PUNTERS had it tough at the seasonal opener in Kilbeggan but Botani was one that lived up to expectations, doing so in style in the Over 1000 Games At BetVictor Casino INH Flat Race.
A 5/6 shot on the back of a fourth placing in a Grade 2 mares’ bumper 82 days before, Fiona McKeon’s chesnut built on that on her second start here, slamming Gotthenod by 23 lengths.
Willie and Patrick Mullins combined for the success with Botani and the Closutton trainer said: “She was very good and has improved for the break after her first run.
“I don’t think we are going to give her a break and we’ll continue on during the summer with her.
“It’s Fiona McKeon’s first winner in her own colours, and Botani is a wine local to Malaga that she is partial to!”
POPULAR VICTORY
Gracemount drifted in the betting on track, but she still had plenty of supporters and the Sean Doyle-trained mare ran out a popular winner of the Follow @BetVictorRacing On Twitter Irish EBF Mares Beginners Chase.
Payngo (16/1 into 8/1) was one of the ones for money against Gracemount (13/8 out to 5/2) and the pair were disputing the lead at the last when the former crashed out.The Doyle runner might have been getting the upper hand in any case under Harley Dunne.
Her task was greatly simplified with Payngo’s fall though, and she eventually secured a 21-length verdict over Mega Mindy.
Gracemount is owned by J J Kavanagh and was bred by his late wife Joyce.
“Harley thought he had the measure of Mags’ mare (Mullins’ Payngo). She’ll keep going and I’m looking for a wet summer,” commented Doyle.
The eclipse of the market-leaders elsewhere began as early as race one, the BetVictor Bet €5 Get €30 Offer Maiden Hurdle going the way of the Patricia Hunt-owned and Noel Meade-trained Trappist Monk(8/1).
This brother to high-class Monksland overcame a final-flight mistake, Sean Flanagan forcing him up to beat Touch Of Oscar by half a length.
“He’s a big old chasing type. You wouldn’t think that he would go around here, and when he gets jumping a fence you’d expect to see a lot more from him,” reflected Flanagan.
Aubrey McMahon reported that his mount, Batcio (13/8 favourite), stopped quickly before finishing 12th. The horse was found to be post-race normal and samples were taken for analysis.
Joint favourites at 6/4, Andalusa and Institution could manage only third and fourth in the BetVictor Proudly Supporting Irish Racing Maiden Hurdle as Flindt (8/1 out to 14/1) landed the spoils.
Athlone native Eamonn Corbett rode his first winner at Kilbeggan and lost his right to claim after guiding Dot Love’s Most Improved gelding to success.
In front all the way, Flindt ultimately had three and a half lengths in hand over Beat Of The Sea.
Love’s assistant trainer Ciaran Murphy said: “We always thought he was a nice horse on the flat and he stays real well but this was always going to be his game.
“We laid him out for this (220 days since his last flat start) after he came in as the owners are from Mullingar.”
Kieran Clarke owns Flindt, who was not fluent two out but good in the jumping department otherwise.
Cathal Landers rode the 14th winner of what has been his best ever season, getting trainer Seamus Fahey off the cold-list as Coral Blue (10/1) defeated favourite Scotch Quay by six and a half lengths in the Summer Party Pack Handicap Hurdle.
Fahey and Landers had been runners-up earlier with Beat Of The Sea and the Co Kildare handler remarked: “It’s lovely to have a winner for John Keogh who is a local lad in Monasterevin and has a car dealership in Newbridge.
“John bought the horse himself very reasonably so I’m delighted it’s worked out for him. He’s a horse that has a lot of problems but we have them under control at the moment.”
BIG-PRICE WINNERS
The other couple of races saw 20/1 victors, Call Of The Loon defying his odds with an easy six-and-a-half-length win in the Mullingar Handicap Hurdle.
David Mullins wore the silks of Pat Moore and the Millenary gelding provided Galway trainer David Ryan with his first win on the racecourse proper since 2012.
At an improvement in form enquiry Ryan said Call Of The Loon’s previous run followed a long absence and was on heavy ground, which did not suit on that occasion.
In his opinion the soft surface here suited better and explained the improvement in form. That explanation was noted.
Amadeus (4/1 favourite, finished 13th) was found to be post-race normal. His jockey, Denis O’Regan, said Gavin Cromwell’s representative didn’t travel.
Call Of The Loon was clipped in from 25/1 to his returned price and it was the same with Stoughan Cross (20/1) who didn’t go un-backed either when taking the www.kilbegganraces.com Handicap Chase.
Owned by the Moynalty Partnership and trained by Tom Gibney, Stoughan Cross came back to form to win his first race in over two years. With Donagh Meyler in the plate he crossed the line three and a quarter lengths to the good from Bellgrove.
“I was hopeful but he’s a horse we’ve had a lot of trouble with, and Jim (Nevin, owner) has shown fantastic patience and really stood by him. I was ready to give up on him a number of times,” disclosed Gibney.
“He got loose in Down Royal a year and a half ago and he galloped for about six miles around the ambulance track. It’s taken him an awful long time to get over that as he was bleeding inside.”
HORSE TO FOLLOW:
TOUCH OF OSCAR (J.P. O’Brien): His half-brother Call Of The Loon won later on the card and this fellow ran well when runner-up to Trappist Monk in the opening maiden hurdle.
ACTING STEWARDS
T. Hunt, N. McCaffrey, P. McCartan, J. Osborne, M.F. O’Donoghue