Jessica Harrington's Colca Canyon completed a hat-trick of wins in the month of July when winning the E16,500 Lynch Southcourt Hotel Novice Hurdle. The winner, however, may have been a little fortunate as Tunes Of Glory fell when challenging at the second last flight.
Tunes Of Glory's fall badly hampered the well supported Hill Fox (14/1 - 8/1) and this left both Colca Canyon and Sky To Sea to fight out a thrilling finish, with Robbie Power's mount winning by a short head.
Amateur jockey Derek O'Connor is beginning to make a name for himself and the seven pound claimer landed the two and a half mile handicap hurdle on Paul Lenihan's Bowling Green. The course and distance winner defeated Achates by a short head with Lenihan later expressed his relief at the win, stating 'we weren't going to run him because of the soft ground! He isn't entered in Galway so we might wait for Tramore.'
The opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden was won in impressive fashion by the Edward Lynam trained Red Feather. The 12/1 winner raced ahead of his thirteen rivals on the approach to the straight and powered clear to win by an easy ten lengths. Lynam later reported 'Lady O'Reilly bought her at Goffs as a yearling. She had a few setbacks and then ran in the Goffs Sales race in the Curragh but has improved a lot from that run. She was the real deal here today.' The daughter of Marju will now be aimed at the Debutante Stakes at The Curragh.
Trainer Con Collins saddled with his first winner at the new venue when his Lady Digby landed the one mile handicap under jockey Pat Shanahan. A similar handicap contest at Galway next weekend is now on the winner's agenda.
Irene Oakes' Avoir Du Cran landed the mile and a half Coyle Hamilton Centenary Handicap, the final flat race on the card. Fran Berry's mount looked booked for second inside the final furlong but battled well to deny La Shalak by half a length.
Locally trained Hehasalife made all when winning the two mile maiden for the father-son combination of Michael and Paul Hourigan while the concluding bumper while the concluding bumper was won by Ballytobin, who was providing owner/rider Barry Connell with his second winner, having previously gained another win on Kilcrea Shyan on a technicality.
Thomas Weekes.
