THE Scottish Grand National is under consideration for Fine Rightly who made the near 10 hour round trip from Stuart Crawford’s yard in Co Antrim to Cork pay off with a decisive 10 length win in last Sunday’s Grade 3 Imperial Call Chase.
Sent off the 4/5 favourite Patricia Duffin’s progressive home-bred was given a confident ride by Andrew Lynch, who has struck up a rewarding partnership with the trainer this season, to take it up before the second last and drew clear from the final obstacle to beat Toon River in good style.
Crawford said: “He’s been great for us this season and is learning to settle a bit. The step up in trip helped him but he won’t do a whole lot more.
“We’ll think about the Scottish National if there’s a bit of moisture there. If not he’ll go out on grass early and come back in early.”
Kanturk trainer Michael Winters supplied the first and second in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase in Another Rebel and Vinnie Luck respectively.
The 6/1 winner had been off the track with leg trouble since August 2013, but was well-tuned for his first start over fences and made every yard under Martin Ferris to get the better of his stable-mate by 12 lengths.
The victory also represented a welcome boost for the jockey who has been out of action for 13 months with damaged tendons in his hand. He explained: “I’ve had a lot of operations and it’s been a long road back.”
Winters has care of Another Rebel for his neighbour Tommy O’Brien and made use of Turlough O’Connor’s gallop for the nine-year-old’s preparation. He said: “It’s a great facility. I thought the ground was too heavy for him and he would be out of his comfort zone, but he’s a brilliant jumper and Martin gave him a great spin. While the ground stays soft I’ll run him again in a novice chase.”
Mississippi River, meanwhile, had overcome a three year absence to fill the runner-up spot at Thurles last time, but built on that effort to take the Munster Waste Management 80-116 Handicap Hurdle for former Cork footballer Paul O’Flynn.
Maxine O’Sullivan’s mount, a 5/1 chance owned by Tom O’Flynn from Ballyclough, prevailed by one and a half lengths from Long Journey Home. Joint favourites Inishturk Lad and Dr Waluigi finished third and fourth respectively.
O’Flynn is training a team of 20 horses, mostly point-to-pointers from a new yard he built just outside Buttevant and singled out Chris Higgins for his input into Mississippi River’s comeback, saying: “He gave a bit of leg trouble and Chris did a lot of road work with him. He’s a quirky horse and Maxine gave him a peach of a ride. She’s well worth her seven pound claim.”
As long as the ground stays safe the 11 year-old Sadler’s Wells gelding is likely to have one more outing over timber before going chasing. “He’s electric to jump a fence,” said his trainer.
IMPRESSIVE
Donal Coffey’s well-bred Athlacca point-to-point winner Give Me A Copper was the most impressive winner of the day in the Corkracecourse.ie (Pro/Am) Flat Race. Ridden by Pat Collins, the full-brother to Presenting Copper and half-brother to Copper Bleu opened up inside the distance to outpoint the favourite Classic Place by six and a half lengths.
Just for good measure, Coffey not only owns and bred this 9/4 winner from a family that has served him well, he also trains the chesnut son of Presenting. He enthused: “He’s a lovely horse. Pat said he was only cantering and he’ll be better on better ground. If he’s not sold I’ll keep him for the Gold Cup!”
Doneraile handler John Joe Walsh is enjoying a good season but there was an element of luck attached to Noble Vision’s success for Donegal fish factory owner Anthony Byrne and jockey Philip Enright in the Mallow Maiden Hurdle.
The 13/8 favourite was gifted the race by the final flight fall of Little Stevie who, seemingly, only had to jump that hurdle to win.
Walsh remarked: “The ground out there is woeful and she might go back to the flat, because this type of ground is too much. She’s bred for the flat and seems to be better on it.”
It was a good day all round for Glengoura handler Liam Burke. Not only was his son Jonathan amongst the winners at Fairyhouse, the east Cork trainer was also on the mark in the Dermot Casey Tree Care Maiden Hurdle with Inch Rise who eased his way to the front under Mark Walsh before two out and strolled home a facile 20 length winner from Goodnightirene.
The 7/2 shot, led in by his Inch owner Willie O’Neill, was making up for lost time because, as Burke explained: “He always promised a lot but had leg trouble. He was fourth to Black Hercules on his first run in a point-to-point and will make a good chaser.”
The father and son duo of Seamus and Dinny Spillane struck in the Ticket Sales Online Mares Maiden Hurdle with Goulane Davina (8/1) who ran out an easy 18 length winner from Danali. Only four horses completed the course here and market leader Freeway Space was pulled up after three out.
The seven-year-old, who was crediting her rider with his fourth racecourse win, was home-bred in Ring, Co. Waterford by Mary O’Donnell who runs a beef and dairy farm with her family. Spillane Snr said: “She’s only a tidy mare and I thought the ground had come against her, but the way she did it –– we are over the moon.”
Liz Doyle’s Last Goodbye rattled off his fourth win on the bounce in the hands of Donagh Meyler in the €30,000 Easter 0-140 Handicap Hurdle. Left in front after Coolaghknock Glebe fell at the penultimate hurdle, the 6/1 winner held the renewed effort of the long-time leader Captainofthefleet by a length.
Doyle commented: “He doesn’t do much in front, but Donagh is well worth his five pound claim and it was the difference between winning and losing today. I’m looking at a 0-150 handicap at Punchestown for his next run and he’ll probably get an entry in a novice as well.”
ACTING STEWARDS
C O’Mahony, E. Flannery, P. McLernon, J. Kennedy, S. Quinn
HORSE TO FOLLOW:
LITTLE STEVIE (E. Bolger): Looked set to turn the tables on his Limerick rival Noble Vision in the 4-Y-0 hurdle, but for coming a cropper at the last on only his second outing. It is only a matter of time before he makes amends.