PAUL Nolan’s summer team have certainly found form over the last few weeks and the trainer enjoyed a good afternoon last Saturday as he secured a double which was completed by Our Friend and Jordan Gainford in the Tramore AFC Handicap Chase over an extended two-and-three-quarter-miles.
Our Friend had run to a respectable level on his last two completed starts but evidently a step forward was expect from the SoftCo-owned son of Shantou who was backed from 7/1 into 4/1 favouritism in the minutes beforehand.
The strong-travelling Our Friend was produced to lead at the last fence (ordinarily two out but the last was bypassed here) and he fended off the rallying front runner Memory Tree by a length and a half.
“He won a maiden hurdle on his first start and hadn’t won since. We were trying him out at different trips and he didn’t seem to stay on softer ground but three miles on good ground is what he wants,” stated Nolan. “He’s not the biggest and Jordan’s claim was a big help today.”
Best effort
Earlier Nolan teamed up with Sean O’Keeffe to land the 80-95 rated handicap with Dympnas Well (4/1) who was producing the much the best effort of her six-race career.
The five-year-old tackled and headed the favourite Doyouthinkso just after the last and went on to score by half a length.
The daughter of Saddler Maker is owned by Padraig Donohoe.
“The better ground and the first time tongue tie were a big help to her. She’s a fine, big mare and will stay on the go for the summer,” declared Nolan.
HENRY de Bromhead continued where he left off the previous evening as he notched up his second double in as many days which kicked off with Tisadream in the maiden hurdle over two-miles.
This John Byrne-owned and bred mare signalled that she could be turning a corner when taking third in a Kilbeggan maiden last month and she confirmed that impression after racing on the pace.
The 9/2 shot wasn’t at all that fluent at the second last but Rachael Blackmore’s mount soon held a useful lead and a much better leap at the last put the seal on a four-length success over Secret Secret.
“She struggled on the winter ground but is stepping forward now and it’s great for John.
“She is six and jumps so well that I’d be thinking of going chasing with her but we’ll see what John wants to do,” stated the trainer.
Second winner
Hugh Morgan was on board the trainer’s other winner which came courtesy of Oryx Hustler in the near two-and-three-quarter-miles maiden hurdle for horses who had never previously been placed.
The five-year-old was well-backed (12/1 in the morning into 9/2) to take a step forward in first time blinkers and he duly did so. The 93-rated Middle Eastenders Syndicate-owned gelding made much of the running en route to a two and three quarter lengths victory over Miss Clogher.
“He’s owned by a bunch of lads from all over the world and they’ve been patient with him so it’s great for them. The blinkers helped him and Hugh was brilliant,” declared the trainer.
Improved Molly kicks off Hayes double
IT is not unusual for horses to run on consecutive days at Tramore and Molly Wedger followed up her third the previous evening with a commanding success in the 80-109 rated handicap hurdle over two and three quarter miles.
The Dermot O’Brien-trained mare, who was the subject of a running and riding enquiry after her third to Miss Tempo less than 24 hours previously, was as big as 20/1 in the morning and was backed all the way into 7/2 joint favouritism.
The Kilbriens Syndicate-owned mare, who is the only horse under the care of her trainer, justified that support in some style under Brian Hayes as she dished out a 17 lengths beating to Emma Prada.
“I just want to thank the syndicate. Most of them are local to Dungarvan and are 13 of my friends, from all sorts of careers,” said O’Brien, who could bring the mare back to Tramore next month.
“It wasn’t always the plan to run her both days. I just wanted to run her here with the syndicate being local. With the balloting system I didn’t think she’d get in today and the fact she got in we just said we may as well run her.”
Brian Hayes then followed up on the Willie Mullins-trained Robinnia in the mares’ beginners’ chase over just short of two miles. This race looked set to provide the champion trainer with a one-two only for the odds-on Lady Breffni to come down at the second last just as Robinnia had loomed up to challenge.
After being left in the lead, the Closutton Racing Club-owned six-year-old made the most of this opportunity to defeat She Tops The Lot by 10 lengths.
“She seems a natural over fences and we will keep her going for the summer,” declared Mullins.
Greenane Lady was a 9/4 favourite to win quite a well-contested Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares INH Flat Race for the Mullins team but she had to settle for an honourable third behind the Liam Kenny-trained and owned Sadie’s Pride.
This Kalanisi mare was beaten at Wexford a fortnight previously and confirmed that promise to strike at 14/1 under the trainer’s son James. This was a fourth track success for the rider.