Humps And Bumps and winning connections© Photo Healy Racing
Seven pound conditional Jack Foley stole the show at Kilbeggan, bringing up a 374/1 treble aboard Humps And Bumps for owner/breeder Maurice Sheehy and trainer Peter Croke in the Follow Kilbeggan On Instagram Handicap Chase.
We all remember Foley making quite the splash at Punchestown last November with a 271/1 double at the beginning of his career in the paid ranks.
He’s since had a spell cross-channel as well, riding a winner for Adrian Wintle — Baratineur at Chepstow in March.
Following on from wins for Tom Mullins earlier this evening, on Canford Light and Princely Conn Foley gave Humps And Bumps (9/1) a lovely patient steer from the back to eventually get the better of Dento Des Obeaux by a length and quarter.
“She was very good there. In fairness to Adam Short he rode her the last day and suggested dropping her back in trip and trying her over fences again. It seemed to work,” said Croke.
“It's the first time Jack has rode for me on the track and he gave her a peach, just dropped her on the line.
“She won a point-to-point, won over hurdles and she had been knocking on the door. She didn't have a great time at the back end of last year and started off a bit slow this year.
“On her last run at Roscommon she was fourth and she was showing a few signs of coming back to herself and we're happy with today.”
The Stewards enquired into an incident coming out of the back straight involving Dento Des Obeaux (FR), ridden by L.P. Dempsey, Fightfortheroses ridden by T. Joseph Kelly, Greenway Machine ridden by Cian Cullinan, and Humps And Bumps, ridden by J.B. Foley, where it appeared that interference may have occurred causing Greenway Machine to clip heels.
Evidence was heard from the riders concerned.
L.P. Dempsey stated that he kept a straight racing line around the bend and that there was general bunching behind him. C. Cullinan stated that he went for a gap which didn't materialise, clipped heels and went wide. T. Kelly stated that his mount hung right and lost his hind legs when the horse on his outside clipped heels. J.B. Foley stated that he was always on the rails and when he went for a gap there was general bunching on his outside. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards took no further action other than to advise J.B. Foley and L.P. Dempsey to ride with more care in future.
(GC & EM)
