THE Colm Murphy-trained Ryansbrook was an impressive 11-length winner of the two miles, six and a half furlong INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle for his London-based owner Thomas Friel.
The owner has two horses with the trainer and was present at an emotional Thurles on Thursday to cheer him on.
Murphy said of the Mikey Fogarty-ridden 5/1 shot: “He goes on the ground and the further the better for him. It has to be soft for him and the last day (behind Golantilla) he was just staying on. We might look at a staying handicap for him at somewhere like Fairyhouse.”
The Thurles.ie Maiden Hurdle was run in a snowstorm and provided an appropriately-named winner in Totally Dominant who summed up the virtual monopoly of the Willie Mullins/Ruby Walsh partnership at present when getting the better of a tussle with Arctic Skipper by a neck in the colours of Susannah Ricci. The 9/4 favourite Cest Notre Gris faded into sixth place.
Mullins reflected: “They earned their money out there! Ruby said he liked that ground (officially heavy) but thinks he’s better than that - it’s very hard to face into that wind.
“We’ll go a longer trip with him and Ruby said we can move him up to two and a half miles.”
The trainer was also responsible for the hot-pot Listen Dear in the Fethard INH Flat Race but she was no match for the principals and had to make do with fifth place behind Nina Carberry’s mount Valgor Du Ronceray who settled the issue in a matter of strides once asked for his effort inside the distance.
Gigginstown House Stud’s 11/4 chance drew right away to beat Briar Lane, who had shown a degree of reluctance down at the start, by three and three quarters of a length.
His trainer Tony Martin, a man of few words remarked: “He’s a nice horse and we’ll take him home and see whether he goes jumping or for a winner’s.”
Owner Barry Connell was on hand to see his 5/1 winner Like It A Lot take the honours in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Rated Novice Chase.
Adrian Heskin’s mount mastered Toubaloo at the final fence and, despite nodding on landing, held the renewed challenge of his rival by a head with market leader Drumlee, a last jumps runner for Charlie Swan, back in fourth place.
Trainer Paul Nolan commented: “He jumped poorly early on but I’m glad he won because he’s not the easiest of rides. He seems to be better over fences.”
Danny Howard was on the mark in a dual capacity as both the trainer and rider of Duty Chance who captured the Follow Us On Facebook 80-102 Handicap Hurdle by a half-length margin from Oscar’swan at a price of 7/1.
West Clare hotelier Derek Logue is the successful owner but unfortunately he missed the occasion due to business commitments in London.
“It’s unfortunate for Derek that he’s not here,” said Howard, adding: “She’s a tough little mare who always runs a respectable race. The heavy ground today played to her strengths.”
Our Katie, from the Leamlara, Co Cork yard of Garry Ahern gained an overdue success under Brian Hayes in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase when taking command before the last to justify 4/5 favouritism by three and a quarter lengths from Carrigeen Kigelia.
The eight-year-old grey mare races in the yellow, emerald green and black silks of Eileen Barry from Bartlemy and her trainer stated: “She picked up a ‘drop’ (in her foot) over Christmas so the plan was to come here today.
“Her jumping wasn’t as good today in the deep ground and she wants it better. We might give her a run in a handicap now.”
Trainer John Joe Walsh’s runners are always a force to be reckoned with at this venue and he came up trumps yet again when the ultra-consistent 4/1 co-favourite Really Unique (Brian O’Connell) delivered for the JMS Syndicate for the third time by half a length in the Thurles Handicap Hurdle.
Fellow co-favourite Shuilamach finished third while the other co-favourite Cappacurry Zak was pulled up in the back straight after dropping right out of contention.
Walsh explained: “They’re a family syndicate from Doneraile made up of Sean O’Keeffe who breeds a few horses and has a joinery business, his son and his wife. That was a welcome win and he got a great ride from Brian.
“He’ll stay handicapping over hurdles because he doesn’t jump a fence and he’ll go back to Limerick, I suppose - he was unlucky there last time.”
Burke in the wars
JOCKEY Jonathan Burke, who was involved in a four-horse pile-up at the first fence in the mares’ race went to Clonmel’s South Tipperary Regional Hospitals for X-rays on his left forearm but only had soft tissue damage.
Molony respects
A MINUTE’S silence was observed at Thurles on Thursday for the track’s late racecourse manager Pierce Molony who lost his brave battle with cancer the previous day. It was his last wish that racing should go ahead.