Robbie McNamara with his winning jockeys - Conor Brassil (left) and Finian Maguire© Photo Healy Racing
Robbie McNamara made a terrific start to his training career, as Rathcannon completed a double for him in the concluding Cork Racecourse August Summer Festival INH Flat Race.
Having took the opener with his first runner Chadic McNamara then saddles Flush Or Bust to finish tenth in the second, before Call Vinnie filled the runner-up spot in the fourth.
Formerly trained by Philip Walsh, Rathcannon unseated on his first start at Mainstown before finishing second at Stradbally in April.
Making racecourse debut this evening, the son of Fruits Of Love opened at 5/2 on-course, touching 3's before going off an 11/4 joint-favourite.
Settled in mid-division on the inner, he travelled strongly in third early in the straight. He cruised to the front at the furlong pole, and was pushed out from there, going on to score by five and a half lengths under Finian Maguire (second winner in as many days). Derintoher Yank (100/1 last night and from 25's to 20's on-course) ran well to finish second under Declan Queally for Roger McGrath, while newcomer Little Folke (11/1) was a further ten lengths back in third under David Roche for Henry De Bromhead. Timmone was the other joint-favourite and he finished eighth under Barry O'Neill for Colin Bowe.
Robbie McNamara said afterwards: "That's not a bit of a surprise - he came to me a few weeks ago and his point to point form seemed okay but I freshened him up a bit.
"He was doing everything very easily and he has just strengthened up. He has lots of toe and Finny said he's the sharpest bumper horse he has ridden.
"He's very classy and jumps brilliant so he is something to look forward to. He'll get a break now and see about a winners bumper later in the summer.
"Flush Or Bust is the one horse who let us down today - he never seemed to travel but he'll be back and win his races.
"I couldn't be happier with Call Vinnie - he'll go to Galway for a beginners chase. He stays too much in the air over hurdles but with fences and the right trip he'll run a big race there.
"I thought I'd have three (winners) to be honest - I'm not disappointed but, aside from Call Vinnie who I thought would be fourth or fifth, I thought the other three would win.
"I have very good owners."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
