Helen Bach has improved in leaps and bounds this year, and recorded her fourth win in what is proving Curragh trainer Michael Halford`s best ever season by landing the featured #20,000 Harp Lager Handicap.
The Pips Pride filly was driven past topweight Moving On Up inside the final furlong by Tadhg O`Shea for a length and a half success. 'She won her first race off a mark of 52 at Killarney in May, and was off 77 today. She is tough and genuine, and I`m thrilled to win this prize,' said Halford, who has saddled 26 winners this year including 19 on the Flat.
The Moving On Up team of Pat Smullen and Dermot Weld went one better half-an-hour earlier when the well-backed 4/6 chance Among Equals led early in the straight to beat Ambry by two lengths in the ten furlong maiden. Smullen will travel to Belmont Park for his first ride in the USA on Sunday aboard Grand Finale in the Grade 3 Lawrence Realisation Handicap. Weld later doubled up when Catherina quickened in the straight offa slow pace to take the mile and three quarters amateur race under Kevin O`Ryan, and she is now likely to go for a Listed race.
Michael Hourigan has the Denny Chase at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting in mind for Moscow Retreat who recorded his fourth win over fences in the opening two mile novice. The #10,000 event was reduced to a match after Alcapone fell at the first, and Jason Titley`s mount jumped past Secret Native at the third last for a four and a half length victory. 'He will have a holiday for a month, and could run at Cork before the Dennys,' said the Limerick trainer.
Ruby Walsh is just one behind the sidelined Paul Carberry at the head of the jump jockeys championship after partnering his 28th winner of the campaign aboard Padre Mio in the handicap chase. The topweight headed Thady`s Remedy on touching down after the last to score by two and a half lengths. The well-backed favourite Bumper To Bumper lost the initiative when very slow at the third last, and was found to be lame after finishing a further 11 lengths back in third.
Carberry is likely to be out of action for a few weeks with a severe ligament strain in his left knee after a fall from Super Franky in the Guinness Kerry National on Wednesday. However Turf Club doctor Walter Halley reports `there is no need for surgery`.
Carmelite and Kimberley took the two divisions of the two and a half mile maiden hurdle in good style. Carmelite travelled strongly throughout under Barry Geraghty, leading before the last to beat Barnawee Bridge (9/4-7/4f) by four lengths. 'He was hurt after winning a bumper here last year, and everything went wrong (fell & slipped up) when returning over hurdles this summer. But Barry said he jumped super today, and quickened up every time he saw a hurdle,' said trainer Jessica Harrington. Kimberley justified strong support (4/5-8/13) in division two when patiently ridden by Philip Carberry to beat Orthez by two and a half lengths.
Dip`s Guest, trained locally under permit by Pat Lacey and ridden by Listowel claimer David O`Leary, showed the benefit of a run earlier this week when taking the opportunity handicap hurdle. The six-year-old mare led two out, and kept on well to beat Bachelors Bar by five lengths.
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