PATRICK Mullins equalled Ted Walsh’s record for the most wins ridden by an amateur in this country when Irish Lass, trained by his father Willie, came out on the right side of a photo finish with Harrys Gift in the mares’ maiden hurdle at Limerick by a short-head.
The drama and suspense did not end there as the champion amateur then had to sit and suffer for a couple of minutes after a stewards enquiry into possible interference between the 4/9 favourite and the fourth-placed Gambling Mistress was called.
Much to his relief, no alteration was made to the placings and the result was allowed to stand. The Getaway mare is owned by the Bowes Lodge Stables Partnership and the successful rider said: “She did spectacularly well to win after almost refusing at the second last – that was just greenness and it was only her third run.
“It’s a big wide open space and she just had a look. Her dam (Screaming Witness) was my first ride on a racetrack (at Thurles, December 2005), so it’s a nice bit of symmetry today and I also had my first career winner here in June, 2006. It’s nice to equal the record.
“I think she’s a very good mare and I think she’ll get blacktype over hurdles. She might go to Galway.”
MULLINS DOUBLE
The Mullins stable bagged its second win of the day via the always prominent Danny Mullins-ridden Miss Sapphire who responded to pressure from the final fence to gain the upper hand over Jaime Sommers in the beginners chase by one and a half lengths.
Miss Sapphire, 11/8 favourite was claiming her fifth win for the Blue Blood Racing Club and her jockey said: “It was a good performance. She was a good mare for me last summer and has had a later start this year. She has picked up pretty much where she left off.”
Bryan Cooper rode his first winner for Robbie McNamara when landing a gamble (25/1 the previous evening and opening up at 10/1 on course) on his front-running 5/1 chance Epsilon Indi in the 80 -102 handicap hurdle.
Clear of his rivals two out, the five-year-old Ask gelding galloped them into submission to record a facile eight-and-a-half-length victory over Torquay.
Said the Curragh trainer, who also owns his winner: “We thought a bit of him – he had a good run first time out in a bumper at Galway but then he disappointed us.
“We found out at home that he flipped his palate and he got his handicap mark while running on ground that was too soft for him.
“He’s a bit of a worrier, so we just gave him time and confidence and Bryan came in and sat on him two or three times a week.
“There was no messing around today but, after flipping his palate you’d be afraid of it and the ground was a big help to him.
“He’s got his jumping together and that will do his confidence good. He’s in at Killarney on Thursday where the two and a half miles would suit him better and hopefully he’ll go up enough to get into Galway. He’s a nice horse who’ll make a nice chaser in two or three years time.”
GOOD RUN
Cromwell’s run of success continued when Running In Heels supplemented her Bellewstown success with a one-and-a-half-length defeat of fellow 4/1 joint-favourite Cadawill in the 0-102 handicap chase.
This also represented a fourth win in two days for the nine-year-old’s jockey Ger Fox.
Running In Heels races for the all female syndicate of the same name made up of friends of the trainer’s wife Kiva who include Rachel Carberry.
Cromwell stated: “She didn’t jump well in Wexford where she made a mistake early on and lost her confidence but she was much better today. They went very fast and she just crept her way into it.
“She’ll have an entry in Kilbeggan but, more than likely, she’ll go to Galway for a three mile handicap hurdle on the Sunday. That’s a possibility.”
Limerick has been a happy hunting ground for Ray Hackett in the past and it proved lucky for him again when his father Liam’s 11/2 shot Wee Tiger opened his account at the 28th attempt in the 80-109 qualified riders handicap hurdle.
Eoin O’Brien’s mount led from start to finish and was two and a half lengths too good for Directional at the line. Hackett attributed the outcome to “perseverance,” commenting: “He enjoyed it out in front, got an easy lead and Eoin’s 7lb claim was a big help.
“He had problems travelling before but all credit to the boys at home who ride him out.
“We might mix and match it with him because he’s handicapped over fences and it’s just great to get one with him. He’s run very well here before.”
Das Mooser, with Mark Bolger in the plate, became the fourth all-the-way winner on the card when successfully adopting forcing tactics in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Handicap Chase, to deny the favourite Fairymount Boy by two and a half lengths.
The 6/1 chance was equipped with a first-time tongue tie and her handler Mark Fahey, who has care of the Definite Article mare for Louise Quinn from Naas, reflected: “She’s a very game filly and she loves jumping and a bit of quick ground.
“I was a bit worried about going back to two miles but she shows a bit of speed at home and the first time tongue tie was a help. Mark does all the work with her and gave her a brilliant ride.
“I’m not sure about Galway but Louise’s brother-in-law Colm Quinn sponsors races there, so she might go down.”
HAT-TRICK
Gigginstown were responsible for half the field in the four-runner winners of one chase and Henry de Bromhead’s previous course winner Nick Lost made it two from two over fences when completing a hat-trick of wins for Rachael Blackmore.
The even-money favourite made every yard and kept up the gallop to beat Childrens List by five lengths.
“Henry has his horses in tip-top shape, so that makes it easier,” was the parting shot from Blackmore.
It’s not often that Charles Byrnes sends out a 12/1 winner but did just that when the Top Of The Hill Syndicate’s homebred Flemensfirth filly Run For Mary went in at the first time of asking under Ray Barron in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Flat Race.
The trainer said of his three quarter-length winner: “I had the mother, Run For Sol, who won a couple for us and she and Solwit came out of the same stable in Belgium. She’s a nice mare and I’d say she’ll go for a winners’ bumper.”
ACTING STEWARDS
J. Moloney, P. Coveney,
J. Farrell, J. O’Donoghue,
L. Walsh.
HORSE TO FOLLOW:
JAIME SOMMERS (M.J. Bowe): This daughter of Solerina posted her best run when chasing home Miss Sapphire in the beginners chase and won’t be long winning over fences, especially if kept in mares’ company.