Holy Orders went off market-leader for the Listed Ardilaun House Hotel Oyster Stakes at a miserable Galway last evening but clipped heels after four furlongs, stumbled, and gave his jockey, Davy Condon no chance of staying on board. His departure helped winner, Chartres in more ways than one.
Johnny Murtagh made all the running aboard the John Oxx-trained winner and drew clear inside the final furlong for a three and a half length win with the successful pilot passing the remark 'she kept going very well and the loose horse helped me'. The Meath man referring to the fact that the riderless favourite had given him a lead all-the-way.
Winning handler Oxx was delighted with the victory. He said of the Lady Clague's victor 'she a big huge filly who is a half sister to Pugin'. There is a possibility she will run next in a similar event at the Curragh before going to the paddocks at the end of the campaign.
Gamekeeper gained his fifth Ballybrit success when running out a three length winner of the two mile handicap hurdle. Partnered by Norman Williamson, the seven-year-old stayed on well to fend off the gallant top-weight, Liscahill Hill in the closing stages.
Declared for a three mile handicap over flights tomorrow, the half-brother to 1998 Epsom Derby winner, High Rise will turn out again if sound in the morning, according to trainer, Pat Hughes. He did however pick up a slight nick when triumphing here.
Odds-on punters who indulged in the final two victors the previous day, played up their winnings in the opening maiden. Michael Kinane, fresh from a double on Monday, partnered Ballydoyle inmate, Acropolis and 4/5 was availed of in the 'ring' (returned 4/6).
Despite drifting left in the closing stages, Kinane didn't have to exert much pressure for the son of Sadler's Wells to come home a comfortable length winner. The race was robbed of much interest with both Dermot Weld and Kevin Prendergast newcomers being non-starters.
Kevin Prendergast and Declan McDonagh had a good Festival meeting and the duo were back to capture the nursery. Faasel went into this event as a maiden but lost that status when coming home strongly to gain a length success over Sand N Sea. Gamble of the contest, Jim Bolger's Cliste couldn't raise her effort before the straight, eventually coming home tenth.
Music Celebre doesn't lack anything on breeding and having began his career in Italy, the three-year-old took a little time to acclimatise to this country. However Dermot Weld's charge hit form with a Tralee success and followed up in the 7f handicap. Pat Smullen had his mount prominent throughout and he stayed on stoutly in the closing stages for a half length win over Florida Villas.
Banasan and Ruby Walsh justified odds-on favouritism when holding the challenge of Emperors Guest by half a length in the novice chase. Michael O'Brien's charge was completing his hat-trick. Meanwhile, Andrew McNamara had a welcome change of fortune with a winner at Ballinrobe recently and the Limerick handler supplemented that when Lohort Castle made all the running in the bumper under his son and namesake.
