Margaret Flynn struck a blow for the smaller trainer at Naas this afternoon when Curhubber Girl took the featured Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle. Pat Crowley was in the saddle and he steered the 13/2 shot to a convincing success. The margin of victory was two and a half lengths.
The Stradbally Co. Waterford handler was fulsome in her praise for the mare, describing her as 'very willing'. Achieving the biggest victory of her training career, Ms. Flynn said the daughter of Phardante is best suited to running in better races with lighter weights as she isn't big enough to shoulder larger burdens.
Frances Crowley had stated at Wexford last Sunday that she would run Rockwell Island again here if the seven-year-old showed himself none the worse for his exertions and the Curragh handler proved true to her word. Shay Barry was again in the plate and the Waterford pilot gave the son of Satco a forceful drive for a three parts of a length win and thus complete a hat trick of wins in the three mile novice chase.
Showing great reserves of stamina, the second favourite battled on well from the last to outgun the game front-runner, Rose Perk. A similar event at Punchestown could be the next port of call but if the ground were to get too deep, a trip to Cheltenham later in the month might be another option.
A huge field went to post for the opening handicap hurdle. It was an 11/2 the field race, and it fell to one of the more fancied participants when Joe Hill (10/1) showed good staying qualities to record a two and a half length success for trainer Oliver Finnegan and rider Keith Clarke. The successful jockey was registering his second success in the plate and the horse may now head North for Down Royal's meeting next weekend.
J P McManus has certainly been getting around in recent times, and the leading National Hunt owner was in attendance to see his Take Five win the handicap chase. Trained by John Kiely, Conor O'Dwyer took the mount and the veteran pilot gave the ten-year-old a supremely confident ride to gain a smooth length and a half win. The subject of some support in the 'ring', the son of Satco found 11/2 from an opening chalk of 7/1.
Having his first run since contesting the champion bumper at the Punchestown Festival, Zum See was sent off a solid even money favourite for his hurdling debut. Noel Meade's charge didn't jump all that well, but the son of Perugino showed plenty of class to come through on the run in for an easy four length win. The winning trainer said 'we think an awful lot of him and though he didn't jump very well, he has been good in his schooling'. The Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse at the end of the month is now the target but he may run again before then.
Strike Back came out on top in a decent novice hurdle for Jessica Harrington and Robbie Power whilst a great day was completed for the Suir-siders when John Kiely doubled his tally with well-touted newcomer, Ceeawayhome justifying favouritism in the bumper under Derek O'Connor.
