CURRAGH trainer Eddie Harty got his week off to a good start by setting up a double for former champion Davy Russell with an unexpected 20/1 victory through More Than Ever in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle at Tramore.
Peace N’ Milan, subsequently reported not to have handled the ground, headed the betting for this event but could finish no better than ninth behind the 10-length scorer who races in the colours of the Ballybar Partnership, made up of the trainer’s in-laws Frankie and Eric Cole.
“That was a surprise,” Harty admitted. “It was an end of season mares’ maiden and she’s been crying out for good ground. I had a tongue tie on to help her, but didn’t think she’d win it. I like these Monday meetings – they should have more of them!”
Russell doubled up on Danny Grealish’s homebred 11/10 favourite Bye Bye O Bye in the Tote-sponsored 80-95 handicap hurdle. The hot-pot led at the last and went on to take Cadawill’s measure by three-quarters of a length a few days after his win at Kilbeggan.
The winner ran 23 times inside the rails without success for his Galway owner, so it was no surprise to hear his Tallow trainer Michael Griffin say: “He’s been a very lucky horse for me and I’ve never had a moment’s trouble with him since I got him in January through a friend of Danny’s. The only thing I couldn’t understand was how he was still a maiden.
“I thought the ground might be a bit fast for him but Davy was brilliant on him. There’s a three-mile 0-100 handicap in Mallow and he might go there, but the way he jumps in point-to-points he could be anything over fences.”
GALWAY OWNERS
Gort-based Joe Lee and his wife Hannah were two more happy owners from Co Galway in the winner’s enclosure following the success of their 14/1 shot Thats Mypresenting under Brian O’Connell in the two-mile, five-furlong maiden hurdle.
Shay Barry has care of the eight-year-old who headed Double Windsor after the last and won, going away by two and a quarter lengths from that rival with the odds-on favourite Justforjames, another who did not handle the good ground, back in fourth.
Barry used to ride for the owner who has proved lucky for him. Said the trainer: “I had two point-to-point winners for Joe the other week so that’s his third win. This fellow did it well and probably would have won his point-to-point in Curraghmore but for tipping up at the second last. He loves that ground and stays well. He’ll tip away for the summer and hopefully he’ll improve.”
Hurricane Ben, from James Sheehan’s stable in Dungourney, continued the dominance of Co Galway owners at this rescheduled fixture when running out a good winner of the Tote Rewards Hunters Chase in the colours of his first time Eyrecourt owner Eric Callanan.
JAMIE CODD
Sweeping into the lead before the final fence, the 5/1 chance went right away on his hunter chase debut to slam the odds-on favourite Theatre Princess by 12 lengths. Sheehan was on duty at Naas with his first flat runner, but Hurricane Ben’s rider Jamie Codd remarked: “The better ground and the shorter trip suited him. He’s just been waiting for nice ground.”
The winning trainer added by telephone that evening: “I was expecting that because he ran a cracker in Ballyarthur and we learnt a lot that day. He needs to go right-handed and he jumped and he travelled.
“I only have him since October and he’s had plenty of problems, so it’s great that he won. We’ll have a bit of sport with him during the summer.”
Bandon trainer James Dullea added to his outstanding strike rate at the seaside venue when collecting with Glasslyn Road in the 0-102 handicap chase. Philip Enright’s mount went to the front on the approach to the penultimate fence and survived an awkward jump at the last to win by two and a half lengths from the long-time leader West Ship Master. Market leader Halls Bridge had to settle for fourth place.
The 8/1 shot carries the red and black colours of west Cork country and western singer Catriona O’Donovan who has been a good supporter of the yard. Dullea stated: “I have this horse just over a year and he’s always worked a lot better than his form would suggest.
“For a big horse we were trying to keep him to soft ground, but I think he wants a bit of nice ground which he got today. Philip gave him a real confident ride and he’ll stay on the go for the summer.”
SWORDS WINNER
Co Meath handler Dermot McLoughlin and jockey Conor Maxwell combined for a two-length success via the 9/4 favourite Wither Hills in the two-mile 0-109 handicap chase. The 10-year-old is owned by Alan Smith, a lighting technician from Swords.
“He’s still doing the business and loves the ground and jumped well,” was the trainer’s post-race assessment. “Good ground is the key to him. He’ll mix it between hurdles and fences, but I’ll give him a break now because he’s had two runs in three days.”
The championship-elect father and son duo of Willie and Patrick Mullins had the final say on this eve of Punchestown card when striking with Myriam Carroll’s 6/4 favourite Toast in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Mares) Flat Race.
The bookmakers were the ones who got their fingers burnt here when the always-prominent hot-pot held the determined challenge of Inchiquin High by a neck, the pair drawing six and a half lengths clear of Erkindale Lady in third.
Patrick Mullins commented: “She’s not the biggest big mare but she whizzed around those tight bends. She loved the track and the quick ground and did well to get the gap on the last bend. She’s tough because I thought we were headed but she came back again.”
He concluded: “We’ll keep her going for the summer and she’ll win over hurdles and could go back on the flat.”
Careless riding
MONASTERY’S rider Mr E. Dwan picked up a two-day careless riding ban in the bumper.
Acting Stewards
P. Coveney, V. Connolly, W. Halley, J. McEnery, H. Hynes
HORSE TO FOLLOW
LASH IT ON (C. Byrnes): Shaped well in the handicap chase on his first outing for almost 11 months and won’t be far away next time.