THE good handicap that has been threatening to come his way over the last couple of months duly arrived for Le Vagabond as he dominated the At The Races Kingdom Gold Cup to prompt thoughts of a possible appearance on Irish Champions Weekend.
Edward O’Grady’s charge showed his liking for Killarney when winning here in May and, in the interim, he posted two creditable efforts in €100,000 premier handicaps. Here he stepped up to a mile and three-quarters for this contest and Le Vagabond relished the extra distance to continue an excellent meeting for Billy Lee.
The decision to switch this race back to an open handicap from a fillies’ only contest was rewarded with a much-improved field and Le Vagabond was among the market leaders at 9/2. After travelling nicely through the race, he picked up well for Billy Lee to lead with around two furlongs to run and he soon took a few lengths out of the field.
Artful Artist put in some good late work for second but was still two and a half lengths adrift of the winner.
“He’s been running consistently in those good handicaps and today was his day,” said O’Grady, who trains the four-year-old for the Weir House Syndicate. “He’ll probably get an entry in the Lartigue Hurdle at Listowel but there is a valuable handicap on the flat the previous weekend to consider as well. At the moment he looks a little ground reliant but as he gets older he will hopefully handle softer ground better.”
A tough meeting for odds-on punters continued into day two as Aidan O’Brien’s Wings Of Eagles (5/2) upstaged Birds Of Prey in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden. The Pour Moi colt wasn’t going at all as well as the favourite nearing the last couple of furlongs but he soon launched a strong challenge for Emmet McNamara. Wings Of Eagles was firmly on top in the closing stages and finished with a length and a quarter to spare.
“He was extremely green on his debut at Galway but that is a very difficult track for a two-year-old first time out and he came forward plenty from that,” reported McNamara. “Aidan was hopeful that the step up to a mile would suit him and it worked out for him. He’ll improve again.”
THREE WINS
The improving King’s Wharf (11/8) made it three wins in succession and defied a stone hike in the weights for scoring at Wexford last month in the Owen’s McCarthy Claims Specialists Handicap Chase. A false start gave supporters of the Willie Mullins-trained grey some concern as he went somewhat further than any of the other runners, but when the race did get underway his chances weren’t compromised.
Ruby Walsh produced the Gary Swanson-owned gelding to tackle the game English raider Owen Na View at the last fence and King’s Wharf pulled three lengths clear on the run in.
“He jumped super. He’s defied his penalty although I wouldn’t be certain if he’d defy another one,” reflected Walsh. “He has to go left handed and he’s in over hurdles at Bellewstown on Thursday and I’d imagine that’s where he will go now.”
High drama marked the conclusion of the Malton Hotel Handicap Chase, which provided the sparingly campaigned nine-year-old Kembay with the first success of his career.
As the field approached the third last fence, Ard Cregg jinked left which caused 5/1 chance Misdflight to run out and the 9/4 favourite Not For You, who was going nicely at the time, followed the latter off the track.
The front-running Kembay (12/1) produced a willing effort under Ryan Treacy to remain in charge for the duration of the straight, eventually prevailing by three lengths. An enquiry into what took place at the third last fence found the incident to be accidental.
“He has very few miles on the clock for a nine-year-old and he likes this ground. He might go to Listowel now,” commented Patrick Neville, who also owns the winner.
A back-to-form Baily Cloud (12/1) belied his position in the market to claim the Killarney Oaks Hotel Novice Chase for Mouse Morris and Mark Enright. The six-year-old struggled after making a successful debut over fences at Tramore but this was much more like his true form.
In the colours of Morris stalwart Adam Scott, Baily Cloud led with two to jump and kept on well from the last to see off Akito and the staying-on Tiger Roll. Sadly, the Galway Festival winner Talk The Lingo sustained a fatal injury in the early stages.
“I made too much use of him the last few times and myself and Mouse were in agreement to hold on to him today. He jumped great and will hopefully progress again,” observed Enright.
Copernicus, who reached the frame on his first two outings this summer, came good in the John Lane & Sons Tralee Flat Race. The well-backed 15/8 chance was still going nicely for Nina Carberry when he struck the front in the straight and he never came under strong pressure to brush aside Billy Le Fou by five lengths.
“He’s a half-brother to Asbury Boss and is a lovely horse, but he just kept growing, which is why he ended up in bumpers,” stated Michael Halford. “I’m pleased he’s won for his owner Nicky Hartery, who has been very patient with him. He’d make a lovely jumper but the way he’s been working I would say that he’d win on the flat. I’d say if he got the chance Nicky would like to sell him.”
The burden of top weight wasn’t the slightest inconvenience to Kubali (7/4), who put his rivals to the sword in style in the Dunloe Hotel Handicap. Colin Keane made the running on the Sean Jones-owned gelding, who was looking to improve on his second to McGuigan at Leopardstown earlier in the month, and the leader had the field at full stretch from the turn in. From fully two furlongs out Kubali had the race in safe keeping and he finished seven lengths clear of Path Of Silver.
“He was beaten fair and square last time but everything fell right for him tonight,” commented Lyons. “There’s been plenty of interest in him to go jumping and the handicapper will dictate what we do now.”
Acting Stewards
S. McDonogh, T. Hunt, P. McLernon, O. Kearney, P.D. Matthews
Horse To Follow
BILLY LE FOU (S. Donohoe): On his racecourse debut, this placed point-to-pointer showed definite promise to chase home Copernicus. He looks up to making his mark on the track.