DESERT Heather won the featured Moyvore Whiskey Vault Handicap Hurdle for Declan Queally, Mikey O’Connor and owner/breeder Harry Gettings. The 12/1 shot just got up close home to prevail by a head in the three-mile contest.

“Mike said she didn’t travel great but she came home well, she’s as tough as nails,” said Queally. “She had won three point-to-points and to win a 30 grand handicap like this is brilliant.

“She won easy last time and you accept that the handicapper gave us 14lb, you take it on the chin and you make a plan afterwards. Luckily, she slotted in nicely here, Mike’s 5lb took her down the weights and it worked out.

“Harry is delighted as it’s his second winner. She’ll jump a fence, she’s a grand mare. She stays well and she has a nice pedigree.”

Blackmore ride under scrutiny

There was extra drama after the feature when the stewards interviewed Rachael Blackmore concerning her ride on the mare Lady Rita where she appeared to stop riding after reaching the winning post with a circuit still to run.

The jockey stated that the mare “had a tendency to run inconsistently and was running over a longer trip today for the first time”.

She wanted to “ensure that the race was run at a strong gallop and let the mare stride on after the final hurdle with a circuit to run” but the mare “got lairy in front” and on realising there was still a long way to go, she allowed her to come back under her.

Having viewed the recording and considered the evidence, the raceday stewards informed Rachael Blackmore that they were not entirely convinced with her explanation offered but under the provisions of Rule 212A they could not be certain that her misjudgement, if any, had caused her to fail to obtain her best possible placing and therefore took no further action.

However, the IHRB said later that they intended to look further into the ride.

No surprise

Despite an SP of 66/1, the win of Killeemore Lad in the William Hill Epic Value Maiden Hurdle didn’t surprise victorious rider Philip Donovan.

“He’s a nice horse, he ran well here the last day over two miles. I rode him during the week and I thought he had improved; he was well entitled to do that. I didn’t know what was going on behind me but I was always happy, I never had a minute’s worry.”

The Andrew Slattery-trained gelding won by two and three-quarter lengths in the colours of the Lumper Lane Syndicate.

Get My Drift stayed on strongly in the J.P. McManus silks to land the Cooke’s Bar And Restaurant Caragh Beginners Chase for Mouse Morris and Simon Torrens. The 3/1 second favourite had half-a-length to spare at the finish.

“That was grand, he had been knocking on the door for a good while,” said Frank Berry. “I didn’t think he’d be coming to Kilbeggan to win his maiden but that’s the way it worked out.

“It’s lovely that it’s a new season to start him off anyway, he has a fair bit of experience. He made heavy enough weather of it but it’s grand to get his head in front. He’ll hack away for the summer and we’ll see where we end up.”

Eagle-eyed Harvey makes it a double

FOLLOWERS of jockey Ben Harvey would have been on good terms with themselves at Kilbeggan on Friday evening, as the Dubliner won the first two races on the card. Macanogue landed a real old-fashioned gamble for trainer Luke Comer in the opening William Hill Play Responsibly Maiden Hurdle.

The Stylebawn Syndicate owned gelding held on by a half-a-length, having been supported from 12/1 into 16/5. “He’s a very good work horse and I really fancied him here today if he put things together, said Harvey.

“Hopefully it will do him good to get his head in front, so he can build on that. He’s a tough horse and has a nice pedigree. He jumps fences really well and I’d say he’ll make a lovely chaser.”

Royal Eagle saw Harvey pay a second visit to the winner’s enclosure when successful in the William Hill Pick Your Places Handicap Hurdle.

The Gordon Elliott-trained mare was a comfortable two-and-three-quarter-lengths winner at 4/1.

Lisa O’Neill, reported of the David Monaghan, Adam Lord and Paddy Monaghan owned winner: “Ben gave her a lovely ride, he was always in a nice prominent position. They didn’t go that fast and when she got to the front, he was able to fill her up.

“She’s done it snugly enough in the end and I think there is plenty more to come from her.”