HEART Wood and Inthepocket lit up this Bank Holiday fixture, as they provided Henry de Bromhead with a quickfire double on his 52nd birthday.
The former easily dismissed two rivals in the season feature at Bettyville, the Listed Michael Hickey Memorial Chase.
Available at 9/4 in early shows, the French-bred six-year-old came in for strong market support, eventually going off the clear favourite at 8/13.
Settled in second by Darragh O’Keeffe, the Robcour-owned bay jumped well throughout and quickly drew clear when getting to the front at the penultimate obstacle, going on to score by seven lengths from Corbetts Cross.
“You’d have to hope he has progressed from last season, he is still a very young horse, so hopefully he will keep progressing,” de Bromhead enthused. We are considering the Drinmore, if he is still eligible for it.”
Bright future
Bigger targets also lie ahead for Inthepocket (1/2 favourite), after his impressive win in the Wexford Racecourse Members Supporters Club Beginners Chase.
In against fellow Grade 1 winner Farren Glory, the JP McManus-owned victor made all under Mark Walsh and readily drew clear of his aforementioned rival approaching the straight, with 15 lengths between them at the line.
“He is a really exciting horse for us. He just had a minor issue last season and we decided to put him away,” de Bromhead reflected. “We definitely feel he is probably better going left-handed. The Grade 1 at Leopardstown over Christmas is gone now, but we will find something for him.”
ON his final day judging the best turned out after 30 years of service, Jim Mernagh awarded the prize to Ol Man Dingle (6/1) prior to the Kehoe Farming Rated Novice Hurdle.
The Eoin Griffin-trained five-year-old went on to claim this eight-runner affair, following up on his breakthrough success at Clonmel earlier in the month.
Settled in second by Ricky Doyle, the Brian Caherty-owned bay improved into a share of the lead early on the final circuit and gained an outright advantage after three out. Pressed from the next, he held off the effort of Tonaghneave Well by half a length.
“He has been campaigned over further and I just thought two miles on a stiff track on a bit softer ground would suit him,” Griffin disclosed.
“I might bring him back for a race at Leopardstown over Christmas.”
Survival of the biggest
There was again just half a length between the first two home in the Racing TV Maiden Hurdle, with One Big Boum surviving both a stewards’ enquiry and a mistake at the last. Justifying 15/8 favouritism, the Philip Fenton-trained five-year-old raced prominently under Brian Hayes.
Improving into a share of the lead from three out, the Buck’s Boum bay edged left and impeded eventual runner-up Depalma on the approach to the last and again on the run-in.
After a lengthy enquiry, the result remained unaltered, but Hayes was hit with a seven-day improper riding ban.
“If he had jumped the last well, he might have won a length and a half,” Fenton said of the Grey Stays Syndicate-owned victor.
“He is handicapped to 107 and I suppose that’s where he’ll go now. He’ll probably get a bit further as well.”
The opening Racing TV Maiden Hurdle was for four-year-olds only, with Fenton having to settle for second here with Balko D’Ange. The winner, owned and bred by Tom Egan, Miss Maxfort took this 14-runner heat, with David Doyle aboard the Nicky Stokes-trained 16/1 chance.
Settled in mid-division, the Order Of St George bay improved into a share of the lead approaching the straight.
She went a few lengths clear on the approach to the last, keeping on well under pressure to beat the market leader by two and a half lengths.
“When we got competitive turning out of the back today, she really latched on,” Doyle explained.
“I was getting there a bit sooner than I wanted, but when she hit the front she galloped right to the line.”
CIAN Quirke registered his fifth win of the year at Bettyville, when guiding Inchiquin Star to victory in the County Wexford Vintners Federation Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.
Successful at the venue in August, with Quirke aboard, the Sean Harnedy-owned bay disappointed when last seen at Fairyhouse. Backed from 12s to 13/2, the Mount Nelson five-year-old raced in mid-division before taking closer order early on the final circuit.
Improving into second from three out, the Paul Kiely-trained mare eased to the front entering the straight and soon went clear, eventually coming home five lengths to the good.
“I think she likes going left-handed, I’m not sure why,” Dungarvan-based Kiely remarked. “We put the cheekpieces on today and it’s not that I think she is ungenuine, it’s just that she’s had a lot of racing and I think the cheekpieces have rekindled her a small bit.”
On top
Ira Hayes came out on top in the concluding Thank You To All Our Sponsors & Supporters In 2024 (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race for owner/trainer John McConnell.
Providing Jordan Kidd with his second track success, the 9/1 chance raced in the leading group of three and gained a narrow advantage with two furlongs to race.
Pushed along in the straight, the Mahler chesnut soon increased his lead and was six-lengths clear at the line.
“We went to Listowel thinking he’d win and we are still not sure what went wrong,” McConnell divulged.
“He won an English point-to-point for Jack Teal and I know Jack well. He said this was a good horse and, when he says that, you have to listen to him.”