GIGGINSTOWN House Stud’s Acronym (8/1) ran out a convincing winner of the BetVictor Maiden Hurdle to complete a Gordon Elliott double at Ballinrobe on Tuesday.
Asked for more by Conor Brassil rounding the home bend, the Flemensfirth gelding shot clear to defeat market-leader Castle North by four and three-quarter lengths.
There was a real move for Summer Hill, who was backed from 8/1 in to 7/2. The six-year-old son of Scorpion, travelled very strongly and eventually had to settle for third.
Afterwards Brassil commented: “I’ve not had a winner in a while so it’s nice to get it. I was second in the first here too, so hopefully things continue going in the right direction.”
Aidan O’Ryan, authorised representative for Elliott, said at an improvement in form enquiry that Acronym failed to act on the soft underfoot conditions in recent runs and the return to a sound surface brought about the better performance.
The stewards noted this explanation.
Katie O’Farrell meanwhile, jockey on Castle North, reported that her stirrup leather opened in the closing stages of this race.
GRAND HORSE
Odds-on at 8/11 Road To Dubai initiated the Elliott brace, stretching away under Katie O’Farrell in the final furlong to win the Connolly’s Mercedez Benz Sligo & Galway Maiden Hurdle by four lengths.
Clipped from 100/1 into 33/1, Bonarc gave Road To Dubai most to do, filling the runner-up position, with the pair 24 lengths clear of Tooreen Legend in third.
“He’s a grand horse - he’ll win plenty of races,” said Mouse O’Ryan on behalf of the Cullentra House Stables team.
“He’s running for a good owner (Brendan Scully) so it’s important.
“He got a break after his first run for us as he’d never had one. He came off the flat - he was with George Scott.”
Liam Gilligan admitted a miscalculation on his part where he presented himself to weigh out two pounds overweight on Pat Coyne, who was sixth in the contest. As a result he picked up a two-day ban.
The Co Galway rider was later sanctioned following the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle after finishing tenth on Rio Gold.
He’d weighed out a pound overweight but returned a further 1.3Ibs ‘over.’ Gilligan got an additional three days for this rule breach.
Strong-travelling Carrig Cathal (7/2) routed the opposition in the BetVictor Handicap Chase.
In-form Kevin Brouder sent the course specialist on from Damut racing to the second-last and he strode right away to take the feature by an easy 13 lengths for handler Steve Mahon.
Favourite At Your Ease disappointed in fifth. He was found to be post-race normal but wasn’t helped by a mistake three out.
Winning owner Tom Doran was on hand to accept the prize to cheers of ‘up Mayo!’
Dorans Pride won his bumper here for Doran in 1993 and this was a popular local winner after ‘Mayo Day,’ which was celebrated the previous Saturday.
Of course the county’s footballers also beat New York in the Big Apple in the first round of the Connacht championship on Sunday.
As a proud Mayo native Doran is looking forward to the continued quest for the Sam Maguire this summer.
For his part Mahon disclosed that he taken a fall from the Fair Mix gelding at home recently, but this eight-year-old British-bred clearly learned from that.
“He’s a fair horse on his day and won very well out there. It’s a nice prize to win here, particularly for Tom. I hope we’ll have fun with him for the summer,” further observed Mahon.
STAYED ON
Weekend Offender stayed on stoutly to take the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle at 20/1 for trainer Eoin Doyle.
Daniel Holden’s mount picked off Draycott Place and Lord Boru at the furlong pole and surged two and a half lengths clear, much to the delight of the successful syndicate, the South East Racing Club.
At an improvement in form enquiry Doyle explained that his charge ran disappointingly at Down Royal on December 26th 2018, where the rider reported a respiratory noise post-race.
Consequently a wind operation was carried out on Weekend Offender and in Doyle’s opinion this procedure had the desired effect.
This explanation was noted by the stewards.
Denis Hogan’s Classic Escape (7/1) cut loose by 12 lengths in the FBD Opportunity Handicap Hurdle with Shane Mulcahy in the plate.
The Tough Times Partnership-owned Classic Escape was the subject of a major market plunge (25/1 into 4/1) when fifth on his previous outing at Limerick.
The Golan gelding delivered on this occasion and Hogan turned the winner out again last night at Downpatrick.
Merry At Heart (8/1) pulled up before three out here.
She appeared to be impeded and checked on the bend past the stands.
Cathal Landers, rider of Railway Muice, was deemed to have caused this incident by riding carelessly. Landers got a one-day suspension.
SUCCESSFUL DEBUT
Cliff House, second the previous day at Down Royal, had to settle for the same result in the Supermac’s Beginners Chase after being worn down close home by Cooldine Bog and Landers later on.
Andy Slattery’s family-owned victor was backed in from 9/2 to 3/1 and got up by half a length to successfully debut over racecourse fences off a 173 day break.
Global Jackpot drifted from 5/4 out to 9/4 but retained favouritism.
He finished well behind in fourth and was found to be post-race normal.
The Stellar Football Partnership’s, gelded son of Beat Hollow, Golazo was easy-to-back at 2/1 for the Connaught Telegraph (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race, but pulverised his rivals from the front, winning by nine and a half lengths for Willie and Patrick Mullins.
Mullins junior reflected: “He’s a home-bred and he’s one for jumps and a trip.
“He’s a horse we’ve always liked - a fine big chasing type and we were worried about how he’d get on around here.
“They’ve done a wonderful job on the ground though and it’s very safe.”
HORSE TO FOLLOW:
WHATSYOURSTATUS
(G. O’Loughlin): it won’t be any great surprise if this fellow is able to build on his encouraging handicap debut second placing behind Weekend Offender.
ACTING STEWARDS:
D. Gavin, P.J.A. O’Connor, D. Pugh, A. Ryan, L. Walsh.