Charlie Swan took the training honours at Thurles with a double, where a healthy pre-Christmas attendance produced a course Tote aggregate betting figure of 81,513.
Ground Ball proved a fortunate highlight of Swan's two winners when taking full advantage of his rivals bad luck to land the featured Horse And Jockey Hotel Hurdle. Two of his main dangers exited early on when Vic Ville slipped up on the level and brought down Boleyknowsbest, while Lissbonney Project was upsides the winner and held every chance when crashing out at the second last.
This left Conor O'Dwyer's mount well clear, and he could afford to ease right down on the run-in to beat Macs Gildoran by 25 lengths. 'You need a bit of luck in this game,' said a delighted Swan before adding, 'He's a hard horse to place, and it's good to find a race like that for him. He may go now for the Victor Chandler Chase at Cheltenham on January 29.'
The Cloughjordan trainer followed up when Ballyguider Bridge took the Moycarkey Maiden Hurdle in convincing fashion, stretching clear early in the straight under Ruby Walsh to beat Coppet by six lengths. 'She's been knocking on the door and deserved that. She's a well-bred filly and we always thought she wanted good ground, so we're debating now whether to give her a break or go to Limerick after Christmas,' said Swan.
Swan missed out on what would have been a first treble when his 7/4 favourite He's My Man weakened quickly off the home bend in the I N H Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle and could only manage fourth place behind Jay Lo. The unconsidered 33/1 chance led after two out for Barry Cash to beat Bybloxe by four lengths.
Allez Petit Luis completed a hat-trick of handicap wins in the space of just over three weeks when left in front by the last flight fall of Culrua Mist before drawing clear for Alan Donoghue to beat Touletta by four and a half lengths in the Holy Cross Novice Handicap Hurdle. 'He doesn't do a stroke in his races and we'll try to find something for him after Christmas,' said successful trainer Colm Murphy.
Dishy benefited from a positive ride by Paddy Flood to land the three miles Molony Cup Handicap Chase, staying on well from the second last to beat Berkley by four lengths. Barry Geraghty was sidelined for the remainder of the day after a fall from top-weight Count Rossini at the second. The champion suffered a bruised hip and needed two stitches in his elbow but is confident of getting the all-clear from the doctor in a few days.
Pearly Jack was also never to far off the pace in the Gift Horse Gallery Horse & Jockey Hotel Handicap Chase, leading before the last for amateur Mikey O'Connor to beat Master Badsworth by six lengths. 'He was a very poor jumper of hurdles and we have put a lot of time into his jumping over fences. He will go to Limerick after Christmas for something similar,' said trainer Davy Fitzgerald.
Alan Magee
