It was a day for the small trainer at Leopardstown on Sunday as Cashel based James Barrett saddled just his fifth winner and in doing so landed the ?130,000 Pierse Hurdle with Barker, who was ridden by Timmy Murphy.
The vibes were good coming from the Co Tipperary yard this week and those opinions were justified as the 10/1 shot stayed on well to deny Brave Right on the run scoring by two and a half lengths.
It was an eventful contest which saw favourite Do The Trick crash out at the third last leaving Paddy Flood unconscious and the rider was sent to hospital for further assessment.
Barker carried the colours of Eamonn Duignan and afterwards the winning trainer said, 'That was awesome. We were afraid of the ground but Timmy said he handled it and they were going so fast it suited him. I was happy that he stayed two and a half miles beforehand and he would gallop all the way to the line. He dropped the bit and jumped and travelled well throughout and everything just went right for him.'
An overjoyed Barrett had regular jockey Martin Mooney in his thoughts, 'I feel sorry for Martin. We rang him for advice on how to ride the race as he's a really important part of the team and he'll ride him the next day - that's racing. We'll have a look at the County Hurdle at Cheltenham now but we'll get over today first.'
Ruby Walsh certainly stole the riding honours of the day as the champion jockey completed a treble in the opening three races bringing his tally to 10 winners from his last 12 rides.
Two of the three winners were saddled by trainer Willie Mullins who landed both the Beginners Chase and the Grade 2 Paddy Fitzpatrick Novice Chase with Scotsirish and Glencove Marina respectively.
Glencove Marina travelled like a dream turning into the straight with favourite Perce Rock coming under pressure under David Casey before exciting at the final flight.
Finger Onthe Pulse gave it his best effort for Tom Taaffe and Barry Geraghty but Glencove Marina jumped his way into contention throughout and soon asserted having jumped the last to score by ten-lengths.
A delighted Willie Mullins said afterwards, 'He is a serious chaser and that's why I didn't want to go mucking around going hurdling with him. He looks one of the best prospects in our yard and he could be anything.'
On future plans Mullins said, We'll probably come back here for the PJ Moriarty Chase on Hennessey Day. He'll be entered for all the big races at Cheltenham. He could have the speed to drop in trip for an Arkle but he looks like he might be more of a stayer.'
Of Scotsirish, Mullins was also upbeat as the seven-year-old accounted for another JP McManus owned favourite in Wins Now the eventual second under Niall Madden.
Ruby Walsh had to sit tight as the son of Zaffaran made a novicey mistake jumping the last but had enough in hand to go on and record a three and a half length success.
Mullins said afterwards, 'We are delighted with that. He's bred for good ground and that was the only concern coming here today. Ruby was comfortable on him down the back straight and he jumped himself to the front. We'll have to look at the Arkle here now and certainly at Cheltenham as it was for there he was bought.'
Ruby Walsh got the ball rolling in the opener on the well supported Psycho for trainer Tony Martin who was sent to the front approaching the last and soon went on for a snug five and a half length win from Premier Hero with Billy To Jack back in third.
Fresh from his first winner in the training ranks it was yet another weekend to remember for the ever busy Conor O'Dwyer who was on board top weight Mister Top Notch in the Grade A Pierse Handicap Chase over three miles and on extremely testing conditions the Davy Fitzgerald trained nine-year-old put in a superb effort to land the spoils by a length and a quarter denying Ruby Walsh a four-timer on King Johns Castle.
The Hennessy is now on the agenda for Fitzgerald's stable star who received quotes ranging from 66/1 to 100/1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
'I was very worried about the ground before hand as Conor had told me after the John Durkan at Punchestown never to run him on that again, but it was untraceable that day as far as I was concerned,' revealed Limerick handler Fitzgerald.
'He surprised me on the ground but ability wise he didn't surprise me at all. We will go for the Hennessey here with him and see how he goes but he loves this place and that is a help.'
Ruby Walsh was again denied a four-timer when Footy Facts rallied under Davy Russell in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Qualifier to collar Sir Overbury after the final hurdle while Motaraqeb had earlier scored for the connections of Champion Hurdler Sublimity.
It was a day of knocks and bruises for many jockeys with David Casey also admitted to hospital having been knocked unconscious when Perce Rock fell in the novice chase. Both Casey and Flood are now automatically stood down for 21-days. Jockey Tommy Tracey was stood down for the day after parting company with Studmaster in the Beginners Chase while Barry Cash was okay after his fall from Remington Steel in the same race.
