Coral Blue and Cathal Landers© Photo Healy Racing
Runner-up in the previous event with Beat Of The Sea Seamus Fahey and Cathal Landers struck in the Summer Party Pack Handicap Hurdle at Kilbeggan. Coral Blue (10/1) did the needful for the trainer/jockey combination.
Riding the 14th winner of what has been his best ever season, Landers sent bottom-weight Coral Blue for home from before the straight.
The four-year-old Big Bad Bob gelding has shown race winning potential on more than one occasion in the past and it all came together for him here to beat favourite Scotch Quay (5/1) by six and a half lengths.
“I wasn’t on the cold list, I was locked in the back of the freezer! (first winner in nine months)," acknowledged Fahey in the aftermath.
He added: “We were quietly confident with him after the other mare (Beat Of The Sea) ran well in the previous race because the two of them did a nice bit of work and he worked better than her.
“He was getting all the concessions and it’s lovely to have a winner for John Keogh who is a local lad in Monasterevin and has a car dealership in Newbridge.
“John bought the horse himself very reasonably so I’m delighted it’s worked out for him. He’s a horse that has a lot of problems but we have them under control at the moment.”
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Iknowwhereiamnow trained by J.P.Dempsey, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.
At the request of the Stewards, D.P. Holden, rider of Niccolai trained by Henry de Bromhead, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount ran disappointingly.
At the request of the Stewards, L.P. Dempsey, rider of Iknowwhereiamnow, trained by J.P.Dempsey, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount stopped quickly and emptied out from the third last fence.
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Niccolai, trained by Henry de Bromhead, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.
(AM & EM)
