NIGEL Slevin saddled his first track winner when Third Estate sprang a 40/1 shock in Down Royal’s bumper on May Day.
Luke McGuinness was on board for the Co Meath-based handler and guided the four-year-old gelding to the front over a furlong from home. His mount stayed on well to prevail by three-quarters of a length.
Slevin said: “He was totally written off the first day and he wasn’t beaten that far and was staying on. The better ground helped. He might come back here for a winners’ bumper. My grandfather Tom Slevin bred him and he’s 94.”
On his only other appearance he finished last of five in a bumper at Naas in January. The winner sported the silks of the trainer’s father Camillus and paid almost 122/1 on the Tote.
It was also a landmark day for jockey Mark McCrory who enjoyed his first racecourse victory courtesy of El Grande in the hunters chase.
The nine-year-old gelding was making his first start for Maria Richert having previously taken a hunters chase in Downpatrick for Jim Dreaper last June.
He was very easy to back at 9/2 but got on terms at the third last before going on to take the spoils by six lengths for owner Pat Conway.
McCrory (21), from Armagh, had ridden one point-to-point winner before today and commented: “He’s one of the best jumpers I have ever sat on. Maria said to sit in and give it all.”
HEHIR WINNER
Kilkishen (5/1) and Brian Hayes saw off Danielle’s Journey by a length in the Belfast Live Hurdle for Mayo owner Sean Hehir.
Trainer Shark Hanlon said: “I’m thrilled for Brian as it is his first day back after eight weeks out with a pelvis. He is dedicated to his job. Even when he was hurt he was in and about the yard.
“He’s a big chaser. We thought we would only run him once over hurdles but we’ll see. It was a lovely pot. That’s his trip. We thought last year he didn’t stay three miles but he is a stronger horse than he was and he might now. He’ll be a nice horse for the summer and he’ll improve for the run. He’ll be a much better horse on better ground.
“I’ve only had six or seven runners since October as I have a lot of summer horses. I’m hoping they are not going to keep watering the ground as they did here as people who have summer horses deserve summer ground.”
Track manager Mike Todd advised that watering was declared with Horse Racing Ireland.
RECRUIT
Derulo looks to be an interesting recruit to the National Hunt ranks. He previously bagged a flat handicap for Johnny Murtagh at Naas two summers ago before scoring in a Salisbury claimer for David Elsworth last September.
He travelled nicely into this two-mile maiden hurdle and went about his business from the final flight to deliver by four lengths at 10/1.
Handler Liz Doyle said: “I was worried about the penalty but for that I thought we would have a fair squeak. He does jump well. He got a beautiful ride. Sean (Flanagan) just hung on to him, it’s a long old way up that straight.
“He’s a lovely horse to get. The owner (John Dwyer) thought he would enjoy hurdles so that’s how I got him. He’ll go the novice route for the summer.”
Dwyer is a London-based Irishman.
RESERVE RUN
Shan Dun Na Ngall (12/1) was second reserve for the two-mile handicap hurdle but got a run when Blackwater Bridge was ruled out due to coughing. The Shantou gelding took full advantage under Kevin Sexton, as he got his head in front in the final 150 yards and edged out Konig Hall by a neck.
“I’d say a step up in trip would be better. He’ll pay his way and he is well handicapped on the flat. He’s a summer horse,” successful trainer Gordon Elliott commented. “We’ll have a bit of craic with him, he could go to Perth. There are 20 in the syndicate (the Twenty Times Two Syndicate) and they are from everywhere!”
Hurricane Darwin gained compensation for a last fence fall in Thurles when comfortably accounting for his seven rivals in the beginners’ chase.
The well-backed 5/4 favourite moved to the head of affairs between the final two fences and readily asserted on the run-in.
Barry Connell’s new retained jockey Denis O’Regan said: “Of the new season it’s my first ride for Barry and it is nice to have a winner. He was a bit green but is learning his job. He should have a future.”
Trainer Alan Fleming added: “He’s a nice horse and he did it well. He jumped very cleverly for him. Denis said he would be better in a better race. Barry said he will go to Killarney for a winners of one over two miles six. He has plenty of schooling done since his fall and is a brave horse.”
Arthur Moore’s Mitebeall Forluck (5/1) stayed on stoutly for Paul Townend to forge eight and a half lengths clear in the two and a half mile handicap chase.
“He hasn’t missed a day, we were waiting for the ground. We think that’s his trip. He was knocking on the door in the autumn but not finishing his races. He’s a big horse and that’ll give him confidence. Hopefully he’ll have a good summer,” Moore said.
ACTING STEWARDS
R. S. Martin, L. McFerran, R.W. Steele, Rev C.L. Hall-Thompson, M.F. O’Donoghue
HORSE TO FOLLOW
THE WEST’S AWAKE (E.J. O’Grady) He had a good run in second after being off track for over a year. Should be up to winning a maiden hurdle.
Careless riding
C.M. Healy was deemed to have ridden carelessly in the bumper and was suspended by the stewards for two race days. He was also interviewed for the use of his whip on Jaime Sommers in the closing stages of this race. The stewards were of the opinion that he had used his whip with excessive frequency and without giving his mount time to respond, and they suspended him for six race days.
Meyler injured
JOCKEY Donagh Meyler suffered a suspected fracture of his left hand after a fall from Round Tower. He went for an X-ray after being stood down for the day.