'A smile back on my face again,' expressed Michael Hourigan after he saddled 6/1 shot Take The Oath to win the opening two mile maiden hurdle in the hands of Paul Carberry before a good crowd at Tramore on Saturday.
'I suppose when you send three horses over to Cheltenham and three of them turn upside down it's bad luck but at least we have the smile back now,' beamed the Patrickswell handler, who reported Gold Cup faller Beef Or Salmon in good order.
'He arrived back to the yard on Friday and I threw a rug on him and he ran off up the field. He's was sore after the fall but is in good form now and I'll leave him out for a week. We'll see about the Power Gold Cup at Fairyhouse - he'll be entered anyway.'
Hourigan has a summer campaign in mind for Take The Oath, who justified support from 8/1 to 6/1 when coming home with half-a-length to spare over Stracomer Flyer.
The Sheridan Windows & Doors Chase was the richest race of the session and victory went to Garvivonnian, a third course victory for Ned Mitchell's eight-year-old. Native Jack drifted a alarmingly and this was reflected on the track as he weakened after the fourth last to eventually finish fifth while the winner was the one punters came for along with disappointing favourite Star Clipper which filled third place.
'He was due a good one and we'll keep him to handicap chases, I suppose,' said victorious handler Ned Mitchell after his inmate scooped the 13,000 winners purse under an inspired ride from Tommy Treacy.
Seven pound claimer Alan Donoghue brought his career tally to eleven, his eighth success of the current campaign, when he landed the 2m handicap hurdle aboard Dusty Sheehy's Quarry Boy. After the 5/1 chance prevailed by eight lengths, Sheehy remarked, 'He has loads of ability but has a mind of his own. He works real well at home, like a real good horse and we may do a bit of summer chasing with him.'
Carrodown Storm, rated some 30lbs less over fences than her mark over the smaller obstacles, duly obliged in the Uluru Opportunity Handicap Chase for Annette McMahon and Ian Power. 'The blinkers seem to have done the job as she's a very idle mare. I hope to get another race out of her before th ground dries out as it's a case of the softer the better with her.'
Front-running even money favourite Draw Again blundered badly six out and was subsequently pulled up when weakening after jumping the next in the Hunters Chase. Victory went to the well backed locally trained Curfew Tolls (10/1-5/1) who came home clear of Glabejet much to the joy of the many Henry de Bromhead supporters among the sizeable crowd.
