GUITAR Pete looked the class act on the card at Kilbeggan last Saturday night but was made to work hard to justify his short price in the Kieran Kelly Memorial Beginners Chase.
Sandra Hughes’ charge had made a promising return to action when runner-up on his chase debut at Galway and jumped well to get off the mark over fences at the second attempt. The 4/11 shot hit the lead with a circuit to run but had to get serious in the closing stages as Rendezvous Peak pressed him hard before the last. Pat Sloan’s gelding stuck on well on the run-in to record a length-and-a-half success with Jonathan Burke on board.
“This track is a bit tight for him but it looked an ideal opportunity. He wants a big galloping track and the bigger the fence the better for him. He jumped super,” said Hughes.
“He just does enough, that’s him, and he definitely has a future over fences. The more racing he gets the better he’ll get. We’ll see what novices come up for him.”
Hughes’ late father Dessie had landed two of the last four renewals of the race named in honour of his former stable jockey Kelly, who had tragically lost his life in a fall at the course in August 2003.
“It’s very special to win Kieran’s race,” added the winning trainer. While Guitar Pete is just beginning his career over fences, Valours Minion is blooming in the twilight of his and recorded his third win of the summer in the two-and-a-half mile handicap chase.
Mark Enright produced his mount to challenge after the second last and the 9/2 shot asserted on the run-in to beat long-time leader Painted Lady by three lengths.
Val O’Brien trains the 12-year-old for his brother Sean and joked afterwards: “He’ll be a grand horse next year! With a lucky run he could have won in Galway but this made up a little bit for it. We’ll look at Killarney now. He’s won twice there and likes the track.”
Barry Geraghty made a flying visit to the course with his predecessor’s retirement party no doubt on his agenda later in the evening.
It was job done on the J.P. McManus-owned Tri Na Ceile as she secured a straightforward victory in the Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey Mares Novice Hurdle.
The Jessica Harrington-trained even-money shot was produced to lead at the last and stayed on strongly in the closing stages for a four-length victory over front-runner Give Her Bach.
Geraghty wasted no time making his exit and not surprisingly there were no connections present in the winner’s enclosure as they prepared to gather in Adare Manor for Tony McCoy’s big night.
The Liz Doyle-trained Bright Prospect made the breakthrough on his fifth attempt over timber when stepping up in trip in the opening two-mile, three-furlong maiden hurdle.
Brian O’Connell moved up to dispute on the 7/2 shot after the third last but he was headed going to the penultimate flight by Miami Present. Jack Kidd’s gelding got on top between the last two, however, and kept on well in the closing stages for a length success.
“We upped him in trip and that made all the difference. I thought he was a two-miler but he wasn’t settling or finishing the races off,” said Doyle. “He didn’t do very much when he hit the front because he’s never been in front in his life! He’s progressing as mentally he was all over the place and babyish.”
Rock On Rosie also got off the mark when repaying her connections faith in the Joe Cooney Memorial Handicap Hurdle.
The 25/1 shot ran out a cosy winner as she came from behind to challenge at the last and go clear on the run-in to score by two and three-quarter lengths under Shane Shortall.
Trainer Adrian Joyce revealed afterwards that he has always been sweet on his charge: “I thought she would win the last day and she let me down big time. She was very keen and still green.
“We decided to drop her in today and see if she settled. She works so well at home and way better than her mark. Today was a fact finding mission with a hood on. She always showed loads but was very disappointing last time.
“She’s done it today and that’s what matters. She’s owned by Mick Devine, who is a Superintendant in Navan, and his wife Geraldine. It’s good for them and they’ve been great owners.”
DELIGHTED OWNERS
There were another set of delighted owners after Troubled Soul opened her account with the minimum of fuss in the Pig ‘N’ Whistle Restaurants Maiden Hurdle.
Trainer/jockey Denis Hogan sat off a frantic early pace and produced his mount to lead before the second last as she posted an easy six-length success at odds of 15/8.
The winner runs in the colours of William Cleary and Hogan said: “It’s great to get a winner for the Clearys. They’ve been great supporters of mine from day one and have stuck with me.
“They had plenty placed so I’m delighted to get a winner. They are the best owners you could wish to have. They just leave it to me.
“This mare has turned a corner and had a savage run in Killarney. It mightn’t have been the strongest race but she did it well off a strong gallop and she could get two and a half.”
GAME WINNER
Lockeen Girl defied her 20/1 starting price when running out a game winner of the concluding Tom Birmingham Menswear INH Flat Race.
The daughter of Beneficial was produced to lead over two furlongs out by Paul O’Neill and stuck on well in the closing stages as Cottersrock ran on to get within half a length.
Mort Gleeson was representing handler George Webb who trains the mare for the Adios Amigos Syndicate: “We’re delighted. We expected her to run a bit better than the last day. She was very green then and is improving.
“She might go for a winners’ bumper in Listowel. George only trains a handful but has had great success from a few horses.”
Acting Stewards
S. Barry, Dr P. Molony, N. McCaffrey, S.H. Walford, P.D. Matthews
HORSE TO FOLLOW
ROCK ON ROSIE (A. Joyce): She was a cosy winner and looks capable of adding another handicap soon now that connections have found the key.