Conor O'Dwyer dominated proceedings at Naas on Saturday with an impressive haul of three wins and two seconds from six rides. The Wexford-born rider teamed up twice with Arthur Moore in novice chases to complete a near 74/1 treble in the opening three races on the card, lifting his tally for the season to 41.
Zourito justified favouritism in the Saggart Novice Handicap Chase by making most for a convincing 12 length victory over Go For Grogan. Winning trainer Moore is unsure about future plans for the French-bred gelding due to a lack of opportunities for two mile handicap chasers.
The locally-based trainer was full of praise an hour later for O'Dwyer after Lyreen Wonder rallied on the run-in to overhaul market-rival Saw-Id in the BBA Opera Hat Beginners Chase. The latter looked set to score when leading after two out, where Lyreen Wonder made one of a number of jumping errors. However Sawa-Id found little for Tom Rudd when coming under pressure after the last, and amazingly was five and a half lengths adrift at the line. 'Conor did well to get him around, and hopefully that will give him a bit of confidence,' said Moore.
O'Dwyer also successfully combined with another local handler in the Bishopscourt Maiden Hurdle aboard the Eddie Hales-trained Whispering Wind. The Danehill gelding was left in front after favourite Creux Noir blundered at the last but he tied up in the closing stages as the fast finishing newcomer Bust Out closed to within three quarters of a length. 'He has plenty of pace, and really needs good ground,' said Hales afterwards.
The other main talking point of the afternoon was the action taken by the stewards after a running and riding enquiry into the performance of Balla Time, a never dangerous 14th of 24 in the Kildare Maiden Hurdle. Tommy Treacy was suspended for seven racing days for making insufficent effort, Michael Holden fined #500 for using the racecourse as a training ground and the gelding suspended for 42 days.
