The Spoonplayer owned by the Band Syndicate, a majority of which are locals, made his third visit to Tramore's August Festival a winning one, making virtually all in the O'Neill's Bar Hurdle.
Placed in the Lady Riders Maiden at Graun Hill for the past two years, the even money favourite this time contested the conditions hurdle, and stayed on best on the run-in to account for Coolpotts by two lengths.
Henry De Bromhead, the winning trainer, said, "I wasn't going to run him on Wednesday as it looked a hot race but when Jennifer Walsh rang me and said that some of those entries had dropped out and that Ruby would be available to ride, we made up our minds to run.
"The last time Ruby rode for me I gave him all these detailed instructions and he ended up doing his own thing and won. So this time I asked Ruby what he was going to do and he said he was going to make it and seeing as he is a two to a two and a half mile horse it was the thing to do.
"The Spoonplayer is an old stalwart in the yard and he obviously came on from his run at Wexford a week ago. He'll probably be going jumping a fence now." Dani California doubled Walsh's score half-an-hour later in the Richard Power Private Clients Betting Handicap Hurdle. This four-year-old put up an excellent performance under top-weight, in front soon after two out she soon had the race in the bag, ridden clear to account for Gerannjo by five and a half lengths.
The daughter of Beat All returned from a break when sixth on the level at Galway fifteen days back. Willie Mullins' 5/2 favourite, made it three from three for market-leaders on the evening and continued an excellent Festival for punters. (EM)
