Galway Report (Saturday)
Kilkenny trainer Eoin Griffin and 7lb claimer Sean McDermott both recorded their biggest success when Rua Lass took the #40,000 Dawn Milk Handicap Hurdle at a showery Galway on Saturday.
Rua Lass was always close to the pace, and was sent on before three out to beat Valley Erne by two lengths. Griffin revealed afterwards that he intended bringing his charge to Cheltenham in March for the Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle, but she fractured a pedal bone and was off for two months. 'She won her third bumper on this day last year, and appreciated the ease in the ground', said a delighted Griffin, who has been training for two years on the Kilkenny/Waterford border at Slieverue.
John Murtagh followed up his treble here on Friday with a 17/1 double aboard Brooklyn and Gamekeeper. Brooklyn made all in the EBF Premier Nursery to beat Prize Time by three lengths. 'He must be a very good horse as Johnny said he hated the ground. I was thinking of going for the big nursery at Tralee, and it will be interesting to see what the handicapper does with him after this', said trainer Eddie Lynam.
Murtagh moved onto the 49 winner mark for the season in the Kerry Spring Handicap where Gamekeeper supplemented his victory earlier in the week in the GPT Handicap with another gutsy success. The Pat Hughes-trained gelding drew clear on the run into the dip, and kept on under pressure in the tiring ground to beat Moll Hackabout by five lengths.
Reigning champion Pat Smullen was also on the mark when driving newcomer Rahn home for a four length victory over Hanorla in the Dawn Hi And Lo EBF Maiden, and trainer Dermot Weld summed up the performance as 'workmanlike' by 'a nice horse in the making'.
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