BORAGH Steps (7/4) landed the featured Bar One Racing Race to complete Dundalk doubles for her trainer Joseph O’Brien and rider Wayne Lordan.
Owned by the Boragh Stud Syndicate, Boragh Steps was tough in getting the better of favourite Canford Art (6/4) by a neck.
“She got headed and she battled back, she’s tough and genuine and she wants to win,” remarked Lordan.
Earlier, O’Brien combined with his brother Donnacha to capture the opening Dundalk Business Club 2018 Maiden with the David and Geraldine Magnier owned and bred Uncle Henry. First choice of the punters at 9/4, the Henrythenavigator gelding progressed from mid-division in the straight ultimately leading over a furlong out, before going away for a three and a half-length win.
“He had a good run the first day and the step up to a mile-and-a-half suited him. He did it nicely,” said Donnacha O’Brien.
Denis Linehan reported that his mount, Sir Danilo (7/2 second favourite), who was eighth home, hung right throughout this race. Wayne Lordan’s other winner helped to initiate a 71/1 brace for Pat Martin, as Adieux (8/1) took the honours in the Race Displays Handicap.
Owned by Hannah O’Donoghue and bred by her husband Seamus Foran, Adieux was equipped with a hood for the first time and she followed up on her course and distance success from December 22nd.
After the Dylan Thomas mare held Here For The Craic by half a length, Martin disclosed: “The horses are in good form at the minute and she’s thriving.
“I’m delighted for the owners and Seamus is my vet as well. He’s very good to me.”
Market-leader Zaofu beat only one home but he was found to be post race normal.
It was worse again for supporters and connections of Tropic Thunder (9/2). He finished last and Conor McGovern revealed that his mount lost his action and burst a blood vessel.
Shannon Soul (9/2) meanwhile, fared little better in 10th place. Michael Halford said that his charge never let himself down on the track which in his opinion was riding very fast.
Co Meath based Martin has a good servant in Ishebayorgrey (8/1 into 7/1) and he delivered again to complete a great night for the in-form team in the Kennedy’s Bar & Restaurant Dundalk Handicap.
It’s nine wins now all told for Ray Moore’s Clodovil gelding, six of which have come at this venue, as Killian Leonard got him home by a length from the front-running Grey Danube.
“Killian is a good jockey but, in fairness to the lads who have ridden him recently, he’s had lousy draws,” reflected Martin.
“He did it well tonight. Ray is a great supporter and he’ll party tonight, he’s well able to do that!
“He’s been a smashing servant this fella.”
Bog War is another that’s done connections proud, but he ended a fruitless spell stretching back to the 2015 Galway festival when triumphant in division one of the Matthews.ie Trip To Cheltenham 2018 Handicap.
Two of the best fancied contenders here fought out the finish as joint-favourite Bog War (7/2) worked hard to emerge on top by half a length from Glib Speech (13/2 into 5/1).
“You have to credit the handicapper because he dropped him. It’s a long time since he won,” acknowledged Liam Cusack who has care of the eight-year-old, also on the mark at the 2015 Punchestown festival, for the No Nama Drama Syndicate.
“Sean (Corby) have him a lovely ride and it’s great for the lads. Fair play to them as they’ve stuck by him. He’s had niggly problems and had a fractured splint bone,” added Cusack.
SUSPENSION
Mark Gallagher got a one-day whip ban for his efforts on fifth across the line Buddha’s Secret. Marino Marvel (third market choice at 4/1) was post race normal but he could manage no better than tenth.
The Crowne Plaza Race & Stay 2018 Handicap saw 20/1 chance Prove The Point defy top-weight in the hands of Gary Carroll. Carroll sported the silks of Laurence Mulvany on the half-length scorer. Mulvany’s brother Mick has now registered three wins with the Arakan mare.
Leigh Roche got a two-day whip ban after guiding Mostawfee into second place. The third here, Military Hill, hung and was bumped around in the final furlong according to her jockey, Robbie Downey. Indian Tomahawk (4/1 second favourite) finished ninth. Unfortunately he was found to be lame on his right fore post race.
Division two of the Matthews.ie Trip To Cheltenham 2018 Handicap saw Carvelas gain a deserved win after just failing by a head here a fortnight before. Talented 7lb claimer Ben Coen took the reins and the Last Chance Saloon Partnership-owned Carvelas justified the faith of those that backed him from 6/1 into 5/1. Pat Murphy’s nine-year-old saw off Miss Mirabeau by a length prompting the Castlecomer operator to say: “He’s a very genuine horse and loves it.
“Things are going well at home. We put in a new five-furlong woodchip gallop about 18 months ago and they are all running well off it.”
Stephen Thorne of Shamrock Thoroughbreds, trainer Ado McGuinness and rider Robbie Downey got a win out of Master Speaker on their first attempt with the eight-year-old in the Fast Shipping Ltd Handicap.
No one has ever doubted Master Speaker’s ability, but the 7/1 shot is difficult to win with. However it all came together for him here as he upstaged Bien Chase (16/1 into 8/1) and Plough Boy (14/1 into 9/1) by three parts of a length and half a length.
An €11,000 buy back in October, McGuinness said of Master Speaker: “I just thought that he has loads of ability and we might be able to sweeten him up with our way, though we’ve done very little with him.”
He added: “Stephen set up Shamrock Thoroughbreds and Rosenborg Rider is in it as well. He’s done a good job. He’s an ex Flying Start student and he’s my assistant.”
ACTING STEWARDS
N. B. Wachman, J.T. Hunt, T. McDonogh, J. M. McGrath, L. Walsh
HORSE TO FOLLIOW
TELL ME (A. McCann): She made a decent start for her current connections when fourth behind Boragh Steps.