THERE was a poignant success in the McHale Mayo National Handicap Chase at Ballinrobe on Tuesday as Kaiser Black scored in the colours of deceased Cork man Martin O’Callaghan.
Carrigaline-based O’Callaghan passed away in March and winning trainer Pat Doyle commented: “I’m sure Martin was helping us from above and he was a great friend of mine for many years.”
Davy Russell could have been aboard had he not been ill and Jack Kennedy was entrusted with the ride.
Though Kaiser Black (11/2) didn’t get the second last fence right, he was already in control at that stage. The progressive Germany seven-year-old had 15 lengths in hand over Spider Web (5/1 joint-favourite) at the line.
Net D’Ecosse was the other one at the head of the market. Sean Flanagan brought him to a halt before the 10th and said that his mount lost his action. Noel Meade’s charge was also reported to have a graze on his right hind fetlock and to be slightly lame behind.
Meade and Flanagan had better luck earlier when Art Of Security (7/1) put in a similarly commanding performance to Kaiser Black, taking out the other big prize of the evening in the McHale Coranna Handicap Hurdle.
In the words of Flanagan, the Munnelly Support Services Ltd-owned eight-year-old “got into a nice rhythm” as he slammed Bargy Lady by 11 lengths.
“He had a good run on the flat the last day which has left him spot on for today,” reflected the Tu Va stable jockey.
Good Thyne Tara (13/8 favourite), who romped home by 16 lengths in the McHale Pro Glide Mower Range Hurdle, was another to give their connections and supporters a stress free time of it.
Unfortunately this opener was marred as we lost both Hurricane Ben and Lesley Dawn in independent falls at the second last hurdle.
One of three here for Willie Mullins, Good Thyne Tara led home her stable companions American Tom and Stratum, who were third and fourth.
Mullins’ nephew Danny rode Good Thyne Tara, and he commented: “It’s good for Neil (King, owner). He is a good supporter of Willie’s and he likes his mares. It’s great to see him with a nice one.”
Runner-up Housesofparliament was found to have pulled his right hind shoe.
NUMBER ONE
Rachael Blackmore, fifth there on the ‘Shark’ Hanlon’s Another Cyclone, was back in the number one spot after later guiding Balzac Turgot (6/1) home in front in the McHale Fusion 3 Plus Beginners Chase.
Only returned the previous day after a short spell on the sidelines with a broken nose, Blackmore, in the Gigginstown House Stud silks, kept former point-to-point runner Balzac Turgot ahead of strong-challenging favourite, Rashaan.
A length split them and they finished nearly five lengths clear of the third home, Lilshane.
“I’m delighted with that and he got a great ride from Rachael,” stated successful handler Henry de Bromhead. “He jumped brilliant and he was always a chaser in the making.”
Awbeg Prince is another to hail from the point-to-point fields and he made light of a 255-day absence to emerge on top in the McHale F5500 Baler Maiden Hurdle.
Owned and bred by the Barney Syndicate, Awbeg Prince here provided former champion novice ‘points’ rider Chris O’Donovan with a third win on the racecourse.
Mikey O’Connor’s charge was always up there before eventually accounting for joint-favourite Gallant John Joe by two and a quarter lengths.
“He’s probably only 85/90% (fit) still which is good for us going forward. He’s had a fair blow after it,” said O’Connor.
“We got caught out last year which I blame myself for. We walked the ground in Listowel and convinced ourselves that he’d handle it.
“He’s 17.1hh but it’s only now that he’s a horse. He’s only filled out and he’s a big athlete – with his long legs, bad ground isn’t the thing for him.”
Paris Texas (7/2 joint favourite, finished a tailed off last) was reported to be blowing hard post race and to have lost a left fore shoe.
Staying away proved to be a lucky tactic for some of those involved in the other two winners.
Galway City owner/breeder Gerard Murphy was in Lanzarote and missed out on seeing his Val O’Brien-handled Oh’herewego do the business under Donagh Meyler in the McHale Centre Delivery Rake Range Handicap Hurdle.
A blunder at the last wasn’t going to prevent the nine-year-old from shedding his maiden tag at the 17th attempt, which he eventually did by 11 lengths from Carole Rose.
O’Brien remarked on the 9/1 scorer afterwards: “The horse deserved it as he had bits of form and had been knocking on the door.”
Well-backed favourite Pack Your Bags was pulled up by Mark Walsh before the last. Robert Tyner’s representative was found to be blowing hard post race and to have lost his left fore shoe and right hind shoe.
The form of the McHale Orbital Round Bale Wrapper INH Flat Race will be interesting to follow going forward as newcomers filled the first three positions.
Carrying Michael Hogan’s familiar pink and black colours, Harley Dunne kept Sole Pretender (25/1) going well enough to fend off Russian Dancer (22s into 16s) and Mister Fogpatches (16s into 14s) by a length and a half and a length and three-quarters.
Hogan has Sole Pretender with Norman Lee who was an absentee at the sales.
Whip bans
HARLEY Dunne, rider ofSole Pretender, and Derek Kelly, rider of Russian Dancer, were both sanctioned by the stewards for their use of the whip in the bumper. Each received a three-day ban.
ACTING STEWARDS
R. Groarke, D. H. Gavin, N. B. Wachman, G. McCourt, M. F. O’Donoghue
HORSE TO FOLLOW
FIZZLESTICK (C. O’Dwyer): She made a promising start to her career when third behind Awbeg Prince in the two and a half-mile maiden hurdle.