Ruby Walsh and Tony Martin have forged a highly productive partnership in recent times and they struck on the double at Kilbeggan last evening.
Feature event on the card was the Max Premium Irish Dog Food Handicap Chase and favourite Royal County Buck came out on top in a thrilling conclusion to the centrepiece. Walsh gave the 8yo a strong drive to beat off the attentions of An Bonnan Bui who had led over the last.
Unfortunate when fourth in the Midlands National at this venue earlier in the summer, trainer Martin explained that his charge needs top of the ground to be seen to best effect a factor that may have seen him disappoint on yielding ground at Galway on his previous foray.
Flaghship Queen found support in the 'ring' after touching 2/1 and her supporters were on good terms with themselves when she took the lead travelling well before two out. Walsh didn't need to ask his partner to fully exert herself to record a 4 1/2L win over the gallant front-running, Kalinnjar.
The opening maiden hurdle appeared to hold a very solid favourite in the shape of High Gear. However Charlie Swan's runner drifted ominously in the 'ring' (1/4 to 1/2), with Believe You Me finding 9/4 from an opening quote of 7/2. Despite Johnny Cullen being one of the first to go to work, the Paul Nolan-trained mare responded well to her rider's urgings to get the better of the market-leader by three parts of a length, in a good battle from the last.
Odds-on punters gained a measure of compensation in the following event. Arthur Moore's Feichead Gra only had one serious market rival and indeed was in command before the last when the second-placed Princess Lauren came to grief at that hurdle. Winning rider Barry Cash commented 'he doesn't do a lot in front but I was always happy I'd win'. He also pointed out that the ground might have been a little quicker than ideal.
Favourite, Tipp Top had to survive a steward's enquiry before being confirmed winner of the 2m 6f handicap hurdle. Dessie Hughes' charge drifted in on third-placed Coccinelle, forcing that one's rider to snatch up on the run in. Most though, were in agreement that Roger Loughran's deserved to hold the win.
