A quartet of men left Fairyhouse yesterday with rather broader smiles than anyone else in attendance as Paul Nolan, Johnny Cullen, James Gough and Steve Mahon all recorded doubles.
Johnny Cullen elected catch me if you can tactics on Mrs Wallensky in the most valuable contest of the afternoon, the Clover Hill Hurdle, leading from the second and racing clear of the field for most of the journey, staying on powerfully after her advantage had been eroded away from the third last flight. Her two and a half length success initiated a brace for the winning rider and his boss Paul Nolan.
Raikkonen, trained by Willie Mullins (he trained Mrs Wallensky to win on her debut last December) was the only one to make a race of it with the joint market-leader, but he found the grey too strong in the closing stages.
Nolan said of the daughter of Roselier, 'she was due that and she should make a lovely chaser. She has a wonderful pedigree and will make a lovely broodmare in time.'
Run Katie Chimes had her first outing for the Wexford handler at Tramore last month and the seven-year-old lost her maiden tag at the eleventh attempt in the two mile handicap hurdle.
Hitting the front after the last, the 10/1 chance ran on well to record a two length victory prompting Nolan to comment, 'its nice to be back in full swing as weve had a lot of seconds in the last month.'
A stable in form can never be underestimated and owner James Gough and trainer Steve Mahon who combined for two winners and a second at Down Royal last Friday struck again in division two of the maiden hurdle and in the first of the two bumpers.
Making virtually all in the hands of Joey Elliott, Border Quaich stayed on to his task in really game fashion to hold off favourite Dolphin Bay by a length in the former.
Karaghan (7/2 to 9/4 favourite) with Keith Bowens up, justified plenty of pre-race chat in the four-year-old bumper. A half-brother to dual Derby hero, Kahyasi, he also made all to beat Be With Me Now by three lengths.
Lord Gunnerslake met with some interference when runner-up on his previous start but he gained ample compensation in the opener. Emotional Article (4/5 to 8/13) was the one punters wanted to be with, but after racing keenly and leading from the fourth, Barry Geraghtys mount couldnt raise his effort in the straight.
Trained by Ted Walsh and partnered by his son Ruby, the 13/2 chance took over from here before going clear to register an easy three and a half length success. Walsh senior said, 'its nice to win but weve no plans.'
Bobby Molloy (18) rode his ninth winner in the two and a half mile handicap hurdle aboard the Robbie Burns-trained Ennistown Lady. Burns described Molloy as 'a cool pilot for a 7Ib claimer.'
The Spoonplayer sprinted away with the closing bumper under Kevin Power for trainer Henry de Bromhead in a race that saw a very sedate gallop to halfway.
In other news, disappointing joint favourite in the feature, No Half Session (finished 12th) was found to have a respiratory tract infection.
