Positive Approach and Phillip Enright on their way to victory© Photo Healy Racing
John Joe Walsh brought up a Thurles double at odds of 35/1 when the Phillip Enright ridden Positive Approach followed up a win at the Limerick Christmas Festival in the Thurles Handicap Hurdle.
Much of the pre-race attention here focussed on Charles Byrnes' Cyprian Prince in the wake of the gambled-on win for the same stable's Oscar Lantern in the preceding event. The layers were taking no chances and 'Prince' went off a 9/10 market-leader also in the hands of Oscar Lantern's rider, Davy Russell.
The 'jolly' wasn't helped by being impeded by casualty Maccas Lad at the seventh.
Ultimately though the effort of the Tramore December beginners chase winner was weak from the second last, and he faded into sixth behind comfortable six length scorer, Positive Approach.
Brian O'Connell was on Walsh's earlier winner, Nine Stitches, and the County Cork handler said: "He (Positive Approach) looks like a good horse, jumped well, loves that ground and went well for Phillip.
"He had been a very difficult raw horse but might now pay for that time, and seems to have come on a bit and gained confidence from Limerick.
"He was the one I fancied coming here today and he'll be a chaser in time."
Regarding this 17th winner of a very successful season, Walsh added "my best season was when I had 25 winners once, back a long time ago."
B.J. Cooper, rider of Just Cause trained by M.F.Morris, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount never travelled.
The Stewards interviewed R. Loughran, rider of Toushan concerning his use of the whip in this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards were of the opinion that the rider was in breach of Regulation 10.3(e), in that he hit the horse in the incorrect place and having considered his record, suspended him for one race day. Furthermore the rider was instructed to attend RACE for one day's tuition on the correct use of the whip.
The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Cyprian Prince, trained by C.Byrnes, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be blowing hard post race.
(TW & EM)
