Report | Tyrella 25th January 2020

The newly forged partnership of Warren Ewing and Jordan Gainford enjoyed further success with a double on the day, and they opened their account courtesy of Only the Bold in the Armstrong Auctions five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

This well-bred son of Jeremy pulled clear of his rivals in the home straight to go on and win by an impressive nine lengths.

“We fancied him going to Borris, everything we have done with him he has done very well. Jordan [Gainford] said he did it very easily and he is for sale now,” said Ewing.

The F. S. Herron six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden saw The Great White complete the Warren Ewing/Jordan Gainford double when recording an 11-length victory, getting off the mark at the third time of asking in the process.

Jumping impressively throughout, the son of Sholokhov showed an excellent turn of foot when quickening clear from the back straight to easily deny the Jamie Sloane-trained Parkgate.

“He is a bit special for that age of a horse. He ran once as a four-year-old but was too weak and then we ran him before Christmas, and he fell. It was too soft down in Limerick for him, he needed that ground there. He will go to the sales now,” said Ewing.

Gavin Cromwell recorded his first success of the season in points when landing the Albert Bartlett five-year-old mares’ maiden with Aprils Joy.

Carrying the colours of Bettystown-based owner Denis Reddan, the daughter of Ask got the better of runner-up Tango Theatre by four lengths in the hands of Ben Harvey.

Winning owner Reddan said: “We bred her, and she is part of the old family. The dam is still at home and I have a couple more of her progeny to come. She is a lovely filly, a very quick jumper. We have had a lot of winners here; those red and yellow colours are lucky for us here.”

Eddies Miracle enjoyed his third success of the season when fending off the challenge of runner-up Sizing Solution, to get up by one-and-a-quarter lengths in the Patrick Turley Kingsfield Stables open under Barry O’Neill in owner Ray Nicholas’ colours.

“He is a magic horse. It is his first time racing right-handed since his injury, but he had form here before, so we said we would take our chance. He is better left-handed, so we will tip away in opens now,” said winning handler David Christie.

Cave Queen came out on top in the Irish National Steeplechase Committee six-year-old mares’ maiden, which was the first of the INHSC bonus races, in a thrilling finish to prevail by a short head in the hands of Paul Bannon.

Winning handler Peter Flood, who collected the €1,000 bonus cheque on behalf of his mother Teresa, said: “The boys picked her up cheaply and she had been going well, so I thought that she would take some beating coming here. We will look at the Farmers race in Punchestown now.”

Previously a two-time winner, Like A Demon was back in the winner’s enclosure following the G. Curran & Co Ltd - Accountants winner-of-two, when accounting for the Marshall Watson-trained Well Bill by six lengths.

“He jumped very well, he was quick A to B. His experience stood to him and he was able to jump them into the ground. We will look for a winner-of-three now on good ground if we can find it,” said winning handler Nigel Slevin.