The feature event on the card, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Handicap saw jockey Cathy Gannon record another win, on Con Collins' Mainly Mine. Gannon, who currently holds a healthy lead in the apprentice jockeys' championship, received lavish praise from the winning trainer's daughter and representative Tracey Collins.
Collins mentioned that 'Cathy gave her a super ride', before adding 'the mare is very strong and needs to come from behind in her races. She raced too keenly at The Curragh recently but Cathy settled her brilliantly today. We have no immediate plans for Mainly Mine now.'
Nine non-runners (including the three reserves) meant that the opening 2m4f maiden hurdle lacked a little on quality and was won by Michael Hourigan's Leaveitso. Jockey Timmy Murphy tracked the leaders on the son of Gothland before edging to the front after the second last, eventually beating Zarenas Treasure by three lengths, with 13/8 favourite Mill Vale two and a half lengths further behind in third.
Trainer Tony Martin knows what it takes to win handicaps and claimed his second handicap hurdle in as many days when Inver Lady won the Tote 'The Easy Way To Bet' Handicap Hurdle. The winner was described by Martin as 'a difficult horse who runs very free. She is very hard on herself in races but may run at Sligo on Sunday.'
Trainer Suzanne Cox recorded her sixth training winner when 20/1 shot Carapuncha got the better of a tight battle with Burren Moonshine in the three mile handicap hurdle. The winner received a strong ride from Martin Mooney while an unusual recipient of a mention in the winners' enclosure was Carapuncha's stable companion, a goat named Patty, who prevents the mare from box-walking.
The first four horses in the Castlerea Maiden flashed past the post with little separating them, although Dessie Hughes' Guilt was eventually deemed the winner. Hughes was a little surprised by the success although he did state 'he was entitled to win that from his rating of 80 but I thought the seven furlong trip would be too short for him.' He added 'we'll see how the handicapper treats him but he will more than likely revert to hurdling again.'
Jockey Declan McDonogh is one to have on your side in a driving finish and was seen at his best when forcing Rolling Home ahead by a short head in the Tote Jackpot Handicap while Nancys Bridge landed the Ladies' Bumper under Claire MacMahon.
Thomas Weekes.
