Pack Your Bags and Philip Enright© Photo Healy Racing
The winners keep flowing for Cork trainer Robert Tyner and the J P McManus-owned Pack Your Bags (8s into 7s) shed his maiden tag on the racecourse proper at the 20th attempt in the Bet 5 Get 30 For All New Customers At BetVictor Handicap Chase in Down Royal.
They bypassed the third last here and it was clear at that stage that Pack Your Bags would take a bit of stopping. He eventually defeated the gallant sixteen-year-old and favourite, See Double You (13/2 into 9/2) by eight and a half lengths.
The best sight of all in the aftermath was fourteen-year-old Honest Robber on his feet after taking a very heavy fall at the last.
Tyner's wife Mary was on lead-up duties and the lengthy trek from down south was doubtless easier given the excellent form of the stable's runners at present.
Spare Brakes won on Thyestes Day at Gowran last Thursday for Tyner and Pack Your Bags' rider Philip Enright. Meanwhile Carrigmoorna Pine was impressive for the Shippool Kinsale operation in a Kilfeacle point-to-point on Sunday with Derek O'Connor up.
"When the horses are in good form it makes my job a lot easier," reflected Enright.
"It's nice that he's won a race - he finished second a load of times over hurdles. To get his head in front is great.
"When horses are in good form sometimes they get away without having had a run (his first appearance for 191 days) back.
"Robert doesn't bring them to Down Royal too often but you can't sit on your hands - you have to travel when there's a suitable race.
"It's great to ride a winner for Mr McManus - it's an honour to ride in those colours. He's a great supporter of the yard."
Owing to low sun, the Stewards granted permission for the third last fence (Fence 3) to be omitted from this race.
C.J. Orr, rider of Canadian Steel trained by Noel C. Kelly, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount burst.
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Canadian Steel, trained by Noel C. Kelly, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to have an exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage on post race examination.
R. Loughran, rider of Hard Bought trained by Mrs D.A.Love, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount made a bad mistake and pulled up.
A.W. Short, rider of Caoimhe Diva trained by Daniel John Howard, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount burst blood vessels.
(MG & EM)
