ON his first outing for 212 days, King Leon turned out in the form of his life to deny fellow Aidan O’Brien representative Carriganog in the McHale Mayo National Handicap Chase.
The centrepiece of Ballinrobe’s very well attended and richest fixture of the year was dominated by the two J.P. McManus-owned runners with King Leon producing a fine display under Mark Walsh.
The seven-year-old, who had just a Clonmel novice chase win to his name over fences, made all the running on his first outing since pulling up in the Cork National in November.
From the second last fence the 17/2 chance was pressed by Carriganog and it seemed as though that one might find a way past.
However, a determined King Leon would not be denied and found plenty on the run-in to draw on again, scoring by a length and a half. Yes Tom was a further half a dozen lengths back as he completed the placings.
“It was easy to watch coming down to the last,” quipped the owner’s racing manager Fran Berry. “Both horses ran great and jumped great and it’s a lovely prize to win.
“Full credit to Ballinrobe for putting on a card like this and the track is in great nick. We’ll try to find something similar for both horses, maybe something like the Midlands National at Kilbeggan.”
The other €30,000 contest on the card also went to a McManus-owned runner as the classy Shanpallas notched up his first win since the 2014 Munster National in the McHale Coranna Handicap Hurdle.
The Charles Byrnes-trained gelding was competing off a hurdles mark some 20lb lower than the one he holds over fences and he made it count having been backed into 11/8 favouritism.
Barry Geraghty did have to bide his time somewhat to get a run after two out but when he did switch his mount out Shanpallas responded well.
The latter’s sustained bid enabled him to overhaul the top weight Cliff House by half a length with a further eight lengths back to Powersbomb.
“It’s a lovely pot to win and fair play to Ballinrobe. He ran well at Punchestown (fifth to Tempo Mac) and more or less reproduced that,” commented Byrnes who trains the eight-year-old for J.P. McManus. “If we could find something similar before Galway he could run in that and he’ll probably go for the Galway Plate. He was fifth in it last year and he’s entitled to another go.”
The remainder of the card belonged to Gordon Elliott who reeled off a treble that saw the 2014 Triumph Hurdle hero Tiger Roll secure his first victory in over a year and a half in the McHale Fusion 3 Plus Beginners Chase.
The Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding has struggled for form over the last couple of seasons but a switch to fences brought about a revival in his fortunes.
The 5/2 chance jumped nicely for Jack Kennedy and he showed some of his old class when quickening away from Buster Dan Dan after the last to finish eight lengths clear. “It’s good to see him get his head in front. He’s had a lot of problems and hasn’t been the easiest to train,” reflected Elliott. “There’s a great programme of races for these novice chasers and that’s what he’ll do for the summer. He’ll probably stay further than two and a half miles.”
Elliott’s other winners both carried the colours of Mayo-born owner Tom Doran and the first of these to strike was the Kennedy-ridden Carrig Cathal (8/1) in the McHale F5500 Baler Maiden Hurdle.
The former winning point-to-pointer, who was placed on both his bumper starts, was left with just Bright Tomorrow to beat when Elusive Theatre dropped away between the last two flights. Carrig Cathal then stretched away before the last to finish with a dozen lengths to spare.
“I’d say he just didn’t handle the track when he was third at Kilbeggan last time. It’s good to get a win into him and nice to get Jack off the mark as a professional,” reported Elliott.
ROUGH RACE
Sanibel Island and Nina Carberry completed the treble in the McHale Bale Wrappers Flat Race. In a rather rough race, in which he was one of the suffers, Sanibel Island (6/4) came through on the outer to lead with over a furlong to run.
He stuck to his task gamely in the closing stages to prevail by three-parts of a length from the unfortunate Dawn Raider who was denied a run through on the inner nearing the straight.
“He’s a bit weak still but he’s not a bad type of horse and I think he would be up to winning another bumper. We might bring him to Perth,” reported the trainer.
John Ryan and Danny Mullins made it two winners together in as many days as Bitview Colin struck at 25/1 in the McHale Fusion 3 Rated Novice Hurdle.
Five days after reaching the frame at big odds in a Tipperary maiden, the son of Whitmore’s Conn took a further step forward. Bitview Colin was very game in the straight as he held off Delegate’s persistent effort by half a length.
The winner is owned by Imelda O’Riordan whose son Colin plays in the Australian Football League for the Sydney Swans.
“He has a very good pedigree, his dam was a listed winner in France. Like Foildubh I just thought there was something about him at the sales,” reported Ryan. “He loves that ground and wants further and he’s a brilliant jumper.”
Paul Nolan made the five-hour journey to the track a worthwhile one with Just Likeold Times (9/2) in the McHale Fusion Vario Handicap Hurdle.
After reaching the frame on four of his last five handicap outings the eight-year-old wasn’t winning out of turn. Indeed he was one of very few that were still on the bridle heading out on the final circuit of this near three-miles contest.
Just Likeold Times, owned by D. McGuire led inside the last half-mile and he kept going in the closing stages to fend off the staying on Whispering Hope.
“The form of his last couple of races has been working out and the strong pace suited as he does stay well. Hopefully he’ll pick up another one,” remarked Nolan.
ACTING STEWARDS
R. Groarke, J. O’Shaughnessy, D.H. Gavin, D. Pugh, S. Quinn
HORSE TO FOLLOW
BUSTER DAN DAN (T. O’Brien): This 131-rated hurdler made an encouraging start over fences with a second place finish behind Tiger Roll in the beginners’ chase. It won’t be long before he is making his mark over the larger obstacles.
Mullins injured
DAVID Mullins suffered a broken collarbone and collasped lung when Erlkonig fell in the handicap hurdle won by Shanpallas.