A FINE comeback effort on the flat at Limerick last week left Peregrine Run in perfect shape for his return to jumping and he duly notched up back-to-back victories in the Grade 3 BoyleSports An Riocht Chase.
This race, which is usually one of the high-profile events of the track’s May meeting, attracted a useful field for its rescheduled date while offering Peter Fahey’s charge a good chance to extend his impressive record at this track.
From six previous outings here, the Vincent Byrne-owned 10-year-old had won four times and been placed twice and he was as convincing as ever on this occasion.
The gelding’s regular jockey Kevin Sexton produced the 11/8 favourite to lead at the second last and the pair readily fought off Robin Des Foret to prevail by two and three quarter lengths to fuel thoughts of another visit to the Galway Festival.
“He’s a credit to everyone in the yard and that’s 17 races he’s won now and I don’t think he’s finished yet,” said Fahey.
“Obviously he will have a Plate entry and it’s possible he could go there but he could well come back here for a flat race next week and that would give us flat handicap options with him.”
Alliance
The opening fixture of the year at Killarney began with a victory for the formidable alliance of Henry de Bromhead, Robbie Power and owner Robcour as Tune The Chello (5/4) obliged in the Kelly Farm Modernisation Ltd Mares Maiden Hurdle over just short of three miles.
This 104-rated daughter of Ask had run three solid races in defeat during the winter and took advantage of her easiest assignment yet with a front-running success over Mystery Stowaway.
A couple of quick jumps at the last two flights enabled Power’s mount to carry the day by two and three quarter lengths.
Gavin Cromwell’s Friary Gold had already run twice this season by the time he lined up in the 80-95 rated Jim Ryan Race Services Handicap Hurdle and he put his fitness to good use by justifying 15/8 favouritism.
Jonathan Moore took charge of this race before the third last on the John Earls-owned gelding who finished with two and a half lengths to spare.
AT the 2018 Killarney July Festival, Darragh O’Keeffe rode the first winner of his career when combining with Enda Bolger and J.P. McManus and this trio once again joined forces for a double that featured an impressive success for Everlastingpromise in the Grade B BoyleSports Bourn Vincent Handicap Chase.
A progressive type last autumn, the six-year-old looked better than ever on his first start since January as he obliged off a rating that was some 10lb higher than the one he last won off.
O’Keeffe had the 3/1 chance edging ahead on the inside of the front running Ornua before the third last and Everlastingpromise went on to pull 13 lengths clear of the field. Smithscorner secured second in a strongly run race where very few ever got meaningfully involved.
Good gallop
“He’s an ideal type for these tracks as he jumps and travels so well,” declared the rider. “We went a good gallop and the race worked out nicely and when he winged the fourth last he had the inside. He did it well.”
The brace was completed by Thatbeatsbanagher in the near two-mile, five-furlong BoyleSports Handicap Chase where Bolger’s charge was adding to his course-and-distance success from last August. The six-year-old was blinkered for his first start since February and recovered from clouting five out to lead before the next fence.
From this point on the 4/1 chance retained control of the race en route to a four-length triumph over the fellow McManus-owned runner Timiyan.
ON his first outing since filling the runner-up spot in the novice handicap chase at the Cheltenham Festival, the Gordon Elliott-trained Galvin took advantage of by far his easiest assignment over fences in the BoyleSports Chase.
The 2/15 favourite enjoyed a smooth time of things under Davy Russell and already had the race won when the front-running Summerhill departed at the final fence. This left the Ronnie Bartlett-owned gelding to finish 22 lengths ahead of stablemate Make My Heart Fly.
“It was a nice race for him to get off the mark over fences and all being well he’ll head to Galway for the Plate where I’d hope his Cheltenham run would put him in with a good chance. He’ll progress from this,” declared Elliott.
Earlier, there was a taking chasing debut from La Sorelita (2/1) in the BoyleSports Mares Beginners Chase.
This Kenny Alexander-owned mare had gone without a win on her first 11 starts for Willie Mullins but produced a commanding effort from the front under Paul Townend to run out a 10-length winner. This race would suggest that she will be a good deal better than she was over hurdles where she held a rating of 127.
The evening concluded with a victory for the Brian Jordan-trained Knock On Steel (100/30) in the BoyleSports-sponsored beginners’ chase over an extended two miles.
The Richard Eustace-owned gelding, who gave the trainer his last success in October 2018, was another to make all. The capable seven-year-old responded well to Sean O’Keeffe’s promptings in the closing stages to hold off Convara by a length and a quarter.