THURLES continues to win the battle against whatever the elements might throw at it and trojan teamwork by racecourse manager Kate Molony, clerk of the course Lorcan Wyer and the ground staff saw them complete Thursday’s seven-race card, in spite of heavy fog that had only started to descend from 9am onwards.
After the first race was run, only snatches of which were visible, the stewards carried out a course inspection and deemed the course to be raceable in the prevailing conditions. They decided to put the time of the second race back by 15 minutes and omit the third and fourth last fences due to the glare of the sun though the fog.
It was plain sailing from that point on, with the fog steadily lifting to give a clear view of the action, but it was a different story in the opening Killinan Beginners Chase. The first six or so horses could only be seen at different stages and most people were relying on commentator Dessie Scahill to keep them posted on the progress of the hot pot Baccasson.
However, when the runners came back into view for the final time, Barry Connell’s Tully East (7/2) was a few lengths up on his rivals and claimed the honours, with Denis O’Regan in the plate, by five and a half lengths on his chasing bow to give trainer Alan Fleming his first winner since Killarney in May.
Bachasson was being ridden before the second last and was one of five casualties at the final fence.
Fleming remarked: “It’s good to get back on the board. He’s a talented horse and I couldn’t see much of it, but Denis was very impressed with him.
“He looked to jump very well. He’s entered at Leopardstown in a Grade 1, but we’ll have to go home and have a little chat about it. He’ll come on plenty from that.”
O’Regan added: “He settled and jumped well. He made a slight mistake at the second last but picked up well from there and had the race won going to the last. I think he could be a progressive horse.”
The Joseph O’Brien-trained Kalopsia was given a patient ride by Mark Walsh to take the featured Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Hurdle in the familiar livery of J.P. McManus. Held up, she arrived full of running on the approach to the last and skipped neatly over it to register an 11-length win over the longtime leader Monbeg Rose.
Last month’s Clonmel scorer Miss Me Now headed the betting and was settled in rear, only to become detached with three flights remaining. She was pulled-up soon afterwards and found to be lame.
Kalopsia was winning her fourth race and O’Brien said: “Mark gave her a good ride and let them at it. He said going out, he was going to take his time, sneak around and pick up the pieces and it worked perfectly.
“She’s won two hurdles race now and it’s probably worth chancing her in a graded hurdle to get some blacktype, if the ground doesn’t get bottomless.”
BATTLING GREYS
Mallow-based Eoghan O’Grady saddled his father Arthur’s 7/1 shot Mick The Jiver for his second course and distance win in the www.thurlesraces.ie Handicap Chase when getting the better of another grey Smadynium by a neck.
The trainer will look for a similar type of contest for the six-year-old’s next outing and gave special mention to Stella McGrath for her input. “She did all the schooling with this horse but is in hospital at the moment after getting a bad fall in a point-to-point last Sunday week.”
Willie Mullins clicked back into gear with his customary Thurles double, kicking off with Susannah Ricci’s Riven Light, a dual winner on the flat in his native France, who made a successful Irish debut in the two-mile Cahir Maiden Hurdle.
Left clear by the final flight fall of Hardline, the 2/7 favourite duly obliged to win, eased down, by a 12-length margin.
His trainer observed: “I think two miles will be plenty for him and we’ll stick with this trip and head towards Christmas with him.”
Stable-companion Aussie Rules, the 8/15 favourite, followed suit in the Holycross Maiden Hurdle with a two and a half-length success at the expense of Montana Belle, who blundered at the last and lost her momentum.
“We were probably fortunate that the other horse made a mistake at the last,” Mullins commented. “I’ll be going out in trip with him and am delighted to win over two miles with him, but he needs another half-mile.”
The favourite Neddyvaughan looked all set to follow up last week’s course win with further success in the Templemore 80-102 Handicap Hurdle, only to be overhauled in the latter stages by the J.J. Slevin-ridden 12/1 victor Balynaclash Warrior, from Richard Rath’s stable.
Owned by the trainer’s neighbour Gerard Corrigan, who rides the 10-year-old out every morning and one of only four horses his Co Wexford trainer has for the track, the Norwich gelding had two and a half lengths to spare at the line.
rath winner
Rath reported: “He got badly injured two years ago and we train him on the beach in Curracloe. In fairness, he’s a 0-109 handicapper and he’ll stick to low grade handicaps.”
Trainer Ronnie O’Leary and claimer Ricky Doyle combined to take the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle with 8/1 shot Queeny, who denied the favourite Returntovendor by one and a quarter lengths in finishing 16 lengths clear of Rare Legend.
The mare’s Bannow-based owner Paul Hillis commented: “Ronnie had an appointment today and couldn’t be here, but we’ll catch up with him tomorrow to celebrate!
“She’s improving slowly and the ground was a big plus for her today.”
Acting Stewards:
J. Rearden, R. Rohan, P. Curling, S. Quinn.
HORSE TO FOLLOW
SMADYNIUM (J. J. Hanlon) Raised 9lb for his handicap chase win at Fairyhouse, the form of which was advertised by the runner-up Capture The Drama going in at Wexford recently, he went close to defying that burden in the handicap chase. He could go one better in the near future.