CONNA Cross became the second Welsh-owned winner of the afternoon at Tramore on Thursday when making a winning debut over fences in the day’s most valuable event, the Graun Hill Suite Beginners Chase.
Ridden by Paddy Mangan for his father Jimmy and sporting the black and orange colours of Hanford’s Chemist Ltd from Camarthen, the 6/1 winner took the shortest route on the inner to head Castlewhite at the final obstacle and kept on under pressure to land the spoils by two and three-quarter lengths.
The winning trainer said: “The race was made for him with a handy field and it was a grand introduction for him. You could always see in his hurdle races that he was going to make a chaser. He’s in a race at Thurles next week, but he’s not qualified for it now.” However, there was no such joy for supporters of the warm favourite Double Island who was pulled-up.
Local trainer Henry de Bromhead supplied the second ‘conversion’ for Wales when sending out Mullinavat to register a follow-up to his August Festival novice chase success with victory in the Waterford & Tramore Racecourse Supporters Club 80-95 Handicap Hurdle.
In front from the start under Sean Flanagan, the 9/10 favourite successfully exploited his more lenient hurdling mark and was never headed, extending his advantage on the downhill run to the straight.
Popping the last safely, the eight-year-old was 23 lengths to the good over Tintown Robin at the finish in the red and white colours of Mike Allen from North Wales. De Bromhead commented: “He got a super ride from Sean who went out and rode him like the best horse in the race.
“He’s been busy this season and it’s getting to an end now. He’s in at Fairyhouse on Saturday but, I’d say that’s unlikely and we’ll just enjoy today.”
The J.P. McManus-owned Listowel casualty Wait Here looked to have fitness on his side in the unplaced maiden hurdle and proved it when drawing right away under Mark Walsh in the closing stages for a decisive nine-length win over Our Pocket Rocket, with the favourite Toor General only fourth.
Austin Leahy has care of the 4/1 winner and observed: “The ground was different to what we had anticipated, but it’s safe enough and we’re pleased to get it. He was a bit unlucky in Listowel, where he was going to be placed in a better type of race and he’ll go handicapping now.”
Up and coming rider Donie McInerney notched up his 13th winner of the season, and his 14th in all aboard the front-running 5/2 chance The Kings Baby for Moses McCabe in the Waterford & Tramore Racecourse Supporters Club Maiden Hurdle.
The King’s Theatre mare was never in any danger of defeat and kept up the gallop for her Tinahely owner Mick Kenny, who has two horses in the yard, to beat Aherlow by 10 lengths. Market leader Anytime Now was a further three and a half lengths adrift in third.
The Enniscorthy trainer admitted: “It’s a long time since I had a winner and that was a long time coming. She was unlucky in Wexford, but has been knocking at the door and I thought she had a chance today. She’ll go novice hurdling now and stay in that lane in her own class.”
McCabe was quick to praise McInerney for his handling of The Kings Baby, commenting: “We wanted to take weight off her and he’s a good young lad and a good jockey. Full credit, too, to Kieran Roche who rides her out at home.”
Bandon trainer James Dullea has an enviable strike rate at the track and saddled Just Get Cracking to take the 80-109 handicap hurdle in effortless fashion, the 4/1 shot opening up for Paul Townend on the run to the last to gain a five-length success at the expense of the favourite Ardera Cross.
Making the occasion twice as special for his West Cork owner Catriona O’Donovan was the fact that it was the country and western singer’s 43rd wedding anniversary.
“That was brilliant,” said Dullea. “I knew coming here he was in great form, even though he was coming back after a break and I’m delighted he got his head in front without having a hard race.
“He’ll probably mix it and go back chasing. He hasn’t won in two years since he was successful in a novice chase at this meeting.”
Persian Wind claimed the novice chase for the father and son team of Philip and Luke Dempsey when edging out the favourite Knockraha King by a short-head in the colours of Robert Honner who stands the 6/1 shot’s sire Pushkin at his Clongiffen Stud in Enfield.
It was nip and tuck between the duo from the second last and the in-form trainer, registering his fifth win in the last month, remarked: “He nearly threw it away at the last and was lucky to stay on at the first – it was nearly all over. He didn’t jump as well as he can for whatever reason but sometimes, around here, that can happen.
“He’s had a wind op and seems to have come back stronger this year. The ground definitely suited him and he’ll maybe go to Downpatrick for a hurdle race next week – anything to keep the run going!”
Jockey turned trainer Shay Barry, who had the misfortune to lose Kalanisi King in the second race, bounced back with a three-quarter-length win for the Laura Hourigan-ridden On His Toes in the Ladies (Pro/Am) Flat Race.
Unfortunately Joe Lee from Gort, who owns the 6/1 winner, was away in Portugal, but Barry said: “I shouldn’t have run him in Listowel, but he’s a grand little horse and I’m delighted with him. This has been a lucky track for us, but I walked it yesterday morning and said to Joe ‘If we don’t get rain, we could be in trouble.’
“His full-brother Just For Joe is a bumper winner and I might put him away now because, obviously, that ground (yielding) is the key to him. Laura is a good, strong rider.”
ACTING STEWARDS
N.P. Lambert, V. Connolly, P. Coveney, E. Halley, M.F. O’Donoghue.
HORSE TO FOLLOW
TINTOWN ROBIN (V. L. Halley): Held up in rear, he made steady progress to fill the runner-up spot behind the handicap ‘good thing’ Mullinavat in the two-mile 80-95 handicap hurdle, but was no match for the 23-length winner. Warrants further consideration.