Gold gets Kennedy off the mark

Trainer Michael Kennedy recorded his first racecourse success, as his brother Paddy guided Touch Of Gold to victory in the Europe Hotel & Resort Handicap Hurdle.

The four-year-old daughter of Papal Bull went down by a neck at Gowran on her penultimate start, but was a bit disappointing when sixth on her most recent outing at Wexford.

Sent off at 12/1 this afternoon, she was settled in mid-division and had plenty to do on the approach to the straight.

She took closer order from three out, and swept through to lead on the inner after the next, keeping on well on the run-in to score by a length and a quarter. For Pedro (25s this morning and from 11s to 8s on-course) finished second for the father and son team of Tom and Bryan Cooper, while Bay Hill (9/2) was three and a half lengths away in third for Jody McGarvey and Christy Roche. Nulife was sent off the 3/1 favourite and he completed the placings another six lengths away in fourth.

The winning handler said afterwards: "I have the license two years but haven't had many runners. I'm 30 and based in Innishannon, Co Cork.

"She is a consistent mare and I was a bit worried about the ground as it wasn't as slow as I thought it was.

"She'll probably go to Galway for an 80-109 on the first day or she'll run on the flat.

"You need to produce her late as she has one burst and that's it and he (brother Paddy Kennedy) was lucky with the run he got down the inside; we had luck today but were unlucky a few other days."

Regarding who would ride her when younger brother Jack Kennedy returns from injury, he quipped: "As long as Paddy keeps winning on him he'll keep the ride!

"I only have a few for the track but I've a lot of young horses and I'm kept busy with point to point horses and breaking horses. I'm only getting started but have had a few point to point winners already but this is my first on the track."

STEWARDS REPORTS

P.T. Enright, rider of Silent Account trained by D. Donovan, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount made a respiratory noise before being pulled up in this race.

The Stewards enquired into the running and riding of Coherent ridden by D.E. Mullins, and trained by P.J. Rothwell.

Evidence was heard from the trainer and rider concerned. P.J. Rothwell, trainer, stated that this animal had been settling in recent times having had a tendency to run keenly.

He added that he had agreed with D.E. Mullins to ride this animal in mid division and to do his best.

He expressed his disappointment with the horses performance, felt that he ran lethargic and missed a few hurdles but was satisfied with the ride considering that the animal was subjected to a seven hour drive to this meeting and arrived about twenty five minutes before his race.

He added that his charge had passed a pre-race veterinary examination at the request of the Stewards.

Furthermore he stated that his charge had lost a shoe and was two out of five lame subsequent to the Turf Club Veterinary Officer having examined his animal and the lameness was getting progressively worse as time went on.

He felt that D.E. Mullins' post race opinion that his mount had run flat possibly accounted for the problems encountered today.

D.E. Mullins, rider, confirmed the instructions and added that he rode accordingly but his mount had failed to pick up in the latter stages and he tried to get him to finish by squeezing him with his legs.

He accepted that he did not ride as vigorously as he can.

The Stewards also received a report from the Turf Club Veterinary Officer who stated that Coherent was post race normal but had pulled his left fore shoe.

The Turf Club Veterinary Officer subsequently reported that Coherent was lame at a later stage .

Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards noted the explanations.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes