Clew Bay Cove benefited from Davy Russell's patience as he stayed on best of
all in the feature race of the Gowran Park card, the Bolands Carlow Volvo
Handicap Chase.
Outlaw Princess and Lakil Princess set a break-neck pace and ran out of
steam before the third-last, where Pom Flyer and Four Chimneys took over.
The former got rid of his pilot at the next to leave Four Chimneys clear but
Russell, who was inititaing a double, had him in his sights on the 2-1
favourite, and he showed superior stamina to register a two-length victory.
It took him 10 attempts, but Publican finally shed his maiden tag over
fences in the B.D.M. Stone Beginners Chase.
The 3-1 chance travelled like the class act of the field and after asserting
his authority with a change of gear before the second-last, he was kept to
his work by Russell to oblige by 12 lengths.
Mask Of Darkness (8/1 to 3/1) landed some nice bets for the Charles Byrnes yard when running out the convincing winner of the concluding Bumper, but Tote punters got the best of it with a return of 13 for a 1 stake.
Waly's Own (14-1) sprung a surprise when leaving some indifferent form
behind him in the Goresbridge Handicap Hurdle.
Eddie Power's mount struck the front on landing over the penultimate flight
and stuck to his guns admirably to hold Reaching Out by two and a half
lengths.
Bookmakers had further cause for celebration when Montana Grande lifted the
Garryrichard Stud Tetratema Perpetual Cup Hunters Chase.
The 25-1 outsider seized the initiative a long way from the finish and
appeared to have the measure of nearest pursuer Tow The Line when that one
took a crashing fall two out, paving the way for Montana Grande to score by
nine lengths
Got Attitude (4-5) landed the odds with a decisive success in the "Tetratema
- Son Of The Tetrarch" Maiden Hurdle for Barry Geraghty and Jessica
Harrington.
That pair were denied a quick follow-up when Carpenter let favourite-backers
down in the Great Oak Maiden Hurdle, going under by seven lengths to 7-1
shot Caramia.
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