix Du Nord four-year-old fetched €75,000 when purchased from Norman Williamson’s Oak Tree Farm but his career began in somewhat underwhelming style. In two maiden hurdle runs at Gowran in the spring Coeur De Lion beat just three rivals but Robert Tyner worked the oracle with the Brendan Keogh-owned gelding who turned in a vastly improved effort.

The aforementioned Jenkins was quite keen throughout the race but he did look to be in control when he strode to the front over a quarter of a mile from home. Coeur De Lion closed in gradually though and inch by inch he drew on terms before forcing his way past in the final yards. At the line he had half a length to spare and there was a further seven lengths back to the third placed Moulin A Vent.

“We had problems with his jumping initially and he was a bit cowardly at his hurdles but hopefully we’re going to get that sorted out,” stated Tyner. “He stays well and he’s a horse with a lot of class and I must say a big thank you to his owner Brendan Keogh as it’s not often that I get to go to the sales and buy what I like.”

On what was a decidedly mixed day for punters Tempo Mac sprung a 25/1 surprise to bag the €50,000 Killashee Handicap Hurdle under Luke Dempsey, which gave Gordon Elliott his first winner in three weeks.

A four time winner earlier in the season, Tempo Mac appreciated the switch to good ground to land the biggest prize of his career. The six-year-old caught the eye as he moved into contention at the entrance to the straight and, after pinging the last flight, he went to the line strongly to hand out a four and a half lengths beating to Ancient Sands.

“To be honest of the two I ran here I thought Automated had the better chance but he didn’t get the best of runs,” commented Elliott, who trains the winner for John McGovern. “This horse is going to be a nice, fun sort for the summer. We’ll probably look at bringing him back to the flat at some point and after winning that I suppose we’re entitled to look at something like the Galway Hurdle.”

DINGER

The meeting got off to its now traditional start with an Enda Bolger success in the Kildare Hunt Club-sponsored Ladies Cup which is run in memory of Fr Sean Breen. As was the case 12 months ago Wish Ye Didnt (5/4) prevailed under Nina Carberry with the daughter of Oscar once again showing herself especially adept at negotiating the myriad of unique obstacles. The J.P. McManus-owned seven-year-old asserted on the run to the final fence to hand out a nine and a half lengths beating to last year’s runner-up Enniskillen.

“She’s a dinger over the banks and she’s qualified for next year’s renewal so that would probably be the plan again,” stated Bolger who was winning this race for the fourth year in succession. “She’s just a natural at this and she was getting plenty of help from on top as well.”

For the first time since 2008 the Donohue Marquees-sponsored bumper went to the Willie Mullins yard as the newcomer Cilaos Emery (10/3) marked himself as a bright prospect for next winter. The Luke McMahon-owned runner made good progress through the field to take charge of the race before the turn in and he stayed on relentlessly over the last quarter of a mile to contain the effort of Someday by half a length.

“He’s clearly very smart and he showed a lot of gears there,” declared Mullins. “He did it the hard way as he was well back at one point but he showed a lot of speed and he clearly stays well too. He could be a nice horse to go jumping with next season.”

ACTING STEWARDS

J.O. Onions, P. Reynolds, T. Rudd, M.J. Doyle, P.D. Matthews

HORSE TO FOLLOW

SOMEDAY (Mrs. J. Harrington): This Black Sam Bellamy gelding ran a fine race to take second behind Cilaos Emery in the bumper where he didn’t enjoy the smoothest of passages. He will take a good deal of beating if turning out for another bumper in the coming weeks.

Suspensions

JAMIE Codd picked up a one day careless riding ban in the Goffs Land Rover Bumper while Kate Harrington was given a two day whip suspension for her efforts on Someday in the concluding bumper.