There is nothing quite like a popular horse being trained by popular man, and this was very much in evidence at Tralee yesterday, when by far the biggest cheer of the week was heard to ring out.
An amazing performance from the veteran, Ballygowan Beauty prompted the crowd into voice, as he stormed home from a position of a poor tenth early in the straight to get up near the finish under Billy Lee in the two mile handicap.
Newcastle West-based Tommy Walker trains the twelve-year-old who was registering his third flat win, one each achieved at the Kerry tracks. A near speechless handler mustered a few words in the aftermath, saying, 'Kerry is his county and hell be back for Listowel.'
There was further cause for Limerick celebration after the Premier Nursery. Christopher Hayes (17) continued a dream start to his career as he drove Crystal View up to gain a short head victory in the days most valuable event.
The Shanagolden apprentice partnered his first winner at Bellewstown, followed up by landing the feature race on the final day of the Galway Festival and now sees his claim reduced from ten pounds down to seven.
Riding for his boss, Kevin Prendergast, who also supplied the winner of this contest last year, Hayes showed strength beyond his years to come from an unpromising fifth over a furlong out to get there on the line.
Seven hour trips are difficult for man or beast to take and with that in mind, Suzanne Cox overnighted at the Curragh on her way down with Splendour, a participant in the Denny Gold Medal Handicap Chase.
The journey from Co. Louth didnt hinder the 9/2 shot who made all the running and was well clear throughout under Barry Geraghty. Runner-up, Ballyamber, the 5/4 favourite, never looked likely to bridge the gap, being nine lengths down at the line. The winning son of Broken Hearted has the Kerry National at Listowel as a possible target.
Also at the Harvest Festival, the Lartigue Hurdle is an option for Michael Hourigans Dr Julian, easy seven length victor of the four-year-old handicap hurdle in the hands of Ruby Walsh.
Treculiar was strongly-backed at morning prices and went off 1/2 for the novice hurdle but he couldnt raise his effort from the last and Ryanally proved the stronger by a length under David Casey. Successful on her only previous start in a Killarney bumper, Charlie Swan said of his mare, 'she stays well and goes on the ground and getting the weight was a help. Itll be Listowel now and then a break.'
Nine time winners are difficult to come by and Gerry Keane expressed the same sentiment when commenting, 'hell be hard to replace,' after watching his Victor Boy record a very smooth three length win in the opening handicap chase.
Paul Carberry gave the eleven-year-old a beautiful ride to lead from two out and the 7/2 favourite hardly even knew he had a race to dispose of Tara Hall. Keane commented, 'he got jarred up and sour after we ran him twice on hard ground. We gave him a month off and he came here in great form.'
A winner on her seasonal bow at Clonmel back in the spring, Minaun Heights hadnt shown much sparkle in three outings since, but she obviously appreciated encountering an ease in the ground again in the mile handicap.
This race commemorated the late local jockey, Timmy Houlihan who died last November. Pat Shanahan drove out Con Collins five-year-old to a convincing two and a half length success.
In the concluding Denny Havasnack, Gareth Powers mount, the Joe Crowley-trained, Golden Storm displayed the deepest reserves of stamina to beat Strong Project by three parts of a length. This fellow obviously benefited from a run over fences at Cork on Sunday last and hell be back over the larger obstacles when he contests the Kerry National at Listowel next month.
