Report | Tralee 25th May 2019

The Shane Hassett-trained Askdaboss showed the necessary improvement from his eighth-placed debut effort at Inch over Easter by springing a mild surprise in the hands of Johnny Barry in the first division of the LMC Contracts - (Liam McCarthy) four-year-old maiden.

Oscer Remero went to the head of affairs after three-out, but Askdaboss was alive to the move.
The winning son of Ask picked up the running some 50 yards out on the short run-in to eclipse Oscer Remero by a half-length.

"He's a lovely horse and I was disappointed with his run in Inch," said Dundrum-based handler Hassett of his partner Jane Davis' charge who will head to the sales.

Donnchadh Doyle has his team of youngsters in cracking order and the Monbeg Stables operator struck with the gambled-on newcomer French Dynamite in the second division of the LMC Contracts - (Liam McCarthy) four-year-old maiden.

The Kentucky Dynamite-sired French Dynamite assumed command after the third last with Rob James and, although the eye catching runner-up Aviewtosea closed on the flat, the triumphant bay still scored by some one and a half lengths.

"He's a big horse that travelled like a dream here and he was bought in Arqana as a two-year-old," said Doyle of the Monbeg Syndicate-owned gelding who will now be sold.

Denis Murphy supplied the winners of both divisions of the Tattersalls Cheltenham five-year-old geldings’ maiden and the Blackwater-based handler initially struck with Funky Sensation, who was slowly into stride when coming third to the progressive Go Whatever on his career debut at Monksgrange in late-April.

The Black Sam Bellamy-sired gelding was bounced out in front and he made virtually all the running for Simon Cavanagh.

He was already well in command when edging left on the run to the final fence and he duly beat newcomer Choctaw Brave, trained by Murphy's younger sister Bernie, by six lengths.

A late July foal, Funky Sensation is a half-brother to Grade 1 chase winner Equus Maximus and he was led out unsold at £19,000 on his previous appearance in a sales ring as a 'breezer' at the 2017 Tattersalls Ireland December sale at Cheltenham.

Handler Murphy brought up his two-timer when Masters Voice spread-eagled the opposition with Jamie Codd in the second division of the Tattersalls Cheltenham five-year-old geldings’.

Masters Voice, who made a respectable career debut by finishing fifth to Who's In The Box at Bartlemy less than a fortnight earlier, forged to the front after three-out. The winner eventually dispensed with Bartlemy runner-up Into The Wood by a widening 10 lengths.

"Whilst he had a good run in Bartlemy, he has come on a lot for it. He will go to the sales now,” said Murphy of Masters Voice, a son of Milan from a strong French distaff family that was purchased by owner Pat Coffey as a foal.

The Fexco & Dillon Prenderville Auctioneers five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden saw Save Us Avis completed an across-the-card double for handler Peter Flood, also on the mark with Secret Court at Stradbally, by winning this somewhat grief-stricken contest.

In a race that saw six out of the 15 starters either fall or unseat, Save Us Avis edged ahead with Anthony Fox before the final fence to account for the late-April Dromahane runner-up Pellady by one and a half lengths.
Flood, who was greeting a 15th winner of the campaign, said of Dermot and Fergal Mulvihill's homebred: "She's a tough mare that's not the biggest and she will probably now go for a winners’ race next weekend."

Sam Curling's outstanding mare Longhouse Music re-joined Kruzhlinin on 12 winners as the pair fight it out for this season's champion pointer award by running her rivals ragged in the Lee Strand open for novice riders.

It was all plain sailing for the winning daughter of Gamut, who received a spontaneous round of applause on crossing the line, stretched clear to contain Do Be Doin' by eight lengths in the silks of breeder John Duggan.
"Kruzhlinin is keeping us on our toes, but they are two cracking sorts and there are two mares' races for our mare next weekend,” said Sam Curling. 

Sam Curling and Rob James, both of whom were on the mark separately earlier in the afternoon, combined to capture the Kerry Group Mares winner-of-three with Poetic Presence.

The winner was bounced straight into the lead and she soon held a commanding advantage. Although runner-up Cushinstown Finest had closed to within one and a half lengths, the market-leader was coming off second best when erring at the last as the former winning British pointer asserted in the closing stages to oblige by four lengths.

"She is Longhouse Music's companion as the two of them live outside together and she normally only runs on the same day as Longhouse Music does," said owner/trainer Curling of Poetic Presence.

The Louis Archdeacon-trained Top Question, having been placed on three previous occasions, attained his due reward by routing his rivals to provide 19-year-old rider Cal Shine with a second success of the season.

Top Question seized control on the run to three out and he powered clear from the penultimate obstacle to slam Orpen Wells by an unextended 25 lengths in the colours of the four-member Fone A Friend Syndicate.
"He's a horse that's improving the whole time and he's a fabulous jumper, he could now go for the Listowel hunters chase on the June bank holiday Monday," said the handler.