Racing at Ballinrobe yesterday evening got off to a dramatic start when Jakeal, the 2/7 favourite for the EBF Maiden, veered sharply left entering the straight when apparantly set to land the six furlongs event.
The Eddie Lynam-trained colt effectively threw away the race by this action, leaving Hathlool, a newcomer from the Dermot Weld stable and ridden by Pat Smullen, to beat Allheartnoroses by six lengths, with Jakeal a neck further back in third.
Jakeal's partner John Murtagh felt the colt may have shied away from some extra railing placed some distance on the inside of the running rail and, as a result, the stewards requested 'any obstacles that may be a distraction' to be removed for the remaining races.
Honeyschoice heads for the sand at Laytown next Tuesday after getting up in the closing stages for reigning apprentice champion Tom Queally to land the John David Lynch Memorial Handicap. 'He has his own ideas about the game but still has some ability', said trainer Peter McCreery of the eight-year-old gelding.
Victory Flight was given a strong ride by Seamus Heffernan in the Ballinrobe Tool Hire Handicap, leading just inside the final furlong to beat Reken by a length and a half.
'Mark Flanagan rode his first winner on Victory Flight at Navan last month, but I decided to use Seamus here and his strength and experience proved vital. Mark will ride him again in an apprentice handicap back at Navan on Saturday', said trainer Michael Cunningham.
Just Wondering easily justified prohibitive odds under Ruby Walsh in the Cummins Home Value Hardware Maiden Hurdle, leading before the penultimate flight to beat Chancy Native by seven lengths. 'Ruby has been schooling him on the Curragh, and that is the first time I have really been happy with his jumping', said trainer John Muldoon.
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