Drama in the bumper but Barnes a good winner

There was drama before the straight in the concluding event at Naas, the Jordan's Centra (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race, a race that eventually went the way of Liz Doyle's Barnes Des Mottes (9/2 into 4s). Little Lady Lu was on the retreat when slipping up with over three furlongs left to race, bringing down Front View (6/4 favourite) and My Uncas before they'd been asked for their efforts.

Thankfully all seemed relatively okay afterwards.

Up the straight the sweet-travelling Barnes Des Mottes was soon taking the eye under in-form Finny Maguire.

Another winner for owners M L Bloodstock Limited, Barnes Des Mottes eventually accounted for outsiders No Grey Area's (100s into 66s) and Walking Home (33/1) by four lengths and a neck.

Paddy Power go 16/1 first show about Barnes Des Mottes for the Champion Bumper and Miss Doyle said: “He's a very nice horse. I had him in training this time last year and his first bit of work was excellent.

“I'm glad we didn't run in Gowran now but he got a stone bruise. I've always loved him and he's a proper proper horse.

“He seemed to handle the goodish ground there today. When you love them at home and they do everything right, and every day is a pleasing day, you like them to come to the races and go and do it properly like a man and he did.

“He's a real man of a horse. I don't know much about the stallion Full Of Gold but they're not too bad anyway.

“I don't know what we'll do but probably another bumper if he's not sold. I'll have to get my talking hat on.

“They are good horses the owners have over here. They sold the lesser horses and the good horses came to Ireland.”

When asked if Cheltenham could be an option she replied:- “M L Bloodstock run to sell and it depends who buys him.

“He's man enough for it, he was in training this time last year, and he's a four-year-old getting an allowance. It depends how the business sorts out.”

The Stewards enquired into an incident on the bend into the straight involving Front View (FR), ridden by Mr D. O'Connor, brought down, My Uncas, ridden by Mr P.W. Mullins, brought down and Little Lady Lu, ridden by Gavin Peter Brouder, fell in running. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned with G.P. Brouder stating that he had clipped a heel and fallen and both Mr D. O'Connor and Mr P.W. Mullins stating that they were unavoidably brought down. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards were unable to apportion blame to any rider and therefore considered the incident to be accidental in nature and consequently took no further action.

At the request of the Stewards, D.J. O'Keeffe, rider of Jungle Junction trained by Mrs John Harrington, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount was tight for room shortly after the start which caused him to clip an upright and check.

(GC & EM)