Shiroccosmagicgem, near side, pips The Brickey Ranger© Photo Healy Racing
Shiroccosmagicgem won a head-bobbing finish to Tramore's hunters chase to give Eddie Power his first winner on the racetrack. The Brickey Ranger (11/1) landed in the lead over the last, however, Johnny Barry conjured up a strong finish from Shiroccosmagicgem who thrust home and won the photo by a head at 8/1. Lucky Policy completed the placings in third at 40/1.
Power said: "She is a nice mare and started off the season great. She would have won at Tatts, but got a very bad fall and since then she has been a little bit cautious. She didn't jump great today, but seems to have plenty of ability. I knew if she was in contention turning in that she'd come up the hill the best of them.
"The last day in Cork she didn't carry Johnny down the back and, he said had she carried him better to the straight, that she would have been a lot closer. We put the cheekpieces on her today as she is a lazy type. Hopefully, she'll go down the staying handicap chase route next season.
"I've had 12 or 13 point-to-point winners and won with a nice Valirann horse on Saturday called Val Venus. He is a half-brother to Hidden Cyclone and will probably go for the point-to-point bumper at Tipperary now. I had a nice winner at Tallow earlier in the year called The Top G and I have a nice Conduit horse coming through. I'm based out of Michelle Gannon's yard in Johnstown, Co Kilkenny.
"I rode plenty winners and was based with John Murphy and John Joe Walsh. I got injured in 2013 and that's what finished me. I went travelling for a few years with Gordon Lord Byron and I came home then and settled down and starting doing point-to-point's with Pat Doyle. He taught me the trade and I'm out on my own now. I don't have much interest in getting bigger. I'd rather improve the quality of animal that I have and keep the numbers small, that'll be my main ambition."
Barry put up 1lb overweight on the winner.
The Raceday Stewards enquired into possible interference on the turn towards the second last fence involving Nice To Meet ridden by Mr M.J. O'Connor, placed fifth, and Carrig Wells ridden by Mr D.M. Fitzgerald, placed sixth, where it appeared Nice To Meet suffered interference. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. In his evidence, Mr. M.J O'Connor stated that he suffered interference from his outside and clipped a heel. Mr. D.M. Fitzgerald stated that he went for a gap on the inside of the leaders at that point in the race. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards made no alterations to the Judges placings, however they found that Mr. D.M. Fitzgerald was in breach of Rule 214 in that he had ridden Improperly. Having considered his record in this regard(first offence) the Raceday Stewards suspended him for seven race days.
Additional reporting by Donal Murphy
