Handshake seals the deal late on for the Durkans With odds-on favourite Columbus falling at the last, 2/1 chance Golden Handshake came with a late rattle to win the Seamus Mulvaney Bookmaker Novice Hurdle for Bill Durkan and Philip Byrnes at Listowel this afternoon. Willie Mullins and Paul Townend’s 4/5 favourite held a narrow advantage when coming down, and his exit slightly hampered 8/1 shot Beir Bua who was left with a three-length advantage over Golden Handshake. While she rallied under Cian Quirke, Beir Bua was just run out of it in the dying strides, pipped by half a length. Columbus galloped away and Paul Townend also was quickly to his feet. “We had a winner here last year, but it’s 50 years since Carrow Boy won here in my father’s colours. He was a very dear horse to the family,” said the trainer’s son Neil Durkan. “Philip said he kept galloping. We were a little bit unlucky in Galway and we felt we would have been closer, if not beaten, Columbus. “We had a little peck on landing in Galway and the same happened here today with Columbus. That’s what happens in racing, and it was our turn today to get the rub of the green. “Gary Bannon isn’t here today, he’s off at the sales and he’s already spent the prize money on yearlings! “He picked out this horse and has done a fantastic job with him since. He came to us with a little issue, he had a small hole in his hoof which put a lot of people off. “We saw value in him and bought him. In fairness, it’s turned out very well for us and Gary had him spot on for today. He can only improve. “He’ll probably get another run and then get a break, because he likes that better ground. Stature-wise, he’s probably not going to take heavy winter ground. “He’ll probably get a little bit of a break over the winter and then we’ll target a spring campaign.” Bill Durkan added, “I’m coming here for about 50 years. I only got into racing by accident. Carrow Boy was bought for 1,300 at the time and won his bumper here, Ted Walsh rode him.”
