THERE was a dramatic conclusion to the Ulster Cesarewitch at Down Royal as the judge was unable to separate Whiteout and He’llberemembered after two and a quarter miles.
Declan McDonogh was on board Whiteout (4/1 joint favourite) for Willie Mullins and the pair headed front-running 12-year-old veteran He’llberemembered (8/1) over a furlong from home. The latter rallied well though under Tom Madden to get up for a dead-heat.
He’llberemembered’s trainer Paul Fahey said: “He didn’t deserve to lose! He has another job to do, he has to win a race for the young lad leading him up. He’s my son Aaron who will be 16 at the start of next month. The application forms are in process!”
Whiteout gave McDonogh a double on the card after he took the seven-furlong maiden on Downforce (10/1). The three-year-old gelding kept on nicely to hold Peleponnesus by three-parts of a length.
Trainer Willie McCreery said: “He’s a grand horse. He ran earlier in the year but was a bit weak. Patrick Burns took him home and gelded him. He’s by a good stallion (Fast Company) and I’m delighted with him. Happy days for Patrick!
“We’ll find a handicap for him and he needs okay ground. He might go to Dundalk as he had the summer off.”
Dame Mary Peters, gold medal winner in the Pentathlon at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, presented the winning prize to McCreery.
Ms Brinkleys (3/1 favourite) foiled a major gamble on Remarkable Lady in the seven-furlong auction maiden. Jessica Harrington’s charge stayed on well to score by a short-head and a neck from Remarkable Lady and Roc Of Gold.
Winning jockey Fran Berry, sporting owner Richard Galway’s colours, said: “Just about! There was no pace early but Jessica didn’t want to make the running as she had been keen up here on a previous start and needs to relax.”
“I got a nice split coming to the road and thought I would win a bit easier than I did. She struggled to get by the horse on the inside for a while but when Danny Grant’s horse joined me down the outside it kind of helped her. She showed a good bit of heart and that is probably her minimum trip. Another furlong wouldn’t do her any harm.”
Remarkable Lady, trained by Harry Rogers, was backed from 50/1 in the morning down to 6/1 at the off. Third-placed Roc Of Gold was another springer from a morning price of 33/1 to 17/2 at the start.
Go Kart showed her speed to motor away from her rivals in the five-furlong juvenile maiden. The 5/2 shot was steered home by two and a quarter lengths by Robbie Downey. Trainer Patrick Prendergast said: “The drop back in trip suited. She had them beaten in Navan after five furlongs. I had to get her out soon as they aren’t many five furlong races left and she is a quick ground filly. She’s very fast and she is a homebred. She was broken at Ballylinch Stud. She’s still quite immature but shows great lick. I thought she would have won in Navan but it was definitely 80 yards too much. She is still learning and could go to Dundalk as she has shown she can handle it.”
Gary Halpin was another jockey to boot home two winners in the north. He donned the Gigginstown House Stud silks on Flirt in the seven-furlong nursery and got her home by three-quarters of a length at 9/1.
She was headed at the furlong marker but gamely regained the lead over 100 yards out and kept on best.
Halpin said: “That was my first ride for Mr Wachman. She was good and quick out of the gates and travelled sweetly. She quickened into the straight and I thought she was home. She then sort of idled, but battled gamely. She had plenty of experience and she should improve a bit. That’s 10 for the season - nine in Ireland and one in England.”
His double came on Pat Flynn’s Knights Templar (8/1) in the seven-furlong handicap. The eight-year-old gelding came between horses to lead close home and win by a length. He beat his stable-mate Twistsandturns into second.
Flynn made the trip up from Co Waterford and commented: “I thought the two would run well. It’s a shame they both had to run in the same race, I was hoping they would divide the race. The other horse (Twistsandturns) ran a good race as well.
“The conditions were ideal for both. Knights Templar is a nice horse. He is a bit of a hold-up horse and he did the business.” The winner is owned by Simon Girvan from London.
The apprentice handicap was a bonanza for bookmakers as three 25/1 shots dominated the finish. Scenic Star and Gary Phillips prevailed in the final strides by a head from Ondamura with Sinntani a further length and a quarter back in third.
Trainer Gavin Cromwell said: “He ran well in the Curragh. He got loose and ran around for 10 minutes and was only beaten six lengths. He has improved with every run. He dug deep. He definitely wants good ground. He might go to Dundalk.
“He is owned by Eugene Bourke, a retired vet from Monasterboice near Drogheda.”
ACTING STEWARDS
C.P. Magnier, L. McFerran, Dr J.F. Gillespie, D. McCorkell, P.W. Murtagh
HORSE TO FOLLOW
REMARKABLE LADY (H. Rogers): Narrowly failed to land a gamble but showed plenty of dash and should get her turn.