Bootlegger (nearside) comes to land the spoils under Paul Townend© Photo Healy Racing
With first-time cheek-pieces on Bootlegger (8/1) landed the Holycross Maiden Hurdle at Thurles for Edward O'Grady and Paul Townend.
This boiled down to a three way battle over the closing couple of flights and the Mrs John Magnier-owned Bootlegger eventually edged out Extrapolate (first-time tongue-strap) and odds-on favourite Spyglass Hill (9/10 into 8/11) by three parts of a length and a neck.
O'Grady was in hunt attire having "hunted all over Peter Curling's nice banks in nearby Ballydine" and added "he has been a work in progress and I'm very thankful to Mr and Mrs Magnier because he cost a few quid as a three year old and he hasn't been without problems here and there - 'issues' you'd call them these days!
"As a result it has taken him a good while to get to the track and he is still terribly green and that's why I put the cheek-pieces on.
"You'd hope he'll be a chaser down the line and even if my jockey keeps his stick he may even go better then next time - it's just as well he is a Champion Jockey!
"There's a three miles novice handicap around Easter for him next but it's job done for the moment."
The Stewards interviewed Joseph O'Brien, trainer, in relation to the late withdrawal of Castle Oliver from this race. Evidence was heard from the trainer concerned, who stated that his charge was present and that it was his intention to run the animal but the rain forecast had failed to fully materialise. He accepted that the withdrawal was late but stated that he was out walking the track which had delayed the withdrawal. Having considered the evidence, the Stewards allowed the late withdrawal on this occasion and took no further action. Mr. John Murphy, Chairman of the Stewards absented himself from this enquiry and Mr. Tom Rudd acted as Chairman.
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Trappist Monk trained by Noel Meade, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to have blood at the nose following exercised induced pulmonary haemorrhage.
J.M. Moore, rider of Trappist Monk trained by Noel Meade, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount burst a blood vessel.
(TW & EM)
