Padraig Roche - Listowel double© Photo Healy Racing
There was a second 1.01 in-running horse defeated at Listowel today when the Southampton Goodwill Plate Handicap Chase provided viewers with a hugely dramatic conclusion. Theatre World and Tune The Chello had it between them going to the last, where the former made a bad mistake and unseated Shane O’Callaghan.
That appeared to leave the two and three quarter miler at the mercy of Tune The Chello, but in a horrible looking incident the loose Theatre World knocked Jordan Gainford out of the saddle on the Henry de Bromhead-trained favourite.
The upshot of all this was that Uisce Beatha was left in front for a very fortunate success, doubling up on the day for Padraig Roche after his earlier win through the Aidan Kelly-ridden Outside The Door
Shane Fitzgerald, still on a high after his Kerry National win from Wednesday, came home a length and a quarter in front on Uisce Beatha, with Funky Dady taking the runner-up spot.
"We got a great bit of luck and we'll take what we can, but you'd always hope everyone is alright after the falls,” said Roche.
"He has been a great horse to have, he had already won on St Stephen's Day at Leopardstown and Easter Monday in Fairyhouse and winning at these festivals is great.
"It was nice to see him come back after pulling up early the last day."
A later update from Dr. Richard Downey at Listowel went as follows: “Jordan Gainford is sore but was fully conscious leaving the racecourse and has been transferred to Tralee Hospital for precautionary X-rays”
R. Deegan, rider of Mister Fogpatches trained by P.A.Fahy, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount jumped the faller at the last and was hampered.
(TW & EM)
