JUST a day on from the success of his well-backed Dinamine at Gowran, Michael Mulvany struck again with Tubberfinn Lady in the second division of the Follow Kilbeggan On Instagram Handicap Hurdle.
Owned by Breffni O’Rourke, this five-year-old daughter of My Dream Boat also came in for strong market support and while available at 50/1 in early shows, she eventually went off at just 11/2.
Settled towards the rear on the outer by Jordan Gainford, the 84-rated bay travelled best to lead after two out and just needed to be kept up to her work on the run-in, eventually coming home three and a half lengths clear of My Policy
“We were waiting on some nice ground for her and we were hoping for a good run,” Mulvany disclosed. “I’m not sure where we’ll go now, but it’s nice to get a win for a new owner.”
Winning return
The opening division of this 0-100 rated contest went the way of Turkey And Ham (12/1), who was providing Noel Kelly with a third win from his last four runners.
Returning from a seven-month absence, the Gavin Brouder-ridden seven-year-old made a decisive move to the front before three out and while briefly tackled by Midnight Fairy (4/1 favourite), she ultimately got the better of that rival by a length and three quarters.
“She was a bit fresh early, maybe because she hadn’t run in a good while, but I knew she would stay no matter how quick they went early,” Brouder said of the Strange Coalition Syndicate-owned bay. “She’d prefer a bit more juice in the ground but handled that well today.”
LATER completing a cross-card double at Bangor with Digby, Dermot McLoughlin struck first with Malbay Madness (6/1 from 10s) in the Clarke’s Electrical Contractors Castletown Geoghegan Handicap Hurdle.
A dual winner on the level and down to 98 from an initial mark of 108, the Wings Of Eagles five-year-old was settled in mid-division by Paddy O’Hanlon.
Taking closer order from three out, the Judy Duffy-owned bay was pushed along to lead on the approach to the final flight and kept on well from there to beat the never nearer Order Of Dance by a length and a half.
“I thought my biggest job would be settling him as he can be quite keen at home, but we went a nice enough gallop,” the winning rider explained.
“He’s only a five-year-old so hopefully he can progress over the summer.”
Dual-purpose
San Franco failed to make an impact for McLoughlin and O’Hanlon in the opening Spring Two Day N.H. Race Meeting Maiden Hurdle, with Allo Al Khawaneej taking this 14-runner heat.
Previously in the care of Owen Burrows, the Nathaniel five-year-old was a solid sixth on his debut for Charles Byrnes and the Hitch And Tow Syndicate at Naas earlier this month.
A half-brother to Delegator, who was a top-class performer on the level, the 4/1 chance (from 15/2) came with his challenge before the last and was soon ridden to the front by Philip Byrnes, ultimately coming home three and a quarter lengths to the good.
“We were happy with his run the last day and thought he had an each-way chance,” the winning handler remarked. “He’s handicapped on the flat and can be a dual-purpose horse for the summer.”
REGISTERING a 10th career success, 12-year-old Pakens Rock showed his younger rivals how it’s done in the kilbegganraces.com Handicap Hurdle.
Previously in the care of Barry Murphy and now with Monieva handler Darren Collins, the well-backed 9/1 chance (from 16s), was providing Philip Donovan with a third straight success, following on from his double at Fairyhouse on Tuesday.
Settled in mid-division and fifth with a circuit to race, the Raymond Healy-owned chesnut was pushed along to lead before the final flight and kept on well on the run-in, coming home a length and a half clear of Paul Collins.
“We were thinking he’d be in the frame. He’s a 12-year-old but still has plenty of enthusiasm and is the same at home,” Collins reported. “I think that’s his third win at the track and I’d say he’ll come back here during the summer.”
Encouraging performance
The first of two bumpers on the programme, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares INH Flat Race, went the way of the Colin and Jackie Russell-owned Kabylia.
Second on her sole point-to-point start when in the care of Colin Bowe and subsequently bought by current connections for €165,000, she had been rather disappointing in two starts since.
Fitted with a hood for the first time, the Gavin Cromwell-trained five-year-old came from last to first under Declan Lavery, and quickly drew clear, easing to a five-and-a-half-length win.
“I fancied her to run well as she’s started doing things right at home,” Cromwell revealed. “She’s been very keen, but Jack Martin rides her all the time and he has done a great job on her. She went asleep at the back today and ran through the line which is encouraging.”
Business as usual
While out of luck with Sip Sip Hooray (9/4 favourite) in that aforementioned contest, normal service resumed for Willie and Patrick Mullins in the concluding Racing Again Tomorrow INH Flat Race.
While an underwhelming fourth of seven on debut at Fairyhouse in January, the well-bred Fillyoureye showed his true worth in this 14-runner contest. Owned and bred by the Flynn family, the Leading Light five-year-old was returned at 5/2.
Improving into a share of the lead with half a mile to race, the chesnut victor gained an outright advantage over a furlong from home and had two and a half lengths to spare at the line.
“The nicer ground brought about the improvement. He was a different horse,” the winning rider divulged. “I’d say we’ll keep on the go, and I’ll be trying to aim towards a winners’ bumper, but we’ll see what Willie thinks.”