TORNADO Watch landed a massive punt in Downpatrick as he hacked up by seven lengths in the extended two and a quarter mile handicap hurdle for Mary Fogarty.
The seven-year-old gelding was making his first start for Co Wexford trainer Jonathan Fogarty and raced off a mark of 81, having been placed in one of his eight previous appearances.
His morning price of 25/1 tumbled and the word was out at the track as he opened at 2/1 before being backed down to 13/8 favourite. He paid 9/2 on the Tote.
The trainer’s brother, Mikey Fogarty, moved him into contention from the third last and the pair made headway to lead after the penultimate flight. The spoils were secured when they kept on strongly up the run-in.
Mikey Fogarty said: “He did a couple of nice bits of work there and he (Jonathan) was hoping he would be placed.
“After his two-year-old won in Bellewstown, he had a bit of confidence because he didn’t know whether he was able to train for a while there!”
Jonathan Fogarty also ran Get It Back in the five-runner bumper and he was all the rage from a morning price of 33/1 to an SP of 5/2.
Those that were on the double were disappointed though, as he dropped out of contention in the final quarter of a mile to come home third.
Fourknocks, backed from 11/1 to 7/1, kept on best in the final furlong to overhaul the 5/4 favourite Bridge Native by two and a half lengths.
Trainer John McConnell said: “I think that’s the third time I’ve won this race (won it in 2009 and 2010). He worked well and had a good pedigree.
“He was bought as a yearling but he’s been very immature and the owners (Rockview Racing Club) have been very patient. He would be much better on a flatter track.”
This was a first track success for Stamullen jockey Tom Reilly (26) who said: “That’s my second winner, the first in nearly seven and a half years. I had my first winner for Tom McCourt in a point-to-point. I couldn’t get on good horses. I ride out a few days for John, he’s very good to me. I ride out for Tom McCourt whenever I can and for my sister.”
After a pair of runner-up finishes in Perth, Mountain Kingdom got his head in front in the extended two and a quarter mile maiden hurdle. He took over before the final obstacle and had two and a half lengths to spare over Simiel at the winning post.
Local trainer Colin McBratney said of the easy to back 7/4 favourite: “The owner deserved it and the horse deserved it. John Larkin has done a great job getting him to settle.
“The last day here I just thought he didn’t get up the hill but Paul (Townend) was very confident all the way round that he was going to get up the hill. I think that is the first winner Paul has ridden for me. He’s a good man to have on your side.
“The last meeting in Perth is at the end of September and he’ll either go there or go to Navan on the 24th and then probably go back for a novice in Perth.”
Owner Cathal McGovern and McBratney teamed up to win the Galway Plate with Ballyholland in 2009.
Coolfighter (4/1) won his fourth jumps race in a row when just lasting out to pip the closers Our Brian and Rendezvous Peak by a nose and a short-head respectively in the extended two-mile, five-furlong handicap hurdle.
Handler Noel Dooly said of the Cool Boys Partnership-owned eight-year-old: “I thought we were only third! He was on his last legs, two-five is stretching him. He (David Splaine) said once he saw the hill he was just on empty.
“Four in-a-row for him now - he won in Tramore and that was his Cheltenham last time! He left a bit of grub behind him on the Friday and Saturday so I didn’t bring him back to Tramore on the Sunday.
“It was worth the trip up. It’s his last time in a 0-116 so I thought I might as well have a go. He’s in at Kilbeggan on Friday over two and a half. We’ll see how he is in the next couple of days and he might go to Listowel after that.”
HAMILTON WINNER
Downpatrick trainer Brian Hamilton watched his Bertie Bell get the better of Forever Dylan at the business end of the two-mile, seven-furlong maiden hurdle for owner Alistair Thompson.
The 11/8 favourite came in by a length and a quarter from the 14/1 shot and Hamilton commented: “He loves that ground. We’ll see what the handicapper does. Davy (Russell) said he was always happy on him and he was travelling. He jumped a bit better.
“Davy rode a winner for me before down in Gowran Park - hard man to get. I raced against him at the start. He used to ride James Lambe’s horses and the best thing he ever did was turn professional and I moved to ride the point-to-pointers and won a championship.”
Odit made a successful transition to fences in the extended two and a quarter-mile beginners’ chase. Punters backed him down to 11/4 favourite and saw him find plenty for Danny Mullins as the pair held off Wes Hardin by a length.
“First run over fences. He’s a bit highly handicapped (over hurdles) but still runs well every day so we said we would let him run over fences,” trainer Mags Mullins said of Liam Kerrigan’s German-bred gelding
Arthur Moore and Donagh Meyler teamed up for a victory with Mitebeall Forluck (8/1) in the handicap chase for owner Christopher Hanbury. The eight-year-old crept into the race and picked off House Limit after the last to score by a length and a quarter.
Meyler said: “Once he jumped the last two I knew he had enough. I didn’t want to hit the front too soon. Arthur was confident enough. He didn’t get his own way the last day and was a bit keen so we tried something different.”
ACTING STEWARDS
B. Fitzsimmons, C.P. Magnier, D. McCorkhill, J.G. McCoy, P.D. Matthews
HORSE TO FOLLOW
OUR BRIAN (J. P. Brennan) Just pipped by a nose on good ground that he relishes. Should win again before the ground deteriorates.