The persistent rain throughout the day arrived too late to change the going appreciably, and jockey Tommy Treacy was rewarded for his efforts aboard
Periwinkle Lad in the featured three miles handicap hurdle. The Eric McNamara-trained gelding was driven along to keep in touch at the rear before getting going on the final circuit to beat Nan Chero by three lengths. 'He didn't take up the bit until well after halfway, but was really motoring at the finish!' said Treacy afterwards.
Pat Doyle lamented on what might have been after saddling Pro Dancer to take two miles maiden hurdle under a determined drive from Norman Williamson. The American-bred gelding was embroiled in a neck and neck battle with fellow 6/4 market leader Airolo in the straight, and the photo-finish print revealed a short-head margin. 'He was sold for 90,000 three years ago at the Newmarket Breeze Up Sale but was failed for his wind. He's now starting to pay us back, and will go chasing over the summer as he's schooled brilliantly,' said Doyle.
There was a popular success for the locally based Laune Syndicate in the beginners chase when Shade Me Shauny led two out under Paul Carberry to beat Master Badsworth by two and a half lengths. 'He missed over a year with leg trouble, and hopefully will give the lads some fun at the Kerry meetings this summer,' said trainer Michael Hourigan of the well-backed 4/1 chance.
Ruby Walsh switched from Daniels Hymn (one of 11 withdrawals) to stable-companion Hemisphere Man in division one of the three miles maiden hurdle, and Frances Crowley's charge gamely held off hot favourite Watershed by a length. 'A real summer horse who loves fast ground,' was the trainer's verdict.
The market spoke for the Charles Byrnes-trained Sraid Na Cathrach in division two, and the result wa s never really in doubt after the 5/2 joint favourite (from 4/1) was sent clear by Barry Geraghty on the long before two out. 'We gave him a break after Christmas to wait for faster ground, and he'll jump a fence in time,' said the Limerick handler.
12.00AM
The former was the subject of strong support for Epsom during the week and despite having to concede 3lbs to his market rival which defeated Brian Boru in the Beresford Stakes last term, he gets the vote.
Refuse To Bend is the star attraction in the 2,000 Guineas Trail. Last season he overturned Van Nistelrooy in the National Stakes and this half-brother to Melbourne Cup hero Media Puzzle is the clear pick.
He can keep his unbeaten record intact despite the burden of his 7lb Group 1 penalty and book his ticket for the Sagitta 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket early nest month.
The 1,000 Guineas Trail has attracted a field of 11 fillies including two runners from the Aidan O'Brien yard and Jim Bolger's Feabhas is taken to land the spoils.
Mr Sneaky Boo quickened up nicely on the run-in to beat the odds-on favourite Heezapistol by three lengths in the featured Heineken Novice Chase, and the Patrickswell trainer commented, 'He's schooled well at home, and we'll probably keep him to the smaller tracks.'
Carberry moved onto the 99 winner mark for this season when getting the better of his great rival Barry Geraghty in the maiden hurdle. Royal Mirage needed a strong drive from the champion to touch off Noble Shift by the minimum margin, and could bid for a quick follow up in a Listowel handicap this weekend. 'He settled much better today, and the ground was a big help,' said Hourigan.
The Powers Gold Label Handicap Hurdle at the Fairyhouse Easter meeting may be next on the agenda for High Prospect after the Paul Nolan-trained gelding landed the Littleton Handicap Hurdle. Gary Hutchinson gave the five-year-old gelding a confident ride, although he needed to overcome a mistake at the final flight in order to beat the front-running Celio by half a length. 'The weights need to go up for him in the Powers but if they do, and he comes out of this race alright, then he'll go to Fairyhouse,' said Nolan.
On the Flat section of the card, Pat Smullen was another rider in double form when recording a 21/1 brace aboard Revue and Tara's Gift. The Dermot Weld-trained Revue was sent off the 7/4 favourite in the mile and a half maiden, and the gelding kept on well under pressure inside the final furlong to hold off Emperors Guest by half a length.
Smullen lost his whip when striking the front a furlong out aboard Tara's Gift in division two of the mile handicap, but the slip made no difference as Michael Cunningham's charge kept on well under hands and heels to beat Or D'ans by three quarters of a length. Cunningham later completed his own double when Shaiyran got the better of a thrilling finish to the mile and a half handicap, edging out Kate Emily and South West Nine by a head and a neck.
Helen Keohane has made a big impression in the apprentice ranks over the past 12 months, and the aptly named Girl Wonder provided the Cork girl with her 16th success when taking division one of the mile handicap in fine style.
The six-year-old was prominent throughout, and quickened up inside the final furlong to beat Kilbride Lad by three lengths. 'The ten furlongs was a bit too far for her at Clonmel last week, and this fast ground obviously suits,' said permit holder Dermot Murphy, who has just two horses in his care near Rathangan in County Kildare.
Alan Magee
Francois Doumen's back-to-form chaser is the first French-trained entry for the three miles five furlongs Fairyhouse race.
Davids Lad, whose owners the Eddie Joe's Racing Syndicate recently failed in their Supreme Court appeal to have a 42-day ban incurred at Naas in February overturned, has been allotted 10st 10lbs and confirmed on course for the Easter Monday contest.
Trainer Tony Martin said: 'He definitely runs. He's in good form and definitely has a chance. Timmy Murphy will ride.'
Ted Walsh, who has 2000 winner Commanche Court (11st 7lbs) and Rince Ri (11st 3lbs) in the 170,000 euro contest, said: 'Commanche Court is only a probable at this stage but Rince Ri is a definite runner providing we get some rain. If it`s safe or better, Rince Ri will take part.'
