Charlie Luciano just leads over the last© Photo Healy Racing
Charlie Luciano made virtually all to land the feature at Ballinrobe this evening, the Hollymount Nursing Home Handicap Hurdle.
Recording his fourth win over flights, the Noel Meade-trained gelding was returned an 11/2 chance (from 9s) and was sent straight to the front by Neil Ryan.
Briefly joined on the approach to two out, he regained an outright advantage after that flight and while strongly pressed by Calico in the closing stages, he battled on gamely under pressure to prevail by a neck.
Returned an 8/1 chance, the aforementioned Calico had to settle for second under Carl Millar for Gordon Elliott, while Flamborough (10/1) was another three-lengths away in third.
Sent off the even money favourite, Samui could only manage a disappointing fourth, while Luminous Light (10/1) was still in with every chance when unseating Adrian Heskin at the last.
"He likes making the running and he jumps fluently in front but he can be a small bit lairy and have his head up in the air a bit. He kind of jumps a small bit left, just on the approach, but other than that he was good," Ryan explained.
"I was a bit worried about the ground, I thought it might have been on the slow side for him, but he seemed to handle it and he was good and strong to the line.
"He's a horse that wants further, I think two (miles)-two is just as sharp as he'd want it but since he's gone jumping hurdles he's turned into a different horse.
"I've had three winners this summer so I'm happy enough and we'll try and keep tipping away for the winter."
STEWARDS REPORTS
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Samui (GB), trained by Gordon Elliott, at the request of the Raceday Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.
The Raceday Stewards enquired into the failure of J.W. Kennedy to report at scales that his mount Samui had made a noise during this race. In his evidence J.W. Kennedy said he was rushing to get changed for a light weight ride and that it was a genuine mistake on his part. Having considered all the evidence, the Raceday Stewards found him in breach of R.213 in that he failed to make a report in the first instance and considering his record in this regard they cautioned him on this occasion.
At the request of the Raceday Stewards, J.W. Kennedy, rider of Samui (GB), trained by Gordon Elliott, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount made a noise.
Additional reporting by Mark Nunan
