The Christopher Maye-owned gelding tanked through the race and once he shook off Agusta Gold in the straight he powered away to defeat The Dabbler by 11 lengths.

“I thought he’d run a big race and after this I suppose we might look towards the Midlands National at Kilbeggan during the summer,” reflected Cromwell. “He’s not the biggest but he’s been progressing away all the time.”

Winning Path

A good day for Gavin Cromwell also featured a victory for Path D’Oroux in the Buggyman (Pro-Am) INH Flat Race. In a race confined to newcomers, the five-year-old was allowed to go off at 14/1 under Derek O’Connor as he looked to build on a point-to-point success at Borris House in December.

Path D’Oroux raced in the front rank throughout and was travelling smoothly in the lead for much of the straight. He did have to contend with a stern late challenge from Built By Ballymore but he dealt with that rival’s effort in good style to prevail by a length and a quarter with the strong-travelling Halibut making a pleasing debut to lie just a further half-length back in third.

“We really liked him at home and I’d say it was a good bumper,” remarked the trainer. “He was a little bit keen and we intended to ride him with a little bit of cover. We couldn’t get it but he still won and that’s the sign of a good one.”

Hurricane Walsh

Amateur rider Benny Walsh won his second cross-country prize of this year’s festival when he teamed up with the 22/1 shot Hurricane Darwin to land the Dooley Insurance Group Cross Country Chase.

Hurricane Darwin was making his debut for Cormac Farrell but has previously picked up plenty of cross-country experience with Peter Maher and he had the notable assistance of Walsh who also won the Ladies Cup aboard Vital Island.

As he went in search of a first win since November 2017, the Douglas Taylor-owned Hurricane Darwin stormed clear of the field after two out and he defeated fellow outsider Stealthy Tom by three and a half lengths with the favourite Shady Operator the same distance away in third.

“Peter Maher deserves all the credit as he made the horse. We bought him immediately after this last run and this has been his aim. Benny was brilliant on him and he’s a nice, fun horse to have,” commented Farrell who keeps just a handful of horses for the track with his main focus resting with point-to-pointers and breeze-up horses.

Camprond and Donkey Years in J.P. double

ON the day he made it 19 champion owner titles in Ireland, J.P. McManus celebrated a double which was completed by the Philip Hobbs-trained Camprond in the €100,0000 Tote Always SP Or Better Handicap Hurdle over just short of two and a half miles.

Aidan Coleman’s mount came here off a splendid fourth in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham and was returned a well-backed 4/1 chance to land the good handicap prize that deserved to come his way.

The Philip Hobbs inmate was always well positioned to the fore of the field and responded very well to pressure to launch a sweeping charge that carried him to the front before the last. He soon held a decent lead and he defeated the 3/1 favourite and Coral Cup second Fastorslow. This was actually a first success in Ireland for Cork-born Coleman.

We were a little bit unlucky at Cheltenham because we had a lot of rain on the day and it was heavy ground. It wasn’t as bad here by any means and he wants better ground really,” remarked the trainer. “He didn’t jump quite as well today as he can but he didn’t lose much momentum doing it and he’s won well.”

No Donkey

After enduring a series of near misses on his recent outings, the most recent of which came at Fairyhouse over Easter, the McManus-owned Donkey Years secured a deserved success in the Grade B Palmerstown House Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase.

The Eric McNamara inmate was sent off the 5/1 favourite under Mark Walsh and was fitted with cheek-pieces for the first time.

In a three-mile affair that turned into a fairly demanding test, Donkey Years had to be brave and was not found wanting when it mattered. The eight-year-old fought on well under pressure to master Recite A Prayer in the closing stages and carry the day by half-a-length.

“He’s been placed on his last three runs and has been very consistent. I thought Mark was superb on him today. They went very quick early on and they horse kept travelling and jumping well and thankfully he’s come out on top,” remarked McNamara. He’s the best I have and I wouldn’t mind having a few more like him.”

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