Dollar Value (Conor McNamara, right) beats Somptueux (Hugh Morgan)© Photo Healy Racing
Favourite Braid Blue went at the first, opening up the Adare Manor Opportunity Beginners Chase at Downpatrick. As it turned out Dollar Value made an impressive debut over fences under Conor McNamara.
Gordon Elliott trains Braid Blue, and his other representative, Monkshood fell at the same obstacle. He seemed to bump with Braid Blue causing that fellow to unseat Sean O’Keeffe.
Conor McNamara, aboard Tom McCourt’s Dollar Value for the first time, excelled on the free-going grey, and they caught the eye really motoring from before the second last.
A confident McNamara let his mount ease on by Somptueux in the closing stages to score by a length and three parts.
“I told him (Conor McNamara) to put him asleep for the first half because he can get a bit free - drop him out, hunt him for the first round and tip away and hope for the best after that,” said McCourt.
“A couple went out at the first which probably did no harm to us.
“He’s a lovely horse and gets into a race very easily. He jumps well and looked like he had plenty in hand (after the last).”
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer reported to the Stewards that Monkshood trained by Gordon Elliott was found to have blood at the nose post race, possibly as a result of a fall.
(MG & EM)
