FOF the second year in succession, Enda Bolger and Mark Walsh struck gold in the Finbarr Slattery Memorial Killarney National Handicap Chase as Auvergnat successfully switched disciplines to bring up a treble for J.P. McManus.
Last season the seven-year-old developed into a quality cross-country performer and his last start yielded a fourth to Cause Of Causes at the Cheltenham Festival. After stablemate Cantlow transitioned from cross-country races to take this prize in 2016, Auvergnat was sent off the 2/1 favourite and his supporters never had a moment’s concern.
On ground that changed from good at declaration time to soft (heavy in places), Auvergnat eased his way into contention from the fifth last fence. He was then travelling best from the turn-in and went on before the last fence to finish three and a half lengths ahead of Kansas City Chief.
“He got through the ground well,” said Bolger. “He was in the La Touche at Punchestown but the ground was a little quick so we skipped that and he was in good form so he came here. He might well be finished until next winter; his big target will be the cross-country race at Cheltenham next year.”
A visit to this track last August was the catalyst for Ballycasey (9/4) to go on a graded race-winning spree and the grey’s impressive annexation of decent prizes continued into the McSweeney Arms Hotel An Riocht Chase.
On his last appearance at Killarney in August, Ballycasey won a Grade B handicap chase and this was followed by a trio of Grade 2 victories over the course of last season.
After showing an ability to cope with testing ground through the winter, Ballycasey wasn’t at all inconvenienced by change in going and he carried his penalty with aplomb in this Grade 3.
The Willie Mullins inmate made all the running for Ruby Walsh and already had the measure of the odds-on Woodland Opera when that runner crashed out at the second last. This left the Susannah Ricci-owned Ballycasey to finish 14 lengths ahead of Rock The World.
“As we saw at Punchestown (fifth to Fox Norton) he’s not a Grade 1 horse but he is a genuine Grade 2 horse. He’s a good jumper and a pleasure to ride,” reflected Walsh.
GAMBLE
A huge gamble was landed in the concluding lady riders’ bumper as Summerville Boy struck for Sam Curling and English-based jockey Gina Andrews. This Richard Downes-owned son of Sandmason was as big as 50/1 at the outset of the day but was returned at 7/2 by the off. Summerville Boy did take time to master Suncroft but he got on top early in the last furlong to score by four lengths.
“He’s a lovely horse and his work had been very good. He’d only been on grass once so he was a bit green there. He will go to one of the sales coming up,” stated Curling.
The J.P. McManus treble made it five winners in two days for the owner and his second success of the evening came courtesy of the well-backed Mon Lino (6/1) in the two and three quarter-mile handicap hurdle.
On just his second venture into handicaps, this son of Martaline was open to more progress than many of his rivals and he turned in a nice effort under Jody McGarvey.
Mon Lino picked off the front-running Definite Soldier after the second last and he went on to defeat that rival by two lengths.
“The rain made a big difference to him. He jumped better today than he did at Fairyhouse last time when everything was happening too quickly,” stated Paul Nolan. “He stays well and three miles would suit. Essentially he is a winter horse.”
EIGHTH WIN
Earlier the teak-tough McManus representative Plinth (16/1) notched up his eighth win over jumps in Kelly Brothers Sliabh Luachra Hurdle. On his first outing since October, the seven-year-old responded to Mark Walsh to nail the former Cheltenham winner Flaxen Flare on the line, prevailing by the width of a flared nostril.
The latter did look unlucky having missed the second last and his jockey lost his whip on the run-in. Meanwhile, the odds-on Arbre De Vie was labouring from some way out and had to settle for seventh.
“He jumped well and he didn’t mind the the ground and will probably stay going in conditions hurdles for the summer,” reported Frank Berry.
Carrigmoorna Matt (15/2) progressed from a couple of placed runs at Cork in recent weeks to account for some better fancied rivals in the two and a half miles Stella Mac Kelliher Memorial Maiden Hurdle.
Vincent Halley’s well related charge, who is a half-brother to a trio of graded winners, made much of the running for Philip Enright and coped with a series of challenges in the straight. He first shook off Moroval and then dealt with the favourite Jetz between the last two flights before holding the staying-on Harold Peto by half a length.
“He got a super ride from Philip who wound it up down the back and made it a good test of stamina,” remarked Halley who trains the winner for the Old Fools Partnership. “He jumped well and the soft ground made a big difference to him so he’ll be a nice horse to go chasing with next winter.”
Another for whom the rain was a welcome development was Une Lavandiere (7/2) as she registered the first victory of her career in the M.D. O’Shea & Sons Mares Maiden Hurdle. Sean Flanagan’s mount recovered well from a last flight error to see off the market leader Open To The World by a length.
The front pair’s battle for supremacy carried them 34 lengths clear of the others. Noel Meade indicated that the Paddy O’Loughlin-owned six-year-old will go chasing shortly.
Sizing Solution (9/4), who aided Jamie Codd’s push for title honours in the closing weeks of the season, struck under the champion amateur in the Dan Linehan’s Bar And B&B Hunters Chase.
On a tough evening for favourite backers, the Alan and Ann Potts-owned gelding quickened past the odds-on Minella For Value before the last before a length and a half triumph.
“The rain that fell wouldn’t have been to his advantage but it’s not winter soft out there,” commented Jim Dreaper. “There is a three-mile hunter chase at Listowel next month and that trip could stretch him but he could go there if it came up good.”
ACTING STEWARDS
S. McDonogh, J. McGuire, M. O’Driscoll, M. Doyle, S. Quinn
Horse To Follow
BITSANDPIECES (M. Winters): This lightly raced eight-year-old showed that he could soon be adding to the maiden hurdle success of April 2015 when finishing third to Mon Lino.