The Ryan brothers, Tom and David, teamed up for an unlikely victory in the Gowran Park Golf Club Shop Handicap Chase on Saturday when One For Shannon came from what appeared an impossible position approaching the straight to land odds of 12/1.
The seven-year-old gelding gave 5lb claimer Tom a number of anxious moments with some indifferent jumping. However Ryan really galvanised the gelding over the final three fences in the straight, and swept through on the run-in to beat Master Badsworth by a length and a half.
'He's a hell of a horse if you can just get him to jump. He got away with a couple of bad mistakes today, and that gives us some compensation after Mr Ventura dropped dead with a heart attack earlier this week,' said David Ryan.
Emotional Article recorded a facile win for trainer Tom Taaffe and jockey Conor O'Dwyer in the Concrete Pumping Ltd. Handicap Hurdle. The four-year-old gelding, runner-up in his previous two maiden outings, made a successful transition to handicapping in style by cruising to the front at the final flight under O'Dwyer to beat Eurolink Rooster by a very cosy length. 'He did it pretty well,' said Taaffe with his tongue firmly in cheek before adding, 'He'll go for another handicap somewhere over the Christmas period.'
Odds-on punters had their fingers burnt when Fota Island was edged out in the closing stages by Colonel Monroe in the Irish Racing Yearbook Novice Chase. The 1/2 favourite looked sure to score when shaking off the challenge of John Oliver (fell at the last) three out but found little under pressure as Paddy Flood got Colonel Monroe up for a neck verdict.
The Frances Crowley-trained Haggle Twins, a bumper winner at Down Royal last month, got his hurdling career off to a bright start in the two miles maiden hurdle. Shay Barry had the gelding prominent throughout, and sent him clear early in the straight to beat Rookwith by five lengths.
Killeaney dispelled the fears of trainer John Carr that the race might come a bit soon after a win at Wexford eight days ago when following up in the Farmers Market At Gowran Park Handicap Hurdle. Philip Carberry's mount, who took a strong hold in the early stages, responded gamely under pressure in the straight to get the better of Mick Divine by a length.
On this low profile Saturday card, the lack of live pictures from Sandown of Moscow Flyer's triumph in the Tingle Creek left many racegoers deeply frustrated.
The absence of Channel 4 coverage at many provincial racecourses has been a point of contention for a number of years, and needs to be addressed immediately.
Alan Magee
