ROSSCARBERY jockey Brian Hayes won’t forget Easter Sunday 2021 in a hurry as he registered a double on home soil in Cork, including a win in the €40,000 Grade B O’Dwyers Steel Dundrum Easter Handicap Hurdle on Botani (10/1).
An inch was as good as a mile here, as the Fiona McKeon-owned Botani clung on by a short-head from market-leader Zoffanien. The latter would have likely got there had he not ‘missed’ the last.
This was a first success for Colm Murphy since returning to the training ranks after he took a break. The Wexford man was bridging a near five-year gap back to his last winner, Killiney Court in August 2016.
“It is great to get blacktype for her and I’m absolutely delighted for Colm Murphy. He has been very good and loyal to me. I rode a lot for him in the past and since he has got his license back I have done plenty of work for him,” said Hayes.
“He has point-to-pointers and is training the odd few horses for the track - you don’t lose it.”
After initiating the 26/1 plus brace on The West Awaits (6/4 favourite) for Sue Magnier and Willie Mullins in the O’Flynn Motors Mallow Mares Maiden Hurdle, Hayes reflected: “That’s my first winner in these colours and I’d never worn them before. They are famous colours and it’s nice to put them on.”
Bred by Cathal Mariga in Youghal, Clonmel bumper winner The West Awaits was impressive in beating Rambling Rose by five and a half lengths.
OWNERS Mark Fleming and Geoff Bruce, and trainer John Ryan had confidence in well-backed 7/2 chance Waitnsee for the Grade 3 Baroneracing.Com Chase. The only mare in the line-up justified connections’ faith to triumph in the hands of Kevin Brouder.
She made a mistake two out while Spyglass Hill was the one to error at the last. Four and a half lengths eventually split them at the line.
“The owners are UK-based and there is a possibility of her going there for some of the good races,” remarked Ryan.
“Kevin Brouder gave her a peach of a ride and I’m delighted too for James Hannon and the people who have Arctic Cosmos as their stallion has now sired a blacktype winner and it is a good time to get it at the start of the breeding season.”
Out of an unraced half-sister to Gold Cup winner, Native River, Scorpion’s Revenge (25/1) made a winning debut in the Jim Ryan Racecourse Services (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race.
American adventure
American handler Keri Brion did good business sourcing this fellow in November from her Irish hosts, Ellen Doyle and her brother James in Co Wexford. It was a deserved first success for Brion and connections after their plucky adventure to this side of the Atlantic.
Leading American owner Irvin Naylor owns the promising youngster and Daniel Nevin (21, from Gowran) rode his first track winner on him here, as he beat fellow debutant Shuil Donn by a length and a half. Nevin was adding to three successes achieved in point-to-points.
Many will recall Alfa Beat winning the Kerry National in 2011 in the Naylor silks and Brion stated: “I was starting to doubt whether I’d get a winner and am due to go back on Saturday. I had bad racing luck and didn’t have time on my side but this is the ground they all want.
“Our season is getting ready to start in America and all the horses are going back to Saratoga to run for big money and the owners rightly want them home and freshened up.
“I think we will come back - the owners have really enjoyed it and a few of them would love to come to the races. I learned a lot but was just missing this win. I know exactly now what type of horses are needed and it is a high standard. The Naylors have been so good to me.”
Largy Fix (7/2 joint favourite) finished a completely tailed off last of the 17. He was reported to be post-race normal. Rider Barry O’Neill said that his mount stopped quickly.
Perfect pretender
In the Baroneracing.Com Hurdle Sole Pretender (14/1) put up a great performance, making all to account for Bapaume by five lengths and win coming off a 598-day break.
Simon Torrens did the steering on Sole Pretender for owner Michael Hogan and handler Norman Lee. Odds-on favourite Petit Mouchoir wasn’t making any impression when falling two out.
On an afternoon when she had two winners at Fairyhouse, Jessica Harrington struck in the Dermot Casey Tree Care Maiden Hurdle. Ya Ya Baby (10/11 favourite) did the business in the opening two-miler for the Flyers Syndicate with Sean O’Keeffe up top.
The Very Man (9/4 into 6/4) for Gigginstown House Stud and Denise Foster, got the better of Port Stanley (5/4 favourite) by a length and a quarter in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase.
There were all of 25 lengths back to the third, Rocket Lad, and Jordan Gainford guided The Very Man home.
Phidelma Elvin rode her second winner and first over jumps (has a point-to-point win to her name) when former Cheltenham and Punchestown cross-country hero Josies Orders popped up at odds of 100/1 in the Munster Waste Management Handicap Hurdle. Enda Bolger owns and trains the 13-year-old.
He formerly competed for J.P. McManus, and Aileen Sloane Lee got the credit for freshening the Milan gelding up by taking him on trips to the beach.
JOHN McConnell wasn’t present nor did he have an authorised representative in attendance to act on his behalf. The stewards were enquiring into the running and riding of his Buto, after he’d finished 13th in this maiden with three behind him.
The matter was referred to the Referrals Committee for consideration. Buto was found to be post-race normal but a stable representative reported that the animal gurgled halfway down the back straight.