Earths Furies bags another Limerick success

Jordan Canavan steered Earths Furies home in the first split of Limerick's two mile five furlong handicap hurdle.

He sent his mount after Harry Do Brasil in the final half mile and Earths Furies made good headway to be right on the leader's tail negotiating the home bend.

The six-year-old son of Dylan Thomas raced into the lead approaching two out and was given the office by Canavan before the last. Half Shot attempted to make a race of it but was still two lengths in arrears jumping the final obstacle.

Earths Furies (3/1) kept up the gallop to close it out by a length and three parts at the line. Half Shot (16/1) stuck to his task in second without troubling the winner. Donnrua Dream the 9/4 favourite, stayed on in a never nearer third (beaten four and a half lengths by the winner).

Trainer Eugene O'Sullivan said: "I said I'd make use of his hurdle mark and the race and trip suited him. It is seldom you'd meet everything right.

"He won here over Christmas and maybe I shouldn't have run the second day but he loves this place and handles it well.

"I fancied him today but the favourite Donnrua Dream did me with Kingston Kid over Christmas so I was afraid of him.

"He'll go back chasing now and we'll find similar events for him. He is a lovely horse to have and I'm delighted for the owner Gerard O'Sullivan, who hasn't seen the horse. He also owns It Came To Pass and hasn't been well."

Both of Earths Furies victories have come at Limerick as he landed a handicap chase at the venue over Christmas.

Regarding his 2020 Cheltenham winner, It Came To Pass, he said he unseated at Turtulla last Sunday week and will run next in Kildorrery on Sunday week.

"I'm not sure if we have to win a second point-to-point this season to qualify for Cheltenham this year but if he does, he'll run," he said.

"The track was a bit sharp for him the last day and I should have gone to Killeagh instead."

The Stewards interviewed D.L. Queally, rider of fifth-placed Coconut Tudor concerning his use of the whip in the closing stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned, who accepted that he was in breach of Regulation 10 and apologised for his actions. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards were satisfied that D.L. Queally was in breach of Regulation 10.3.(g)(frequency) and having considered his record they suspended him for two race days.

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes