The Gigginstown-owned King Of Kingsfield proved the star of last night’s action in Ballinrobe, coasting to a 4/7 victory in the BoyleSports Home Of The Early Payout Chase part of a double at the western venue and third leg of an across-the-card four-timer for trainer Gordon Elliott.
Jack Kennedy, on King Of Kingsfield, tracked market rival Runcok, who jumped left throughout, until sweeping through on the inner to lead after the third last. And he made his way home unhindered, eight lengths clear of The Dara Man.
“It was very straightforward,” stated Kennedy, “He was hard on himself over hurdles, but is a lot more relaxed over a fence. He started following Paul’s horse a bit, going left but jumped great and it couldn’t have worked out any better.”
Elliott also took the fillies bumper in Ballinrobe with the Harry Swan-ridden 9/4 favourite Blue Waters, an emphatic scorer.
Earlier, the trainer had enjoyed a Downpatrick double with Penny Perfect (Danny Gilligan) and Speculatrix (Kevin Sexton).
Described by her rider as “small, but very genuine, with a lot of heart,” once-raced four-year-old filly Penny Perfect got the better of Mavetherave to take the Randox Maiden Hurdle.
And, third on her fencing bow in Wexford, Speculatrix justified 13/8 favouritism in the beginners chase, prompting Sexton to comment, “She was the best horse in the race. They went plenty quick, but she jumped and travelled and won well.”
Off the mark on a visit to Ballinrobe two weeks ago, the Joseph O’Brien-trained Shaboozee followed-up in style when landing last night’s western feature, the Hollymount Nursing Home Handicap Hurdle.
The four-year-old Order Of St George gelding was drawing clear when nearest pursuer Maxios Prime blundered at the final flight, allowing the 15/8 joint-favourite to draw 14 lengths clear for convincing success.
“The penny has taken a while to drop, but he’s come on from his last run here and is improving with racing,” stated jockey Richie Deegan, “He was flat out for the first mile but the further we went the better he got. He won well and, hopefully, he can improve again. And he’ll have no problem stepping-up in trip.”
And the Emmet Mullins-trained Chance Another One, a winner over hurdles on the track already this summer, made a seamless transition to fences when taking the Corrib Oil Beginners Chase in the hands of Donagh Meyler.
In Downpatrick, jockey Alex Harvey continued on a roll, registering his third double (and a total of seven winners) in a week, and nine winners from his last 20 rides.
Harvey struck on his boss John McConnell’s Camlin Park in the opening maiden hurdle, forging clear up the hill to slam Lightning Legs by 12 lengths, her trainer commenting, “She has improved a lot in her work at home and Alex has great faith in her. She’ll jump a fence and is for sale.” The Harvey double was completed on the Noel Kelly-trained course specialist Our Zebo, back over hurdles, in the Randox Handicap Hurdle.
Harvey said, “He has all the ability in the world but saves a bit for himself. All he does is stay going, so a test of stamina suits him. Noel has plenty of options with him, including going to England.”
The father and son combination of ‘Shark’ and Paddy Hanlon was on the mark when joint top-weight Pahlavi swooped late to deny the flattering Silent Dawn by a head in the Ulster Carpets Handicap Hurdle.
And the Hanlons doubled-up when Person Of Interest, pulled up in Limerick last time, bounced back to form by defying topweight in the Downpatrick Racecourse Style Awards Handicap Chase, at the expense of veteran Fr Gilligansvoyge.