Heavy rain made conditions testing on the middle leg of the three day Gowran Park Festival meeting, where the return to form of the Aidan O'Brien stable was further confirmed by taking both divisions of the two-year-old maiden.
Chevalier, runner-up on his debut at the Curragh last Saturday, was particularly impressive when justifying odds-on support in division two. The Danehill colt made virtually all under Michael Kinane, and stretched clear inside the final quarter mile to beat Allied Victory by six lengths.
Delacroix didn't go unnoticed in the market despite being the outsider of O'Brien's pair in division one, and Seamus Heffernan sent the American-bred on early in the straight to beat Monsignor Phil by a length and a half.
Paul Nolan was another trainer to complete a double, highlighted by the victory of Mise Rafturai in the featured two mile Langtons House Handicap Hurdle. 'He's just kept on improving,' said the Wexford trainer after his charge led at the last in the hands of Gary Hutchinson to beat Spirit Leader by a length and a half. The Erins Isle gelding was completing a four-timer in handicap hurdles, and will bid to extend the sequence in a valuable handicap at Down Royal (November 9).
Park Leader initiated the Nolan double when taking the handicap chase in fine style under Paul Carberry, leading between the final two fences for a comfortable four length verdict over Glynn Dingle. 'He's a versatile sort and jumped brilliantly,' said a typically enthusiastic Nolan.
Find The King, who made all on fast ground at Thurles last week, again successfully adopted front-running tactics in the amateur riders race. Edward O'Grady's charge was in command in the straight, and Philip Fenton could afford a number of glances over his left shoulder when bringing the four-year-old home a comfortable eight lengths clear of Golovin. 'He will go now for the Leopardstown November Handicap, and we will probably give him a break after that,' said O'Grady.
Olive Gaule was in hot water with the stewards after partnering Mossland to finish a close-up fourth to Kloonlara in the seven furlong maiden. She was found guilty of making insufficent effort on the Frances Crowley-trained gelding, and suspended for seven days.
Alan Magee
