ACCOMPLISHED amateur J.J. Slevin, who is currently riding out for his first cousin Joseph O’Brien, is planning to turn professional in the early part of this week. The 7lb claimer announced his decision at Tramore on Thursday after steering Craig Star to success in the Club Deise 80-95 Handicap Hurdle.
Sent to post the 3/1 joint favourite with Cadawill, the Sean Doyle-trained six-year-old overcame a slight mistake at the penultimate flight to seal the issue at the last for a three and a half length win over the staying-on Cadawill.
Doyle, who trains Craig Star for John Deegan from Shillelagh, said: “He’s a well-bred horse, but he’s a bit small and struggled in point-to-points, so we said we’d go hurdling with him. Now he’s got his head in front, hopefully he’ll win again. He runs best fresh and he’ll go for something similar in about two weeks time.”
Monbeg Rose, from the Willie Mullins stable, was sent off favourite for th?e Noel Cummins Bookmaker Beginners Chase, but the honours went instead to Tempo Mac, trained by his great rival Gordon Elliott, who swept through under Luke Dempsey from two out to gain the upper hand over Our Dougal close home for a head win.
The successful trainer has care of the 8/1 shot for J.P. McGovern from Mullingar and stated: “Luke was very good on him and all credit has to go to him. He didn’t jump great early - over hurdles he could be a bit ignorant and strong, but he got him popping away and, thankfully, he jumped the last two when he needed it.
“He’ll probably travel and go for a novice chase somewhere and probably go back on the flat at some stage, if I can find the right race for him. He’s still well enough handicapped on the flat.”
FULL CRY STRIKES AGAIN
Local handler Henry de Bromhead, who was out of luck with the runner-up in that race, saddled 2/1 chance Full Cry to take the honours for Andrew Lynch and the Garristown Aintree Syndicate from North County Dublin by two and a half lengths in the inaugural running of the Jerry Widger Memorial Chase. Market leader Cogryhill had to settle for the third spot.
De Bromhead commented: “We took a bit of a punt running him again after Kilbeggan, but he seemed in great form and it worked out. He seemed to enjoy the track and the trip and I’m delighted to win it because Jerry was a great friend of our family. He wouldn’t miss a meeting here.
“He’ll have a break and there’s a 123-or-less novice chase in Clonmel at the end of September and I’m sure he’ll still qualify for it.”
FATHER AND SON
The father and son team of trainer Niall Madden and his jockey namesake combined for success with the J.P. McManus-owned Borderlinedecision in the two-mile Guiry.ie Auctioneers Maiden Hurdle. The 5/1 chance mastered the favourite Creative Talent at the last and stayed going for a one and a quarter-length success.
The winning trainer commented: “It was great that he won. I thought he’d win in Kilbeggan, but it was a messy old race and Niall ended up being in front too soon.” Borderlinedecision is a four year-old son of the useful mare Dani California, who won three times at the seaside venue for Willie Mullins.
Ted and Ruby Walsh were another father and son duo to strike when combining for back-to-back wins with the 13/8 favourite Old Castletown in the Pat Woodbyrne Memorial 0-109 Handicap Chase. The top-weight led from start to finish and asserted from the final obstacle to give 13lb and a four and a quarter-length beating to Line View. Old Castletown races in the colours of Denise Walsh and his trainer said: “He’s a Tramore horse and that’s his third win around here. He’s only seven and he’ll win a few more. He jumps well and will probably have to get into a better type of race now.
“He might run here again on Sunday – I’ll talk to Ruby and we’ll see how he is, but he’s in at Killarney and Downpatrick.”
Third win in four outings
Coolfighter, a standing dish at this venue two years ago, is another horse pencilled in to turn out again in a handicap hurdle tomorrow. The eight-year-old demonstrated his liking for the track when his half-length victory over Long Journey Home in the O’Neill’s Bar Rated Novice Hurdle? became his third win in four outings.
Racing in the white and red diamond colours of The Cool Boys Partnership, which is made up of mainly locals, David Splaine’s mount went to the front with three flights remaining and pulled out more in the closing stages to justify 2/1 favouritism.
“That’s three in a row over hurdles,” said Dooly of his 12-time winner. “And he won four in a row on the flat. He was lame after Killarney the last day when Seamie (Heffernan) said he took a false step crossing the road, but we nursed him back and that’s his first piece of work since then. He missed a full week after Killarney and David said he got a little bit tired after the last. Hopefully that’ll set him up nicely for Sunday.”
Dermot O’Brien’s 7/1 shot Glendine River, was first to pass the post in the www.tramore-racecourse.com (Ladies) Maiden. The Urban Ocean mare lasted it out under Sheila Ahern by one and a half lengths from St Lawrence Gap.
Dungarvan-based O’Brien, who also owns and bred his dual winner, commented wryly: “If we could just get her jumping over hurdles – she’s still learning to jump properly, but she’s been consistent and never runs a bad race. Sheila gave her a lovely ride.”