Doubles for the Edward O'Grady-Norman Williamson alliance via Aunt Aggie and Spike Cooney, for rider Kieran Kelly aboard Banner Dream and The Carrig Rua and trainer Eddie Hales with Wicked Chicken and Itsallaboutcharm, captured the headlines before a good crowd at Navan on Saturday afternoon.
'I was disappointed she didn't win a bumper but she did that well and we'll keep her to that,' said O'Grady of the half-sister to Time For A Run, Aunt Aggie before going on to record a 28 1/2 / 1 double when Tipperary bumper scorer Spike Cooney made a winning debut over the smaller obstacles.
'He stays and jumps well and hopefully will improve from that. Norman says the penny still hasn't dropped yet with him and I'm looking forward to him going over fences,' O' Grady said of the Demi O'Byrne-owned gelding.
Kieran Kelly, successful aboard Bill Haney's Banner Drean in the 2nd division of the maiden hurdle, went on to complete a 90/1 double in the saddle aboard the Charlie Swan-trained 6/1 chance The Carrig Rua in the 'Danoli The Peoples Champion' Chase. The winner is a probable runner in the Troytown Chase later this year.
Runner-up Craughwell Aris, who failed by half-a-length to claw back the winner, was rather harshly disqualified after 'taking the wrong course.' He was hampered at the first flight and pushed through the rail just drifting off course for a stride or two -there was nothing rider Barry Geraghty could do.
Eddie Hales' light-weight Wicked Chicken sprang a 14/1 surprise under Joe Casey in the three mile handicap hurdle to force a Jackpot carryover of #10,000 onto the 18th of October before Hales completed a brace with Itsallaboutcharm and Alan Fleming in the concluding bumper.
Noel Meade's Coq Hardi Diamond, despite giving supporters one scare when running accross the final fence, came home eight lengths clear of stable-companion Ridgewood Water to easily make a winning bow over fences under Barry Geraghty.
Ruby Walsh, out of luck aboard market leaders Alesi (5th), Man Of Leisure (p.u.), Total Success (4th) and Fountain Page (8th), notched up his 36th success of the current campaign when Davids Lad scored with the minimum of fuss in the two-and-a-half mile handicap chase.
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