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- Review gowran park 5th Oct
Review gowran park 5th Oct
Hall Of Mirrors stretches clear for Joseph O'Brien
© Photo Healy Racing
Joseph O'Brien kept up the pressure on Pat Smullen in the race for the jockeys' title as he went two up with a Gowran Park double on Hall Of Mirrors and Daisy Mountain
Hall Of Mirrors, trained by the jockey's father Aidan, romped away with the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Nursery to end a frustrating run of seconds.
The blinkered Ballydoyle youngster (7-2) delivered a late challenge and swept clear in the final furlong to beat Ballyorban by three and three-quarter lengths.
Daisy Mountain was sent off the 7-2 favourite for the second division of the Kilkenny Handicap and after hitting the front a furlong out, James Nash's grey was driven clear to beat Vasoni by four and a quarter lengths.
O'Brien's treble hopes looked about to be realised when he sent Lord Jim up to challenge Empresario in the Gowran Park Claiming Race, but David Wachman's long-time leader (8-1) boxed on gamely for Billy Lee and went away again to score by a length.
Monica Dowdall Blake's mare Shu Lewis who wasn't beaten far when seventh in the Irish St Leger last time, was backed with confidence into 6-4 favourite for the Bennettsbridge Maiden and stayed on strongly in the final furlong to win by four and a quarter lengths under Shane Gorey.
Colin Keane got the Pat Flynn-trained Knights Templar (12-1) up close home to take the first division of the Kilkenny Handicap by a neck from Eastern Rules
The main jumps race of the day was the Bennettsbridge Hurdle and it went to Jessie Harrington's 2-1 favourite Burn And Turn who took command going to the second-last under Robbie Power and went away to score by an emphatic six lengths.
Willie Mullins' bumper winner Reine Angevine (4-1) landed an untroubled victory in the Thomastown Maiden Hurdle, leading after the third-last and easing nine and a half lengths clear under Ruby Walsh.