Alan Crowe kick-started his season having only returned from injury at Punchestown last Thursday night. The Tipperary born jockey broke his shoulder blade off Lost Time in the Topham Chase at Aintree and was having only his third ride since the return when landing the feature ERA Horgan Properties Chase at Listowel on Sunday.
The Christy Roche trained nine-year-old was held up for much of the running and when it came to the business end found more then warm favourite Conna Castle to go on and score by four and a half lengths. Second favourite Mounthenry never looked as though he was travelling and had to be pulled up by Davy Russell with a circuit to go. The winner returned at 16/1 in the colours of JP McManus.
The most impressive winner of the day came on the level when the Kevin Prendergast trained Dawla made a very impressive debut, scoring by seven lengths with Declan McDonogh in the plate. Prominent throughout under the champion jockey the Alhaarth filly travelled much better then any of her rivals turning in and went away with ease from Roy's Delight in second.
'She won nicely and we think a lot of her,' revealed McDonogh. 'We like her a lot and thought she would win as she shows plenty at home.'
Summer Magic made a quick winning reappearance when landing the second division of the Feale Handicap over a mile. The Tim Doyle trained mare was an ultra impressive winner at Leopardstown on Wednesday evening and having gone up sixteen pounds in the handicap for that win, she was only receiving five pounds here and made full advantage of it. Billy Lee sent his mount to the front with just over a furlong to run and she went clear within strides to record a four-length win.
'She travelled very well today and being in foal might be a help to her. If she is ok in the morning I will enter her for a handicap at the Curragh next weekend.'
Harry Rogers entered double figures for the season when Islandbane justified favouritism to win the first division. Ridden by Pat Shanahan the pair took it up three furlongs out and asserted to record a three length-winning margin.
Finns Cross showed great battling qualities to hold Piano Star in the opening jump race of the afternoon, the Jackie & Gene Handicap hurdle over two and a half miles. It was a local success as the winner was trained in Listowel by Seamus Lynch and ridden by local jockey Eoin McCarthy. Prominent throughout under McCarthy the eight year old was stalked by Piano Star turning into the straight but found more then the latter to hold on by three parts of a length.
'He runs in the colours of the John Joseph Burke Syndicate and there is a memorial race held here in his honour tomorrow so this is just great. This was his favourite track. Eoin gave the horse a great ride and he is the most under rated seven pound claiming jockey in Ireland. This horse has a big future when he goes training and we will go to Galway next,' said an overjoyed Lynch.
Kildare trainer Jimmy Googan saddled his first winner in almost three years when landing the opening race with 2/1 shot Dick Morris under Chris Geoghegan. The Kalanisi gelding was breaking his maiden at the fourth time of asking and it was also a first ever winner for winning owners the Glue Pot Syndicate who are all members of Cill Dara Golf Club.
Killeen Castle, last seen when finishing third to Moscow Flyer at Punchestown made all the running to land the Ballyduff Mares Hurdle in the hands of Gary Hutchinson. The Ted Walsh trained five-year-old pinged the final hurdle and benefited from closest rival Impudent (4/7f) making a slight mistake at the same flight. It was a welcome return to the winner's enclosure for the jockey who was partnering his first winner since last September.
Miss Mason trained by Kevin O Brien, owned by his wife Mary and ridden by his daughter Ashling landed the concluding race on the card. It was a first success for the twenty-year old jockey who was having only her tenth ride on the track.
By Niall Cronin
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