Foxchapel King has second top weight of 11st 8lbs but his trainer Mouse Morris warned: 'If it looked like he would have to carry 12st I'd say he would be doubtful and we'd look then either at the Heineken Chase at Punchestown or the attheraces Gold Cup at Sandown.'
Sean Treacy's useful novice mare Be My Belle has 10st 4lbs and the trainer said: 'We've kept her going with nothing else in mind but the Irish National and if the ground is on the soft side of good she will run. She worked well at the Curragh today but everything depends on the weather.'
Noel O'Brien, Ireland's senior jumps handicapper, is delighted with the entries.
He said: 'I must say it`s a very high-class line- up. Having Foxchapel King, who has performed at the highest level, among the entries along with three previous winners namely Commanche Court, who finished runner-up in the 2002 Cheltenham Gold Cup, Davids Lad and The Bunny Boiler is great for the race.'
'The likes of Takagi, multiple winner Moscow Express, Barrow Drive, who ran the best race of our novices at the Cheltenham Festival, Colonel Braxton and Rince Ri help make it a real quality race. '
'The addition of recent Aintree winner First Gold is very exciting as he would be the first French-trained runner in an Irish handicap, while the British entries include a large proportion of high-class handicappers.'
There are 19 British-trained entries including Martell Cognac Grand National runners Chives, Killusty, Red Striker and Maximize, as well as Jonjo O'Neill's Sudden Shock, winner of the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
The winner travelled well throughout under trainer/jockey Swan and was completing a hat-trick on the day for owner J.P. McManus.
Striking Sound took the ten furlongs handicap in fine style, heading Dusseldorf off the home bend in the hands of dual champion apprentice Tadhg O'Shea to score by four and a half lengths.
Robbie Colgan also struck for home at the same point aboard Lorraine's Pride in the maiden hurdle, and the seven-year-old had enough in reserve to hold off the well-backed Daniels Hymn by half a length. 'I have 25 in training at the moment, although a lot of them are young horses. We had a point-to-point winner on Sunday, and they seem to be starting to fire now,' said Broad, who has been training at Kilcock for just over two years.
The Irish Stablestaff Association abandoned the parade ring as a protest demonstration prior to the mile and a half maiden in order to highlight the poor standard of catering at certain racecourses including Clonmel. The pre-parade ring was used instead of the main parade ring, and ISA chairman Dan Kirwan explained, 'There is not proper Health and Safety requirements in stable yards, although the facilities have been improved here today.'
Kirwan will meet the newly appointed chief executive of the Association of Irish Racecourses, Paddy Walsh, today in an effort to resolve the problems.
Michael Hourigan confirmed that Beef Or Salmon will revert to the Flat at the Curragh on Sunday after sending out Much Birch to land the handicap chase. 'Beef Or Salmon is fit and well. Michael Kinane will ride him at the Curragh, which will be a prep race for the Power Gold Cup at Fairyhouse.'
Crusset could make a quick reappearance at Tramore on Sunday after taking the mile and a half maiden. Seamus Heffernan sent the dual purpose gelding to the front inside the final furlong to beat Ciara's Delight by a length, and trainer Tony Mullins commented afterwards, 'That augurs well for Take Flite at Liverpool, and this horse may go to Tramore on Sunday for a handicap hurdle. I will school him over fences soon.'
The opening fillies maiden may be fought out between the powerful Curragh stables of Dermot Weld and John Oxx, with the former fancied to collect with Humilis.
The daughter of Sadler's Wells was noted staying on nicely on her debut at the Curragh recently, and can be expected to progress from that outing.
However Oxx may have the upper-hand in the 12f maiden, where Staged is taken to overcome the experienced Weld representative Revue.
Give Me Style scored in good style here last month, and has bright prospects of following up in the 2m4f handicap chase.
The concluding novice hurdle looks a match between King Carew and Caishill, with preference for the younger Frances Crowley-trained gelding. Alan Magee
The four-strong Eddie Joe's syndicate made a last-ditch bid at the Supreme Court in Dublin today to get the horse's 42-day imposed by the Irish Turf Club lifted. However, the judge decided to allow the suspension to stand pending a full hearing of the case.
The decision means the nine-year-old will not take his place in the line up at Aintree, and now looks likely to tackle either the Irish equivalent or the attheraces Gold Cup at Sandown later in April.
Mattie Lynch, one of the syndicate, said: 'We have had no joy so it's no Aintree for us this year.'It was a once in a lifetime shot but I suppose it would be worse and now we'd be looking at the Irish Grand National or maybe the attheraces Gold Cup.'
The long-running saga began when Davids Lad was hit with the ban after finishing last in the Paddy & Helen Cox Memorial Newlands Chase at Naas on February 23. The nine-year-old was suspended from running after the Naas stewards decided that the racecourse had been used as a training ground, ruling him out of Aintree. Jockey Timmy Murphy was banned for seven days and trainer Tony Martin fined 1,000 euros.
The horse's owners - brothers Eddie and Jimmy Moran, Nick Butterly and Lynch - took their case to court after their appeal against the suspension was turned down by the Turf Club's Appeals & Referrals Committee. According to the Turf Club's lawyers, the 42 days run from the day after the date of the A & RC decision - so Davids Lad cannot run before April 15.
The owners successfully made an ex-parte application to the High Court for a stay on the decision which was then challenged by the Turf Club, resulting in a two-day hearing at Dublin's High Court at which Justice Mella Carroll upheld the ban.
The syndicate must now decide whether to pursue a full hearing of the case but Denis Egan, chief executive o f the Turf Club, was delighted by today's ruling. He said: 'We are thrilled. Hopefully we will get the same result at the full hearing. It will be going to a full hearing at a date in the future.'
Two of the remaining hurdle races will be divided to make a six race card.
