The Colin Bowe-trained newcomer The Hollow Chap, provided his handler with his 12th success of the season when landing the Magee Family four-year-old maiden by two-lengths in the hands of Barry O'Neill for owner/breeder Maria Kavanagh. In what was a competitive looking contest, the winner, who was prominently ridden throughout, commanded a one-length advantage at the last over eventual second Beyondapproach, picking-up best on the run-in to win going away.
"He is a nice horse, very tough. He is probably not the biggest in the world but he is very athletic. He will go to the sales now,” said Bowe of The Hollow Chap, a half-brother to 2014 Arkle winner Western Warhorse who also begun his career with a pointing success for the Co. Wexford-based trainer.
Simon Cavanagh enjoyed his initial success of the season abroad the John Paul Brennan-trained Financial Outcome in the Gaelic Plant Hire five-year-old geldings' maiden. The Financial Reward gelding, who was in the process of running a big race when parting company with his jockey at the second-last on his penultimate start, bounced back from a below par effort at Tyrella last time out to take the honours in the colours of Thomas Brennan, returning four lengths clear of Hadmeathello.
“We shouldn’t have gone up the north with him last time as he had got a hard race here beforehand," remarked the Co.Wexford-based handler. "He did a good piece of work on Tuesday alongside another nice five-year-old of mine and I thought we were definitely in with a big shout. He did it well there and if he is not sold now he will go for a winners’ race in a couple of weeks.”
“We shouldn’t have gone up the north with him last time as he had got a hard race here beforehand," remarked the Co.Wexford-based handler. "He did a good piece of work on Tuesday alongside another nice five-year-old of mine and I thought we were definitely in with a big shout. He did it well there and if he is not sold now he will go for a winners’ race in a couple of weeks.”
The first three home in The John Durkan Memorial open were all previous course winners and Antoinette Kavanagh's Dantes King once again showed his appetite for a battle as he got the better of the exchanges in a tight finish to lead home Chapter Two by three-quarters of a length, with Carrignagapple a further three lengths back in third. A winner at the Wicklow venue back in November, the Mark Fahey-trained son of Kings Theatre was ridden to victory by regular partner and the owner's son Roderic Kavanagh.
“We were always travelling comfortably and then I got caught for a bit of toe going down the hill and at the same time I always thought that the two in front would come back as they went on very hard," reporting the winning jockey who is now setting his sights on a trip to the Aintree Foxhunters.
"He is a weapon of a horse. I have no real interest in Cheltenham, the dream has always been to go to Aintree.”
Although not the strongest renewal on paper, there was a lot to like about the manner in which Michael Murphy's Holy Motivation took the John R. Fitzpatrick - Agricultural Contractor five-year-old mares' maiden for the Donnachadh Doyle yard. A marked improvement from her debut, the daughter of Kalanisi showed a good turn of foot to record a comfortable 12-length success over runner-up Kalamansi Corner. The winning handler indicated that the drier underfoot conditions were a factor in his charges success.
“The ground was too soft for her the first day in Dungarvan but she was very good there today," commented Doyle of his ninth winner of the current campaign.
“We were always travelling comfortably and then I got caught for a bit of toe going down the hill and at the same time I always thought that the two in front would come back as they went on very hard," reporting the winning jockey who is now setting his sights on a trip to the Aintree Foxhunters.
"He is a weapon of a horse. I have no real interest in Cheltenham, the dream has always been to go to Aintree.”
Although not the strongest renewal on paper, there was a lot to like about the manner in which Michael Murphy's Holy Motivation took the John R. Fitzpatrick - Agricultural Contractor five-year-old mares' maiden for the Donnachadh Doyle yard. A marked improvement from her debut, the daughter of Kalanisi showed a good turn of foot to record a comfortable 12-length success over runner-up Kalamansi Corner. The winning handler indicated that the drier underfoot conditions were a factor in his charges success.
“The ground was too soft for her the first day in Dungarvan but she was very good there today," commented Doyle of his ninth winner of the current campaign.
"She jumps and travels very well and she is a right little mare to be fair to her. She is not the biggest but she is a tough little lady. She might go for a winners’ race or if not she will go to the sales, I will have a chat to Michael.”
The closest finish of the day was recorded in the Fitzpatrick, Gallagher, McEvoy Solicitors winners of two when the Dot Love-trained Thinkinginmysleep held on by a half-length to defeat the odds-on favourite La Cavsa Nostra.
A winner at Belharbour at the beginning of the month, the son of Spadoun took up the lead at the back of the third-last and battled on well after the final fence to score in the hands the trainers grandson Timmy Love, to give the young jockey his fourth success of the season.
“He is an uncomplicated and honest horse that has a great jump. He likes that nicer ground," remarked the Co.Westmeath-based handler. "I suppose we will have to go for another hunter chase now.”
A winner at Belharbour at the beginning of the month, the son of Spadoun took up the lead at the back of the third-last and battled on well after the final fence to score in the hands the trainers grandson Timmy Love, to give the young jockey his fourth success of the season.
“He is an uncomplicated and honest horse that has a great jump. He likes that nicer ground," remarked the Co.Westmeath-based handler. "I suppose we will have to go for another hunter chase now.”
The Kent Carty Solicitors & O’Donnell Property six-year-old and upwards geldings' maiden for novice riders went the way of the Richie Rath-trained Captain Leo, steered to victory by Tiernan Roche.
In what was an incident packed race, the son of Scorpion was badly hampered by a loose horse rounding the bend after the fifth-last and carried off course whilst at the head of affairs. Regaining the lead approaching the straight, the Laurence O'Brien-owned gelding blunder at the last but had enough in hand to see off his closest rival Coach Road by three-and-a-half lengths.
It was the six-year-old’s first outing for new trainer Rath, who commented; “I only got him about two months ago. Larry was going to go to the track with him and I said to him that I would rather go for a point-to-point first to see if he is good enough, and in fairness to him, after that he certainly is. He will go over hurdles on the track now.”
