TOM Gibney improved on his excellent recent strike-rate last Friday where the Irish Grand National winning trainer landed Clonmel’s Bulmers Original Beginners Chase with his frustrating Mr Saxobeat (13/8).
Ridden by Eoin Walsh, the Roberto Syndicate-owned gelding raced with the pace and eventually fought off Britzka by two and a quarter lengths.
It was Gibney’s sixth winner from his last 12 runners, with another finishing second, and afterwards he reported: “I didn’t expect to beat the favourite (Clondaw Hollow, reported to have burst blood vessels) today but he underperformed and we were there to pick up the pieces.
“I can’t believe I couldn’t win a hurdle race with him, but I couldn’t. He’ll stay chasing now and seemed to enjoy it but you wouldn’t know, he could go back hurdling again at some stage.”
Regarding his yard form, he added: “It’s down to the right horses in the right races and a lot of luck!”
King double
Jockey Daniel King completed an opening-race double, beginning with Desert Friend’s (11/2) success for his employer Denis Hogan in the Powerstown Park Beginners Chase.
Carrying the colours of the Yermanmilan Syndicate, King steered the seven-year-old to a comfortable four and a quarter-lengths win over Takarengo.
Afterwards King commented: “He ran not so long ago in Limerick where he had a nice introduction to fences. He did it nicely, jumped well, I got a good lead into the race and he quickened when I asked him.
“Denis had told me to let him stride on if there was no pace but if there was pace to take my time - we went a good gallop so I took a lead.
“You’d like to think there is more improvement to come from him over fences.”
King completed his double on the Eoin McCarthy-trained Name Me Famous (11/4 favourite), in the Bulmers BBQ Opportunity Handicap Chase.
Despite lacking fluency in his jumping, Name Me Famous improved into a challenging position in the home straight and eventually beat Top Line Tommy by three lengths.
McCarthy said: “For a horse that can jump well, he made a lot of mistakes - whether it was down to the ground, or the speed they were going, I’m not sure. He is awful tough and genuine though.
“Jumping was never an issue until today - he was very good at Limerick the last day so we will give him the benefit of the doubt.
“He’ll continue in summer chases now and I’m delighted for Denis (Enright, from Ballylongford) who is a good supporter of the yard. Denis has had two horses with me and both has won three races each.”
WELL-backed Whatsyourstatus (morning 25/1, returned 13/2) ended a long lean spell when landing the Bulmers Zero (QR) Handicap Chase for owner/trainer Gearoid O’Loughlin and jockey Harry Swan.
The 10-year-old’s previous win was in a Cork handicap hurdle in October 2020 and today, under a fine forward-going ride from Swan, beat runner-up Room To Roam by six lengths.
O’Loughlin reported: “That was a while coming and for a long time, we were scratching our heads wondering what to do with him. I thought we would drop him back to two miles and four furlongs and make more use of him, he had gone down the ratings and truth be known, it wasn’t the strongest race in the world.
“He took a run on softish ground at Downpatrick the last day and it helped get his confidence back.
“We had been at the end of our tether with him to get him healthy but he takes minding, is trained out of a field now and they were things we had to learn. In fairness to the handicapper he had given him a chance also.”
He added: “We were in a yard from which I couldn’t get him or any of the horses to run well and moved yards last August which has helped.
“I am currently renting a barn from Cormac Farrell in Bunclody and from August on am taking over the whole yard and will have room for 33 horses – I’ll try to fill them.”
ANOTHER well-supported winner was Rebel Waltz (13/2, from morning 33s) in the Bulmers Light Beginners Chase, scoring for trainer TJ Nagle, jockey Robbie Geoghegan and the Always On Time Partnership.
Nagle later revealed: “He got a leg (in 2022) and six weeks ago got a bad cut on his fetlock joint. Our vet Jess did a brilliant job as his fetlock was cut open and it was remarkable that he was even running today,” Nagle revealed.
“I fancied him, although I would have preferred to have had another week to prepare him.
“I couldn’t understand how everyone didn’t look at his early runs. He was placed in good beginners’ chases in 2021 and was third to Busselton in Listowel. If he had run today, he’d have lapped them!
“It was a low-class race, he loved that ground and will continue to run over hurdles and fences.”
The concluding Clonmel Show July 2nd Handicap Chase was won by a relative of Kauto Star, as his nephew Bal Kauto justified 13/8 favouritism to win on chase debut for trainer Declan Queally and owners the Man About Dog Syndicate.
Out of an unraced half-sister to Kauto Star, Bal Kauto today won snugly under jockey Shane Fitzgerald, who was riding out his claim, with a 60th career winner.
Worried
Trainer Queally’s son, namesake and assistant commented: “I was worried beforehand because he hadn’t ran in a chase. He had run in a point-to-point which was a plus and Shane had schooled him last week and was delighted with him.
“I was still doubting though as he isn’t over-big, and asked Shane to school him again yesterday and he said he was brilliant.
“I was worried that if he made an early mistake against seasoned horses today, it would be daunting for him but thankfully it paid off.
“He is owned by a great bunch of lads including my brother Louis and all the owners in the yard own him.
“They are all from Knockraha and Watergrasshill and that’s where a lot of my owners are from.
“That’s Shane’s claim gone now and I’m delighted for him as he is a good lad and does a lot of schooling for me.”