Twenty-year-old Mark Grant was credited with his twelveth success under Rules when Megamar, trained by permit holder Walter Power, landed the opening Dawn Meats (QR) Handicap Hurdle at a well-attended Tramore yesterday. In all probability, Megamar will now take his chance in another Handicap Hurdle.
The #15, 000 Queally Group European Breeders Fund Fillies Handicap was the featured event of the afternoon and it provided a 12/1 shock in the form of the James Burns-trained Mark One which accounted for Berkeley Bay by half a length. Incidentally, Mark One triumphed in a 3-runner Bath maiden last month for Barry Hills.
Pat Flynn saddled his 4th winner of the festival when the Danny Grant-ridden Indy Carr got the better of Society Friend by a length in the Dawn Pork & Bacon Handicap. In all probability, Indy Carr will be sent hurdling in time.
The Paul Roche-trained Irishman, sporting the colours of Jersey owner John O'Connor, returned to a raptorous reception following his victory under John Cullen in the Ernst & Young Handicap Chase. Incidentally, this was Cullen's initial victory for Tramore-based Roche.
The American-bred Sposa showed all the right qualities when leading over a furlong out to beat the staying-on Ogan Hill in the Phil Hanley Handicap. Trained by Thomond O'Mara outside Fethard, Sposa's racing days are nearing a conclusion as she is in-foal to Imperial Ballet.
16-year-old Dave Cronin, who only partnered his initial winner when Joanna Morgan's Slaney Boy won here the night before, was again seen to purposefully good effect when the Pat Martin-trained Knockatotaun came a second time to deny Ashcombe in the Bord Gais Maiden.
