THE previously frustrating Delegate has turned over a new leaf in some style over the last couple of months. The improving six-year-old overcame late drama in commendable fashion to make it three wins from his last four starts in the Connolly’s Red Mills Rated Novice Hurdle.
The Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding was sent off the 9/4 favourite to follow-up on his win here last month and he was quite at home stepping up to two and a half miles. Delegate, who lined-up here with a rating of 122, travelled strongly for Bryan Cooper and everything was going smoothly when he eased to the front early in the straight.
Gordon Elliott’s charge got the second last all wrong, which handed invaluable momentum to Msmilan and Rise Of An Empire. However, Delegate gathered himself for another effort and he battled on well on the run in to defeat Msmilan by half a length. Elliott indicated that his charge would get a number of entries at Galway, including one in the Galway Hurdle.
Unfortunately Zafarqand had to be put down after his fall at the second last and his jockey Davy Russell was stood down for the rest of the day.
“He jumped really well and the second last was probably my fault I was just going to let him pop it but he had other ideas,” said Cooper. “I was delighted with the way he stuck out his head when it mattered and he’d make a lovely summer chaser.”
Elliott brought up a double when the Jack Kennedy-ridden Steamboat Bill (11/2) defied top weight in the Leo Dolan Memorial Handicap Hurdle. Fresh from a second in the Jack Duggan Memorial Hurdle at Gowran Park, Steamboat Bill relished this extended three miles trip. He responded to his jockey to pick off the game veteran Aughnacurraveel on the run in for a half-length triumph. Sadly Pencilhimin collapsed and died on the run in.
“He’s a favourite of mine. He’s lazy, but he gets the job done and he stays very well,” remarked the winning rider, who was wearing the colours of Thomas McKnight.
BRASSIL DOUBLE
It was a night to remember for Conor Brassil (22), who rode the first double of his career, which commenced with Herbiegoesbananas striking at 33/1 in the Martinstown Opportunity Maiden Hurdle. A first winner of the season for Sandra Hughes, the 88-rated gelding shook off the front-running Volvalien after two out before a two and three-quarter lengths victory over Rockey Storm.
The odds-on Captain Barbossa took an ultimately fatal fall when still in contention with three to jump. His jockey Donagh Meyler was stood down for the rest of the evening.
“That was a nice surprise. I didn’t think he’d be up to winning a maiden but he got his ground,” declared Sandra Hughes of the Glen Of Immal Partnership-owned gelding. “He’s a very good jumper and we’ll see the best of him when he goes chasing which he’ll do before long.”
Brassil completed his double on the John Neilan-trained Kilcaragh Boy in the 80-95 rated Keen Print Handicap Hurdle. The 10/1 chance, who made his racecourse debut two years ago, stayed on stoutly in the closing stages to deny By The Banks by half a length for the first victory of his career.
“The ground was just too soft for him when he ran here last month. He does things well at home but he’s been unlucky a few times,” declared Neilan, who trains the gelding for Gerry Duke. “It’s only his fourth run for me and hopefully he’ll be able to win again. Two miles is his trip.”
This card wasn’t short on surprise outcomes and another 33/1 success was supplied by Vintage Salon as she left behind the form of her four bumper runs in the mares’ maiden hurdle. The second produce of the high-class juvenile hurdler Lounaos was kept close to the pace by Mark Enright and was pressing the front-running Kalopsia from early in the straight.
Vintage Salon began to take charge on the run to the last and a bold jump at that flight sealed a six and a half lengths triumph.
“Her work always implied that she’d win a bumper, but she’s just been so disappointing,” remarked James Nash of the Jim McCarthy-owned mare. “She just needed something to jump. Hurdles have obviously made a big difference and Mark gave her a lovely ride. She’s only five and I’d say we might skip Galway.”
Aidan Howard’s Baltimore Buzz (6/1) ran out a clear-cut winner of the two and a half miles bumper to build on an encouraging debut in a Punchestown maiden two months previously. The seven-year-old looked to have the field at full stretch when Johnny King struck for home rounding the final turn and he maintained the gallop to finish half a dozen lengths ahead of Angelica Yeats.
“He ran very well in his maiden hurdle. A couple of winners came out of that so the form looked good and I was confident enough coming here,” remarked the trainer of the Frank Reynolds-owned and bred gelding. “He’ll go for a maiden hurdle in a few weeks time.”
Jane Mangan and Prunella Dobbs joined forced to win the EBF-sponsored lady riders’ mares’ bumper with the previously placed Pursecco (5/1), who bounced back from a below par run at Tramore last month. The daughter of King’s Theatre took over the lead on the stand’s side rail just under a quarter of a mile from home and she stuck to her task well to deny the promising newcomer Appy Days by a length and a half.
“She’s a lovely mare and that was a very nice performance,” reflected the trainer of the Fin & Feather Syndicate-owned winner. “She got very wound up the last day at Tramore but settled well today. Jane walked the track beforehand, which was a huge help as the ground was definitely better against the stand’s side. I think we’ll go for a maiden hurdle now.”
Acting stewards
P.J. O’Connor, G. McCourt, C. O’Flaherty, Mrs. R. Ross, H. Hynes
Horse To Follow
MSMILAN (Mrs J. Harrington): She ran with credit to chase home Delegate in the novice hurdle and this effort would suggest that she will soon be adding to the Navan maiden hurdle she won in April.
Liam Healy
AS was the case with Monday’s flat fixture all the jockeys in action throughout the evening wore black armbands to mark the passing of Liam Healy.