The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Chase provided the main talking point at Cork today where Annshoon triumphed in a race marred by fallers.
In total seven of the eleven jockeys ended up on the deck, although Annshoon's front running style meant she was never in any danger, eventually beating two finishers, in the hands of the ever-dependable Shay Barry.
Winning trainer Michael Holden later commented 'she had the most experience of any of her rivals although the ground was a bit faster that I would have liked and it was a little slippery too.' He added 'she'll probably have a break now before going for a handicap chase.'
There were four further casualties in the nine runner beginners' chase, a race won by the locally trained Teo Perugo. Trainer Eugene O'Sullivan later stated 'he was a nice horse over hurdles and ran to form here. He jumps well and loves that type of ground. He'll make a nice novice chaser this Summer.'
Aidan O'Brien's newcomer Dark Cheetah was another to make all when scoring an impressive win in the five furlong maiden. The well bred son of Storm Cat needed no more than a shake of the reins from Colm O'Donohue to defeat Xaarinshki by three lengths. O'Brien was not present to witness the success.
Another absent winning trainer was Dermot Weld who saddled Clever Myth to an easy success in the Macroom Maiden. Jockey Pat Smullen later commented 'she is a very nice filly and we have always liked her. She ran two fine races last year.'
The opening Tallow Handicap was won by 10/1 shot Tashadelek for the Pat Flynn yard. The winner made virtually all under Cathy Gannon to defeat the eye catching Walk In My Shadow by three lengths.
Amateur rider Nina Carberry picked up a winning spare ride on Prince Linamix in the Alternative Catering Hire Handicap Hurdle, substituting for Shay Barry who received a fall in the beginners' chase half an hour earlier.
The 'Dusty' Sheehy trained gelding, who blundered away his chance at a crucial stage at Kilbeggan on his last outing, was produced with a perfectly timed challenge under Carberry to defeat Smoking Barrels by a neck in a driving finish.
The win was Carberry's second over hurdles and her eleventh in total, a number she will certainly better in the coming months.
Top point to point rider Damien Murphy was another to pick up a winning spare ride, taking over the ride on Paul Lenihan's Drumavish Lass, with booked rider Robert Widger delayed at an airport. The win was Murphy's 15th racecourse winner, thus reducing his seven pound claim reduced to five.
Thomas Weekes.
