ILIKEDWAYURTHINKIN and Darragh O Keeffe win the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.© Photo Healy Racing
Gavin Cromwell’s Ilikedwayurthinkin under a mandatory 5lbs penalty, was 10lbs well-in on paper for the final-day opener, the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.
Although these things aren’t always so straightforward in the heat of battle, it was on this occasion as the 5/6 favourite duly obliged by a comfortable five lengths.
Two wins in five days at the festival then, by a combined margin of eleven and-a-half lengths, for the Yeats gelding and winning rider Darragh O’Keeffe.
The winner was always handy, and quickly asserted when O’Keeffe loosened the reins approaching the second-last hurdle.
He kept on in the straight to account for Dumhach Thra (10/1), with De Mazzaro (33/1) another three lengths back in third, and Ashqar (7/1) fourth a further length and-a-quarter away. The winning trainer Gavin Cromwell said afterwards: "I was a bit concerned coming back to two miles as the 2m5f the other day was more suited to him. He travelled great there today and he was good.
“He was back in grade. I know he had plenty of weight but he’s a big strong horse. We’ll probably give a break now and I’m not sure where he will go.
“He’s an active type of horse. There is no badness in him but he’s just an active fella.
“He’s a novice for this season, and whether that will be novice races or novice handicaps we’ll see. He’ll jump a fence at some stage down the line.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
