PAT Taaffe secured his first racecourse victory on board his father’s Walking Fame after an incident-packed conclusion to the A J C Group INH Flat Race in Downpatrick last Monday.
His mount held the lead but veered markedly left inside the final 100 yards, hampering both subsequent runner-up Deo Bellator, who was unleashing her challenge between horses, and I A Connect who held every chance on the rail.
Both of the leader’s rivals saw their momentum checked in the closing stages, and Deo Bellator was switched out when she became the meat in the sandwich.
Walking Fame (9/4) won by a length and a quarter from 125/1 shot Deo Bellator who had a neck to spare over 6/4 favourite I A Connect.
A lengthy stewards’ inquiry ensued, as the odds contracted on Deo Bellator being awarded the race, however, the stewards made no alterations.
Taaffe was hit with a seven-day suspension for careless riding, though, and ordered to attend the Racing Academy and Centre of Excellence for one day’s tuition.
Trainer Tom Taaffe said: “She leaned to here (stands’ side) which a lot of horses do. He (Taaffe jnr) didn’t change his stick, but he’s won a length and a quarter which is in his favour.
“We like the filly – we wanted to try and win a bumper with her. She has a very good blacktype page. She goes hurdling straight away, she jumps well and she’s maybe a chaser. That’s Pat’s first winner and I’m very proud. He is going to college and will ride as an amateur and over jumps. He puts his time in and watches his weight and is mad keen.”
Walking Fame sported the colours of David Sellick, Shane Kenny and Ms Olivia O’Reilly.
Versatile
Tom McCourt’s Dollar Value (14/1) showed his versatility when landing the Adare Manor Opportunity Beginners Chase over an extended two miles and three furlongs.The five-year-old gelding won a mile-and-a-half handicap on the flat at Leopardstown in August, and also has a maiden hurdle victory at Sligo last summer in his locker.
This was his chasing debut and Conor McNamara switched him off as the pair crept into contention at the penultimate fence. They moved into second at the final obstacle and grabbed the lead in the final furlong to score by a length and three quarters for owner Peter Jordan.
McCourt said: “I told him to put him asleep for the first half because he can get a bit free – drop him out, hunt him for the first round and tip away and hope for the best after that. A couple went out at the first which probably did no harm to us.
“He’s a lovely horse and gets into a race very easily. He jumps well and looked like he had plenty in hand (after the last).”
THE Gavin Cromwell-trained Western Run had been placed in all five bumpers that he contested, but a switch to hurdling saw him get his head in front.
The 10/11 favourite, representing the North Star Syndicate, led at the last and scooted 13 lengths clear on the run-in for Jonathan Moore.
“It was a pity not to win a bumper with him. Joey Dunne was riding him in bumpers and he didn’t do anything wrong, he was just unfortunate and kept running into one,” said Cromwell. “The day he got beaten in Kilbeggan, the winner went on to win in Galway.”
Mike O’Connor enjoyed his first victory over jumps when Crimson Chief held on by a neck in the Ulster Carpets Handicap Hurdle.
Owner/trainer John Morrison saw his charge strongly pressed inside the final furlong by Paula’s Prayer who kept him honest all the way to the line.
O’Connor said of the 9/1 winner: “It was a good opportunity for him. He was travelling well – a track like this will suit him down to the ground and the ground suited him as well.”
Paul Nolan’s Knot On Time found plenty for pressure to land the Randox Health Maiden Hurdle.
The five-year-old gelding improved to lead after the fourth last and stuck to his task up the hill to deliver by a length-and-a-half at odds of 16/5.
Jockey Sean O’Keeffe, in J.P. Rossiter’s silks, said: “He had a bit of experience around here before, and today he jumped better and travelled well. He stayed going to the line well. He was picking up when the other horse came to him.”
BASIL’S Boy clearly enjoys undulating tracks as he powered home by seven and a half lengths in the Dr E.F. Logan OBE Memorial Giltspur Scientific Handicap Hurdle.
Eoin Walsh rode a patient race over an extended two miles five and delivered his mount to lead at the last. The six-year-old kept on well to post a decisive victory at 7/2 for owner Basil Whelan.
Trainer Liam Cusack said: “He ran a lovely race in Tramore and the race didn’t really go to suit him – he got left in front and it was not ideal. Today they went a nicer gallop and he (Walsh) was able to get him relaxed. I was even wondering was he too far back, but he went wide and jumped his way into it. He likes the hills, I wonder would he handle Cheltenham!”
Dot Love’s Bridge Native came home strongest by a length and three parts in the Downpatrick Best Dressed Lady Handicap Chase. Conor Orr worked the 7/2 joint-favourite to the front at the second last and the pair stayed on well up the hill to reward the Real Bandits Again Syndicate.