Last season's joint champion amateur Paul Maloney partnered his first winner since New Years Day when Bannow Bay overcame very testing conditions to land a gamble in the Tipperary Maiden Hurdle (Division 2) at Clonmel yesterday.
The Christy Roche-trained gelding - backed from 3/1 down to 7/4 favouritism - headed The Cree River approaching the final flight, and was pushed out on the run-in for a two length success. Maloney will travel to Newcastle on Saturday to partner the Jessica Harrington-trained Market Lass in the #50,000 Tote Northern National.
Philip Fenton, who shared the amateur title last term with Maloney, landed the first division with the 6/1 on chance Endless Magic. However Edward O'Grady's charge needed to be driven right out from the last to deny Ballygarvan by two and a half lengths. The placings remained unaltered after a stewards enquiry into interference in the closing stages.
The largest field of the day lined up in the Clonmel Handicap Hurdle for Lady Riders, and well-backed favourite Native Rosie readily defied a 14lb rise in the ratings for scoring over course and distance a fortnight ago. The six-year-old mare travelled strongly under Mary Horgan to lead off the home turn, and kept on well to hold the staying on Technohead by two lengths.
A delighted Horgan said afterwards: 'I have ridden five winners in point-to-points, all at Kinsale, but that is my first on the track. It is very disheartening not getting the chances but that kind of race gives you the heart to keep going.'
