EXIT Poll produced a game front-running performance to land the featured Ballymore Irish EBF Kilbegnet Novice Chase at Roscommon on Monday.
The Jessica Harrington-trained gelding pulled out plenty in the closing stages to secure the Grade 3 prize under Sean O’Keeffe.
Only five went to post in the two-miler but it produced a stirring finish. Exit Poll saw off the attentions of 5/4 favourite Bold Enough after the second last but was soon tackled by Embittered. There was little between that pair jumping the final fence but O’Keeffe conjured more from his mount in the closing stages as the 85/40 shot secured a hard fought neck victory for the OMEGA Racing Syndicate.
“I needed him at every fence down the straight and he came for me every time,” said the winning rider. “He’s probably a horse that will be better over two and a half miles so that was a good performance today over two.”
Majestic win
The other winner over fences on the day also made the running but it proved somewhat easier at the finish for Majestic Maid in the Irish EBF Mares Beginners Chase.
Shane Fitzgerald asked his mount to kick on before the second last and she was in total control going to the final fence, easing down on the run-in for a nine-length win over Reine Fee. Michael Kennedy trains the 100/30 winner for Conor Murphy and he said afterwards: “The race cut up. We had the cheekpieces on her today as she’s gone lazy in her races and she seemed to travel sweeter.
“She always promised to be a good mare but she just hasn’t been firing the last couple of months. Hopefully that will give her a bit of confidence now.”
O’Neill bags brace with De Lady In Red and The Big Doyen
LEADING amateur Barry O’Neill bagged a brace on the card courtesy of De Lady In Red and The Big Doyen.
Barry Connell is now two from two with De Lady In Red after picking her up at the sales in March. The Jet Away filly followed up on her Galway bumper win when opening her jumping account in the Racing TV Mares Maiden Hurdle.
O’Neill led before the fourth last on the 13/8 shot and soon kicked clear. The 5/6 favourite Humble Glory tried to chase down her rival in the closing stages but could only get to within three-quarters of a length at the line.
Connell said: “I thought she was going to do it a bit easier. I don’t know whether she idled or pulled herself up in front.
“She’ll probably go for a winners-of-one and if she steps forward from that there is a listed two-and-a-half-mile mares’ novice in Punchestown, the Voler La Vedette, in early December.”
Promising Doyen
Peter Fahey introduced a promising youngster in the finale when The Big Doyen made a winning debut in the Knockcroghery INH Flat Race.
The Doyen gelding was well backed in the four-year-old contest, from 13/2 into 3/1. He had a slight scare when stumbling entering the straight but soon hit the front under Barry O’Neill.
He got the better of Ballyglass inside the final furlong to record a length-and-a-half win for the Money For Jam Syndicate. “We won’t over-face him, we’ll probably give him a little bit of time and go for a winners’ bumper in a few months time,” reported Fahey.
Trebizond prevails in thrilling opener
TREBIZOND made favourite backers sweat in the opening Boyle Maiden Hurdle as he lunged late to get the job done.
Dylan Robinson got a good tune from the 85/40 shot on the run-in as the Henry de Bromhead-trained gelding got up near the post to secure a head victory in the colours of Robcour.
“Coming to the last I thought I had it in the bag but he missed the last. In fairness he picked up for me and galloped to the line. I’m delighted with him,” said the winning rider.
Tactics
In contrast First Touch was another that benefitted from forcing tactics when claiming the Roscommon On Course Vets Handicap Hurdle over three miles.
Donie McInerney was always prominent on the Donal Commins-trained gelding and let him slide into the lead after the seventh flight. The Mahler gelding found plenty for pressure in the closing stages as he secured a length-and-a-half win over Room To Roam at odds of 16/1.
McInerney wore the colours of David Murphy and said: “I’m delighted with that, I fancied him today and the lads had a few quid on him.”
Confident Romella
Romella was easy to back in the other handicap, the Athlone Handicap Hurdle, but defied the market drift when using similar tactics.
Ambrose McCurtin led before the fifth flight, having been prominent, on the John Joe Walsh-trained mare and she found plenty in the closing stages to repeal Go Gill Go by two lengths.
“The win the last day probably did her confidence the world of good. She was good again today and toughed it out,” said McCurtin of the Anthony Byrne-owned 12/1 winner.