Majestic Mariner, ridden by talanted apprentice Catherine Gannon, was the surprise winner of the Shay Brennan Memorial Handicap at Tramore last evening. The event was run in the memory of the locally born Manchester United and Ireland great who died last year.
Majestic Mariner made all the running to win by four and a half lengths to give Gannon her fifth winner of the season and ninth in all. The 14 to 1 chance was also a second winner for trainer John O'Shea.
There was also a shock result in the Bausch & Lomb Maiden which went to 10 to 1 shot Namibia, trained by John Kiely and ridden by Tom Queally. Peace Leader, the 6 to 4 favourite could only finish fourth.
Barry Geraghty, in such good form since the beginning of the season, left the course empty handed after being beaten on two warm favourites.
He could only manage third place on 11 to 10 chance Rain In Spain behind Mullaghea Boy, one of twenty horses in training with Trim-based Ger Keane, in the Eircell Maiden Hurdle. The former champion jockey lost out again when second on 7 to 4 favourite Horse Chestnut to Philip rothwell's unconsidered runner, Ear To The Ground, in the Ocean Hotel and Strand Inn Maiden Hurdle.
Favourite backers eventually got it right when 3 to 1 chance Feelin' Looser, trained by Dick Donohoe, gave Jimmy Mansell his sixth winner when pulling away on the run to the line to land the Curran Foods Handicap Hurdle.
Auditty, a previous course winner, came out on top in the Bank Of Ireland Handicap Chase, comfortably winning by five lengths in the hands of Danny Howard. Arthur Moore's winner will be heading to the Doncaster Sales in August.
