Paul Carberry is just one short of another century of winners following a double on the well-backed Michael Hourigan-trained pair Mr Sneaky Boo and Royal Mirage at Thurles.
Mr Sneaky Boo quickened up nicely on the run-in to beat the odds-on favourite Heezapistol by three lengths in the featured Heineken Novice Chase, and the Patrickswell trainer commented, 'He's schooled well at home, and we'll probably keep him to the smaller tracks.'
Carberry moved onto the 99 winner mark for this season when getting the better of his great rival Barry Geraghty in the maiden hurdle. Royal Mirage needed a strong drive from the champion to touch off Noble Shift by the minimum margin, and could bid for a quick follow up in a Listowel handicap this weekend. 'He settled much better today, and the ground was a big help,' said Hourigan.
The Powers Gold Label Handicap Hurdle at the Fairyhouse Easter meeting may be next on the agenda for High Prospect after the Paul Nolan-trained gelding landed the Littleton Handicap Hurdle. Gary Hutchinson gave the five-year-old gelding a confident ride, although he needed to overcome a mistake at the final flight in order to beat the front-running Celio by half a length. 'The weights need to go up for him in the Powers but if they do, and he comes out of this race alright, then he'll go to Fairyhouse,' said Nolan.
On the Flat section of the card, Pat Smullen was another rider in double form when recording a 21/1 brace aboard Revue and Tara's Gift. The Dermot Weld-trained Revue was sent off the 7/4 favourite in the mile and a half maiden, and the gelding kept on well under pressure inside the final furlong to hold off Emperors Guest by half a length.
Smullen lost his whip when striking the front a furlong out aboard Tara's Gift in division two of the mile handicap, but the slip made no difference as Michael Cunningham's charge kept on well under hands and heels to beat Or D'ans by three quarters of a length. Cunningham later completed his own double when Shaiyran got the better of a thrilling finish to the mile and a half handicap, edging out Kate Emily and South West Nine by a head and a neck.
Helen Keohane has made a big impression in the apprentice ranks over the past 12 months, and the aptly named Girl Wonder provided the Cork girl with her 16th success when taking division one of the mile handicap in fine style.
The six-year-old was prominent throughout, and quickened up inside the final furlong to beat Kilbride Lad by three lengths. 'The ten furlongs was a bit too far for her at Clonmel last week, and this fast ground obviously suits,' said permit holder Dermot Murphy, who has just two horses in his care near Rathangan in County Kildare.
Alan Magee
