ESHTIAAL has certainly been earning his keep for his English-based owners soccer agent Will Salthouse and Mark McKay this week.
Gordon Elliott’s charge made it three wins in the space of seven days at Tramore last Saturday with his three-length success under Luke Dempsey in the www.tramore-racecourse.com Handicap Hurdle.
The five-year-old carried a 4lb penalty for his Down Royal success achieved 24 hours earlier and the hat-trick was never in doubt for the 6/4 favourite who also collected at Ballinrobe last Monday. Giving chase to the trail-blazing Indian Fairy off the last bend, the Dynaformer went to the front before the last and kept up the gallop to beat Asithappens in good style.
Galway could now be on the agenda for Eshtiaal whose confidence will have been boosted by this latest hurdling success. The trainer’s representative Ian Amond said: “He’s been busy and might have a little break and then go back on the flat in a few weeks’ time to try to pick up a flat race. We had to run him today after yesterday and he may go to Galway for a hurdle race.”
The Willie Mullins/Ruby Walsh/Suzannah Ricci team can do little wrong at present and Childrens List set up a double for the all-conquering alliance in the Tramore Racecourse Supporters Club Maiden Hurdle, making every yard to justify 1/2 favouritism by half a length from the determined effort of Balinaboola Prince.
The trainer commented: “He didn’t appear to enjoy going right-handed, although he has won here twice now. He was hanging left and we’ll look at two and a half miles plus and see what he’s like left-handed. Looking at that his career is over fences.”
Stable-companion Avant Tout was another previous course winner to strike and the five-year-old made a successful debut over fences in the Find Us On Facebook Beginners Chase.
He brought his tally of wins to four when taking the spoils by six lengths, despite a heart-stopping moment at the last when he almost knuckled over on landing.
Fortunately for members of the Supreme Horse Racing Club and those who had supported him into 5/4 favouritism the French-bred recovered his momentum in an instant to take Mumbo Bay’s measure.
Mullins observed: “That seems to be his job alright. He schooled at home and is very sharp for a novice so that’s why we said we’d let him take his chance over two miles. He handled that ground alright and is just a natural. I wouldn’t have any problem going to bigger tracks with him.”
The locally-trained Go Forty Go, from the Henry de Bromhead stable, was never out of the first two in the Launch Of The August Racing Festival 13th To 16th Maiden Hurdle and rallied gamely for Andrew Lynch to recover from a mistake at the final flight and get back up in the dying strides for a neck win over Jesmond Lodge.
De Bromhead trains the homebred 6/1 winner for Peter Brophy from Kilkenny and remarked: “It was his first run for us and he’s been working nicely but, around here you need experience and he showed there that he lacks a bit of that. He jumped really well but Andrew said it was a bit slippy out there so he was cautious as well.
“Hopefully he’ll jump a fence but he’s very green. He has a lot to learn, so fair play to him because to go around Tramore isn’t easy. He’ll go the novice route and be heading for fences soon.” Market leader St Peter’s Square had to settle for fifth spot.
Trainer David O’Brien saddled his second winner in 24 hours when Icelip captured the Graun Hill Suite - Perfect For Parties Handicap Hurdle for the Waterford-based family member Fastey For Fun Syndicate.
Ridden by Conor Maxwell, the 6/1 shot delivered her challenge at the last to head Red Castle halfway up the run-in for a three-quarter length win, with the warm favourite Chakisto reported to be lame post-race.
O’Brien commented: “John Grant heads the syndicate and he kept him when things weren’t working out for him last year.
“It’s his local track and I’m really pleased for him. We got the horse’s palate fired and it worked out. He’s finishing out his races now and he’ll stick to handicapping. We’ll live on this one for the minute!”
Kevin Sexton rode his first winner as a fully-fledged professional on the always-prominent 6/1 chance Ballyfinboy in the Book Online At Tramore-Racecourse.com Handicap Chase which was run at a good clip.
Jimmy Finn’s grey was notching up his first success since Galway two years ago and just held on by a head from market leader The Mooch.
The winning rider said: “The rain was a big help and it was nice to see it come. My lad wasn’t doing a lot in front but in fairness to him he winged the last and stuck at it all the way to the line. All he does is stay.”
Monasterevin-based restricted trainer Paul Fahey does well with his small team and sent out Coffee Cantata for a decisive half-length victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Mares) Flat Race.
Partnered by John O’Sullivan from Kildare, riding his second winner on the track, the 7/1 shot stepped up on her third placing behind Thumb Stone Blues at Kilbeggan earlier this month to end her Kilcullen owner Fiona Hughes’s long wait for her first success.
A vet by profession she explained: “The colours were first registered in 1947 and we’ve been racing horses for 40 years.”
Fahey was equally pleased and reflected: “She had a lovely run in Kilbeggan and travelled well here. John said she stuck it out well in that ground and she’s an absolutely super jumper with a lovely pedigree.”
ACTING STEWARDS
P. Coveney, N.P. Lambert, M. Murphy, E. Halley, M.F. O’Donoghue
HORSE TO FOLLOW
COFFEE CANTATA (P.G. Fahey): She looks an above-average mare and is reported to jump well so is one to look forward to when sent over hurdles. She could well make an impact in this sphere.
Riding bans
Sparkalark’s rider Paul Power picked up a four-day whip ban in the first race, while fellow amateur Declan Queally was suspended for four days for disobeying the starter’s instructions in the mares’ bumper.