HENRY de Bromhead has his string of summer jumpers in great form and the Knockeen trainer teamed up with talented claimer Hugh Morgan for a 33/1 double at Kilbeggan highlighted by the feature race win of Annexation in the Paul & Carmel Fay Memorial Handicap Hurdle.
The easy-to-back 15/2 chance was prominent throughout and got up a head of steam to lead at the last before drawing clear on the short run-in to beat Golden Jewel by three and a half lengths.
The son of Wootton Bassett has now won three times (one flat/two hurdles) since joining current connections from Ed Dunlop at the Horses-In-Training Sale in the autumn of 2019.
“He got a bit keen after we jumped off and ideally I would have liked a bit more cover but he jumped and travelled great. He got under the third last a bit and I struggled to keep my position but when he got out onto the fresher ground he galloped all the way to the line,” said Morgan.
“He’d no ill effects from his fall (at Killarney last month). It’s great to get him back to winning ways and get his confidence back as well.
“It was great for the owners (South Ros Racing Syndicate) to be here today, and he’s proving a great buy (18,000gns) by Paul Roche.”
Fine round
De Bromhead moved onto the 22-winner mark for the campaign just half an hour later when Demain Des L’aube (3/1) put in a fine round of jumping to take the AXA Smart Insurance Midlands National July 9th Opportunity Beginners Chase.
The French import took command on the long run after the penultimate fence to beat Blackhillsofdakota by a comfortable six and a half lengths.
“Blinkers made some difference to him and Henry had him in super nick for today,” said Morgan after partnering his sixth winner in the space of just nine days.
“I’m delighted for his owner (Alan Halsall) who has had loads of patience. He was difficult at the start and huge credit goes to Chris Dunne who has done a lot of work with him at home.”
THE West’s Awake, fourth to Early Doors in the Galway Plate last year, booked his ticket for next month’s Festival highlight after landing the Galway Races Galway Plate Trial Handicap Chase in the hands of Donie McInerney, who was replacing Trevor Ryan who punctured his lung in a fall at Downpatrick on Saturday.
Trained by Edward O’Grady and sporting the colours of Sue Magnier, the 10/1 shot led after two out but needed to be driven right out after the last to hold off the de Bromhead-trained Visioman by half a length.
O’Grady said: “I wasn’t so sure that he would act around a tight track as his better runs up to now have been on a more galloping track.
“He might have another run between now and the Galway Plate and we can look at all those good summer chases.”
The Plate sponsors the Tote are giving free entry at Ballybrit to the winner of this race.
Impress
Jordan Gainford is another young claimer that continues to impress and he moved alongside Hugh Morgan on the eight-winner mark for the season when giving Rock Of Tuskar a patient ride to take division one of the three-mile Follow Kilbeggan Races On Facebook Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.
It was uplifting to hear the roars of celebration by members of the Cross Of Kilrane Syndicate as the Paul Nolan-trained 4/1 chance finished strongly to beat Swiss Brid by a length and a half.
Nolan said: “He ran at Wexford probably over the wrong trip and the ground had gone heavy. He’s a summer handicapper and thankfully has won one for the lads who are from St Marys GAA in Rosslare.
“The longer trip certainly helped and Jordan used his head. You have to jump well around here and he winged the last two. That’s what won it for him.”
Templemore trainer John Ryan continued a great recent run of form in division two as the Michael Daly-owned Nymphhall, well-backed from 12/1 into 11/2, stretched right away after the last under Philip Donovan to score by eight lengths.
“She’s a well-bred mare, a three-parts sister to Latest Exhibition. She’s a big weak mare,” said Ryan. “I brought her to Downpatrick only two days ago and was just trying to give her confidence over fences – getting her to breathe and settle.
“She came out of that race really well and I decided to run her. She’s a chaser and it’s great to get a hurdle win out of her.”
THE father and son combination of Paul and Jack Gilligan were on the mark in the Forever Equestrian Clothing & Tack Store Novice Hurdle as Shanwalla, a dual bumper winner back in 2019, got back into the winners’ enclosure got back to winning ways in this three-mile event.
The 15/2 chance (as big as 16/1 earlier in the day) kept on gamely under pressure to just hold the late challenge of Face The Odds by a short-head.
Jack Gilligan said: “Paul thought he had a shout and we jumped out and went a good even gallop. He’s a hardy horse and takes a lot of passing. A small horse like him wants a tight track and he popped away lovely over the hurdles.”
Tarqueens Glory led home a one-three for Inishannon trainer Michael Kennedy in the opening www.kilbegganraces.com (Q.R.) Maiden Hurdle.
The 7/2 co favourite was sent to the front approaching the home bend by Michael O’Sullivan and kept on well to hold the late surge of Millies Mite by three-quarters of a length, with the winner’s stablemate Leading Prospect the same distance further away in third.
O’Sullivan said: “She ran well in all her bumpers and just lacked a bit of experience. In fairness, Paddy did a great job with her the last few days – she ran and her jumping was better today. Two miles is probably a bit short for her but we went a right good gallop and I made plenty of use of her. That’s my seventh winner on the track and I’m very thankful to Mickey and Conor (Murphy, owner) for letting me up on her.”
Quickening
Lahinch Three was all the rage for the bumper and the Emmet Mullins-trained gelding didn’t disappoint, quickening clear in the final furlong under Philip Byrnes to readily justify odds of 5/6.
Padraigh O’Rourke, owner/breeder along with his wife Margaret, said: “He’s from the same family as Court Leader who did well for us and the dam is a half-sister to Paloma Blue. Emmet said this horse has really turned inside out in the last fortnight and he’s won well.”