Kevin Coleman was again in the headlines on day two of the Festival, riding the winner of the featured Kerryman 4yo Handicap Hurdle.
Of course the 20-year-old Corkonian was aboard Monte Solaro, victorious in the centrepiece yesterday. Here he drove out fellow Cork native, Ken Condons Cellarmaster to hang on by 3/4L.
Curragh-based Condon, enjoying the biggest win of his training career, stated, 'I had no real expectations coming here but he jumped well and he takes his racing well.'
Master Ofthe Chase impressed on his chase debut, leading before the straight in the hands of Paul Carberry, going on to beat the front-running Laoch Dubh by a comfortable 2L.
Trainer Charlie Swan was delighted with the win, saying, 'he was quick and accurate, he is a very nice horse but he needs time between his races and he goes on any ground.'
Favourite, Dr Julian fell five out, his jockey Ruby Walsh unscathed. Talented long absent pair, Blanc Cest Blanc finished fifth whilst Glenhaven Nugget pulled up injured.
Carberry later completed a 34/1 double when guiding locally trained Havetoavit to a very fluent victory in the maiden hurdle.
Tom Copper praised the rider saying, 'He is an absolute genius. He got the horse switched off and relaxed and he did not even know he was in a race.'
Odds-on punters enjoyed the opening contest yesterday, but those that made Taqseem the 8/15 market-leader for the first today, suffered a setback.
Beach Bound, 10/1 after finishing over 11L behind Taqseem on his debut, made the running and battled back very well when briefly headed by the favourite a furlong out.
Jimmy Feane, representing owners Moyglare Stud, said afterwards, 'he needs a good dig in the ground.' Pat Smullen moved on to 55 for the season, three off injured leader, Fran Berry.
Similarly to Beach Bound, Lone Plainsman was always to the fore in the sprint hcap, leading under a furlong out and staying on well under Brian Carey (4th win for the Limerick apprentice).
Also trained by a Shannonsider, Pat ODonnell commented, 'he had dropped to a mark of 69 and he had to pick one up. It is nice to salvage something from the season as he was very sick earlier.'
All Sorts Star (16/1, 54.60 on Tote) foiled early price gamble, Riverboatman in the 1m 3f hcap. The David Wachman-trained, Wayne Lordan-ridden 5yo was breaking his maiden after a 438 day break.
Rider Christy Geoghegan was taken to the local hospital for x-rays on his left shoulder and collarbone after Sunny Lady slipped up early in the straight. He is stood down for a week.
Tadhg OShea and Keith Maher were hampered and unseated in the same incident. The former was uninjured whilst Maher was to have x-rays on a query fracture of his left jaw.
Former assistant to trainer, Edward OGrady, Michael Murphy branched out on his own for his first racecourse victory, Ballymartin Star under Roger Quinlan in the bumper.
