Promising novice Barrow Drive notched up his fourth win over fences when taking the 26,000 winners purse in the featured National Lottery Agent Champion Chase on the opening day of the Gowran Park October Festival yesterday.
Moscow Express (1/1-9/10f) was sent off the warm favourite on the back of his flat success at the Curragh last weekend but his participation in the contest virtually ended when he blundered badly at the seventh losing all momentum in the process.
It seemed an impossible task to get back into contention and a further mistake later put paid to his chance before Ruby Walsh pulled up Frances Crowley's gelding after the fourth last. Front-running Ferbet Junior still held the call rounding the home turn but Barry Geraghty edged Barrow Drive to the front over the penultimate flight and kept on well to defeat Cregg House and Alcapone.
Tony Mullins, who has now saddled the 6yo to win his last two races over the larger obstacles following a spell with trainer Charles Byrnes, was understandably pleased. 'He's definitely a better horse over 2m4f plus but there is a race at Galway later this month over 2m1f and we'll have a look at that. We'll also look for a novice race at the Cheltenham November meeting as an alternative but we'll stick to novice company with him.'
The Flat riders championship race has certainly captured the imagination for many in recent weeks and principals John Murtagh and Mick Kinane came away with a winner apiece.
Former champion Kinane and the current leader were both involved in a titanic battle from the two furlong pole in the first division of the 7f maiden with Kinane coming out on top by the narrowest of margins aboard Aidan O'Brien's Some Kind Of Tiger at the expense of Murtagh's mount Kossu.
Half-an hour later Murtagh restored his three winner advantage (66-63) at the head of affairs when newcomer Elasouna quickened up well inside the final furlong to put her head in front where it mattered. Noel Meade's Twogoodreasons had to settle for the runner-berth for the second successive occasion behind a John Oxx inmate, the previous time coming behind Englishtown at Galway last month.
'We didn't want to be knocking her about first time out and Johnny gave her a perfect hands and heels ride,' said Oxx, who will now put the full sister to 1998 Moyglare scorer Edabiya away until next season. 'She could be one that could do ok next year.'
David Evans, so often described as a vital cog in the Rosewell House team by Dermot Weld, received a welcome change of luck in the 3yo Hurdle when he conjured up a winning effort aboard Party Airs to pip warm market leader Dashing Home and Paul Carberry by a neck.
Thurles-based Mark Loughnane, who has built his string up from 6 to 20 on the strength of his initial Ballybrit success with Camargue, saddled the dual Galway winner to win the 9f handicap under Wayne Smith. 'Galway has put me on the map and I'm thrilled,' said Loughnane, who has leased a 27 box yard for 3 years outside Thurles.
