Just last night Jessica Harrington and Anamoine Limited were celebrating the Listed success of Bob Le Beau at Limerick and their weekend got even better when another son of Big Bad Bob, Banksters Bonus landed the Magners Ulster Derby Premier Handicap under Shane Foley.
At the business end Clare Glen was trying valiantly to hold off the sweet travelling Force Of Habit and though he'd travelled into the contest easily, Banksters Bonus' effort had appeared to flatten out. However 'Dusty' Foley got a great response from his mount when required, the three-year-old powering home to beat Force Of Habit by a length and a quarter and the next three distances were exactly the same back to Denny Crane Clare Glen and Salute Him
A delighted Mrs Harrington said: "We were a bit worried about the ground but we thought he'd run well. It was his first time over this trip (a mile and five) and there must have been something amiss a couple of runs back at the Curragh where he lost his action when last in a Group 3.
"However he bounced back last time in a listed race (when a very close fourth) and after that we decided to come here even though it came around a bit quick.
"These Big Bad Bobs are so tough and that's only his sixth run and his second win now.
"He'll hardly have much chance in handicaps after this so I'm not sure where we'll go next. Down Royal has been a very lucky place for me with the likes of Macs Joy and Moscow Flyer winning here in the past."
The stewards enquired into why Seamie Heffernan eased up on Table Mountain when there was prize-money back to 6th place.
Heffernan stated that his mount was reluctant to post and that his heart was pounding out of his chest from the moment he climbed aboard.
Heffernan said the horse never felt right and that he gasped a number of times during the race and approaching the final furlong he gasped again.
From there he eased him home but in hindsight he should have pulled up. Table Mountain was found to be post race normal.
The Stewards found Heffernan guilty under Rule 212 (A)(i) in that he failed to take all reasonable and permissable measures to obtain his best possible placing.
He was suspended for 2 days and ordered to forfeit his riding fee.
