THE riding honours at this well-attended National Hunt meeting - an SETU Student Day with young racegoers from colleges such as Carlow, Tipperary and Kildalton - went to Sean Flanagan and Darragh O’Keeffe who both partnered doubles.
Trainer Liz Doyle surprisingly bred her first winner as First Dare recorded a shock 16/1 win under Flanagan in the www.tramoreraces.ie Maiden Hurdle. After the four-year-old responded gamely on the run-in to touch off Laser Focus by a neck, Doyle said: “It’s the first winner for the (Sooner Or Later) syndicate that is newly formed and includes Jack Barden who was involved in Penny’s Bill that won the Pierse Hurdle for me.
“She’s a little filly that I bred myself and has ability but just didn’t settle great in bumpers. Sean switched her off beautifully today and for a first time outer she didn’t half jump well and he just rode her to come home. It was good to see her finish out a race.”
Getaway mare clinches
double for Flanagan
KILBUNNY PONTIC, trained by David O’Brien for the Delton Syndicate, completed Flanagan’s double in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle. The Getaway mare headed the front-running Champagnesocialist at the second last but was pressed by 125/1 shot Which Robin when that rival fell at the final flight.
The 13/8 favourite was left clear to score by two and a quarter lengths, although there was a worrying footnote as she was dismounted soon after the line and boarded onto the horse ambulance.
“She’s overreached and cut her tendon. She has a nice pedigree and she’ll be fine to go breeding,” reported Flanagan afterwards. “She won a bumper and a point-to-point and is a classy enough mare. She’s very hardy and has galloped all the way to the line.”
Miracle win for O’Keeffe with Doyouthinkso
DARRAGH O’Keeffe initiated his double in the Ardmore Handicap Hurdle where Doyouthinkso (11/2) reeled in the front-running Mater Matuta soon after the last and kept on well to beat that rival by three and a half lengths.
Delighted local trainer John Flavin said: “These are the best group of owners (Miracle Racing Syndicate) that I could ever have and includes Eddie Power who was the first man to have a horse with my father. They got this horse before Covid, stuck with him after he had a few problems and they couldn’t go when he won in Dundalk due to Covid. He always runs well around here and we’ll aim him back here if we can.”
O’Keeffe followed up aboard Majavango in the Waterford Greenway Beginners Chase with the Tom Gibney-trained 5/2 favourite left clear to score by 15 lengths after Speed Gang fell at the second last. “He’s done very little wrong since he went chasing and I’m thrilled for Fenian (Reilly, owner) a good supporter of mine to get that. He’s very solid over his jumps and will probably go into handicaps now.”
Tina and Townend top Tiogair
THE most impressive winner on the afternoon came in the Copper Coast (Ladies Pro/Am) Flat Race where Tina Meehan (8/11fav) stretched right away inside the final furlong for Jody Townend to beat fellow newcomer Inion Tiogair by an easy 14 lengths.
“She did that well and her homework has been that she stays. She could go for a listed bumper and then go hurdling next season,” said Willie Mullins who trains the Mahler mare for Paddy Melarkey.
Emmlyn Melarkey, who accompanied his father on the journey down from Fermanagh, said: “Tina Meehan is named after my mother who passed away six years ago and we always wanted a horse in her name.
“We’ll leave it up to Willie where she goes and if he wants to go to Cheltenham, we’ll not argue!”
Game And Glory led home a one-two for Philip Rothwell when gaining a deserved win at odds of 8/1 in the Tramore Racecourse On Instagram Handicap Hurdle.
“The daughter of Fame And Glory made good headway to challenge two out before holding off stablemate Siberian Star by a neck.
Rothwell said: “She was placed in a few bumpers last year and also in maiden hurdles and deserved that.
“I didn’t quite know if here would suit as she didn’t really come down the hill in Clonmel so I told Jack (Foley) to commit early down the hill today.
“She’s owned by John Leckey who has been a super supporter of mine for a number of years.”
Four score for Dooly’s Bunny
WHERE’S BUNNY (3/1 jt-fav) has proved a grand money-spinner for connections and recorded her fourth win in the space of 15 months when landing the Pickardstown Handicap Chase. The Arakan mare won over hurdles at Clonmel last time but successfully switched back to fences here keeping on well from before the last under James O’Sullivan to beat Dreamsrmadeofthis by three lengths.
Winning trainer Noel Dooly said: “She won over two and a half the last day and I thought coming back might be a bit short. She’s run well over two here before and James was good and positive on her. She jumps so well and you would love to have a yard of them. You can run her every two weeks over hurdles or fences. I think she has run 12 times this year and collected (money) on 10.
“She’s in Thurles next Thursday so we’ll see how she comes out of this. She is owned by my father Robert who is away in Tenerife at the moment.”