JOCKEY Liam Quinlan had his claim reduced to 5lb with a double on Clonmel as he steered the Roger McGrath-trained Zinat to win the Killaloan Handicap Hurdle, half an hour after winning the Sir Thomas Opportunity Rated Race on Nero Rock.
Quinlan began by winning on the Mouse Morris-trained, Michael and John O’Flynn-owned Nero Rock (9/4 favourite), who was following up last month’s Sligo success when scoring a one-length win from Bal De Rio.
Quinlan doubled his score, and notched his 20th career winner, on Zinat (9/2 joint-favourite), a daughter of Holy Roman Emperor, who beat Ashton Court by one and three-quarter lengths.
Afterwards winning trainer Roger McGrath said: “We changed tactics today and it was probably our fault all along; she liked it out in front but we said we’d go the opposite today and just dropped her in.
“She might have a go on the flat now as she has a nice rating, and if the ground is good we might go for a one-mile, four-furlong handicap. She’ll turn out again fairly soon as she handled her racing well.”
Trainer Shark Hanlon registered a ninth winner since the lockdown ended when his Whatsinthecorner (12/1) landed the Newtown Anner Handicap Hurdle, for jockey Jody McGravey and owner T.J. McDonald.
The son of Windsor Knot was one of Hanlon’s previous eight winners when winning at Bellewstown in July and this time stayed on strongly on the run-in to score a six-length win over Western Boy.
Gordon Elliott bagged a winner with Nobel Joshua who scored by a head over Hello Pilgrim in the Derrinlaur Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.
The son of Joshua Tree was winning for the first time since being claimed by current connections in July 2019, the Goldman Racing Syndicate, and was Sean O’Keeffe’s fifth win for trainer Elliott.
Jelona another Harrington winner from famous family
RACING began with the Kilganey (Mares) Maiden Hurdle which sadly was marred by the death of final-flight faller and leader Hollow Moon, in a race eventually won by Jelona (13/2) for Gerry McGrath.
Hollow Moon had a clear lead when falling at the final flight and fractured a hind leg in the incident. Her fall left Jelona in second place but she quickened well to lead close home and catch Trevena, the half-length runner-up.
Jelona is out of unraced Jeree, a half-sister to Jezki. Trainer Jessica Harrington was absent, and winning jockey Paddy Kennedy commented: “I was probably lucky at the last and she jumped the other horse.
“If she had jumped well the whole way I would have won anyway but it has taken her a while to learn and she will improve again jumping-wise.
“She has a savage pedigree so to win is very valuable to the family.”
Compensation
Hollow Moon’s trainer Henry de Bromhead gained a measure of compensation in the following Redmondstown Maiden Hurdle with Say It Ain’t So, an able substitute for the trainer’s withdrawn favourite January Jets.
Even-money favourite January Jets was withdrawn minutes after the unfortunate opening race, due to fast going.
De Bromhead was nonetheless represented by Say It Ain’t So who gained a neck win under Daniel Holden, at 8/1 for Linda Shanahan.
De Bromhead later said: “It was very sad about the mare in the first; she looked to be going really well she fell and it is very sad to lose her.
“I’m delighted with this guy and he is a real big chasing type of horse who loves that better ground. Hopefully he has a nice future and he is such a big horse all the time he gets will stand to him.”
Mullins’ bumper
The concluding bumper was won by Denis Hogan’s More Info, who was champion amateur jockey Patrick Mullins’ second winner for the trainer.
Hogan said: “She had different conditions to Galway and while Patrick (Mullins) got to dictate things in Galway, we got him to dictate things for us today; he is a nice man to have on your side in those races.
“I’m delighted for (owner) Tim Conroy who has been with me a long time, is a great patron and a nice man.”