Another good leap from Notice To Close under Brian Hayes© Photo Healy Racing
Gameness and stamina won the day for Notice To Close (5/1) in the Cashel Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel.
Out quickly after being well and truly put in his place by the 140-rated Dancing On My Own at Wexford on Sunday, Notice To Close put his staying power to good use.
Three times triumphant in point-to-points, this extended two miler looked on the sharp side for the victorious grey.
However he put it to his rivals, jumping well at the head of affairs.
There was nothing like Dancing On My Own amongst the opposition this time, and the Seamus Neville owned and bred, grinded out a win from several challengers in the straight.
He eventually defeated Hesamanofhisword and Ennemi Public by half a length and a length and a half.
Winning jockey Brian Hayes said: "He is very tough, he won three point to points, and toughness and jumping is his thing.
"He'd prefer further but a lot of the time if they're good enough they can win over two miles and the ground was good and testing.
"He jumped great and he'll be a nice chaser down the line. Seamus would like a really good horse and hopefully he can be one."
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Automatic trained by W.J. Burke, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be blowing hard and also making an abnormal respiratory noise when examined post race.
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer reported to the Stewards that Whatchamacallit trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien was found to have blood at both nostrils as a result of exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage.
D.J. O'Keeffe, rider of Automatic trained by W.J. Burke, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount never travelled and got very tired after the second last.
D.N. Russell, rider of Goodbye Someday trained by John E. Kiely, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount hung a bit left throughout.
M.P. Walsh, rider of Whatchamacallit trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount burst a blood vessel.
S.D. Torrens, rider of Crutches Lad trained by William P Murphy, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount overjumped the first and was playing catch up thereafter.
At the request of the Stewards, P.T. Enright, rider of Moscowsowhat trained by James Daniel Dullea, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount was flat out the whole way and he felt that he had done well to get it around.
(TW & EM)
