Max Flamingo (Denis O'Regan) beats Barbary Master (Sean Flanagan)© Photo Healy Racing
Palace Rock won the opener at Navan yesterday for Francis Casey and Denis O’Regan and they repeated the feat in race one at Leopardstown this afternoon through Kalanisi gelding Max Flamingo
This Donohoe Marquees Maiden Hurdle got a bit messy in the straight with Fly Smart (7/4 favourite) running out of room and eventually fading into fifth.
O’Regan wasn’t going to suffer a similar fate and he was in front when his mount jumped right at the last.
Soon back on an even keel along the rail the well-supported early on 11/2 shot went away to account for Barbary Master by three and a quarter lengths.
These winning silks were carried to ten successes by Eight Till Late in the past.
“He’s a very honest horse and jumped well today. My one fear was that he might be a bit lit up at the start and he said it took him a while to settle. He dropped him back a bit behind the pace which was grand," said Casey.
“He’ll stay further and he’ll probably go for the three-mile novice handicap Final in Fairyhouse.
“At home you would imagine the horse that won yesterday would be two stone better but he’d done no jumping. When he (Palace Rock) gets his act together he’s different gravy altogether.
“It’s not always easy to win a maiden in Leopardstown. If only I had more horses. I’ve only three of them but it’s grand to get two of them up.”
P. Townend, rider of Fly Smart (FR) trained by W.P. Mullins, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount took a blow and tired in the closing stages.
K.M. Donoghue, rider of He's Ok trained by Matthew J. Smith, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount ran very keen and also hung violently to the right throughout this race.
J.J. Doyle, rider of Inforapenny trained by P.M.J.Doyle, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount hung right throughout and lost his action going to the last hurdle.
The Stewards enquired into an incident rounding the final bend involving Barbary Master (GB), ridden by S.W. Flanagan, placed second and Fly Smart (FR), ridden by P. Townend, placed fifth, where it appeared that Fly Smart (FR) momentarily checked when Barbary Master (GB) moved back into the running rails having run wide on the final bend.
Evidence was heard from the riders concerned.
P. Townend stated that the position of the final hurdle was too close to the bend and he seized an opportunity to race up the inner of Barbary Master (GB) who had run straight off the second last hurdle and left a gap on the inner on the bend.
He confirmed that his mount did not have the pace to take the bend and he was not inconvenienced.
S.W. Flanagan agreed that the second last hurdle was too close to the final bend and a good jump by his mount at the second last left him in the middle of the track running straight instead of rounding the bend which came up very quickly.
Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards were satisfied to take no further action.
The Stewards enquired into an incident after the final hurdle involving Barbary Master (GB), ridden by S.W. Flanagan, placed second and Max Flamingo, ridden by D.F. O'Regan, placed first, where it appeared that Max Flamingo had come across the racing line of Barbary Master (GB) when recovering from having jumped to the right at the final hurdle.
S.W. Flanagan stated that he did not check but his mount independently jinked inwards when Max Flamingo came back towards the rails on the run away from the last hurdle.
D.F. O'Regan stated that his mount overreacted when asked to straighten up away from the last hurdle having never been in front before.
(AM & EM)
