Pumbaa clears the last under Roger Quinlan© Photo Healy Racing
Pumbaa recorded his first win since November 2014, as he made all in the Maddens Bar & Restaurant Handicap Chase.
Fifth of five on his debut for Andy Slattery at Ballinrobe last month, the nine-year-old gelding was sent off the 9/1 outsider of the field this afternoon.
Sent straight to the front by Roger Quinlan, he was pressed from two out, but was pushed clear before the next, keeping on well on the run-in to score by four and three parts of a length. Crazywork De Vassy (8/1) filled the runner-up spot under Mark Enright for Michael McDonagh, while Eight Till Late was another two and a half lengths back in third. Voices Of Spring who was backed from 5s to 7/2 on-course, was fourth, while the 5/2 favourite Presenting Mahler could only manage fifth.
Slattery said afterwards: "We got him about ten weeks ago and he's a horse with problems. Roger takes a lot of credit for it as he rides him out every day and just lets him off and do his own thing.
"He works like a real good horse at home, and we are just training him gently and not overdoing him.
"Roger hugged the rails the whole way, and gave him a great ride. The lads that own him (Rafiki Syndicate) are neighbours of mine.
"He loved the ground. He won a bumper in Limerick at Christmas a couple of years ago, and when you go around there you go anywhere."
STEWARDS REPORTS
The Stewards fined Michael J. McDonagh, trainer, E350 for lodging a passport in respect of Crazywork De Vassy (FR), in which the vaccinations did not conform with the provisions of Rule 91. The Stewards allowed the horse to run on receipt of the trainer's written assurance that the vaccinations were in order.
The Stewards interviewed Mr R.P. Quinlan, rider of Pumbaa, concerning his use of the whip in latter stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards were of the opinion that Mr R.P. Quinlan was in breach of R10(3)(e) by using his whip other than down the shoulder or on the hind quarters and therefore cautioned him having taken his good previous record into consideration.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
