On the face of it Ballinrobe's Saturday card didn't promise much but as it turned out the day threw up plenty of talking points.
Robbie Burke is enjoying a fine spell at present and combined with Edgar Byrne to capture the opening maiden. The horse was Euro Route and he prevailed by a neck in a driving finish to foil a gamble on the Pat Flynn trained, Tashadelek, who was supported from 6/1 into 5/2 favouritism.
However the Flynn team were very quick about getting over that disappointment when they sent out one of the most memorable winners that will ever depart from their Waterford base. Traverse needed no introduction to racegoers after featuring in a six-part documentary with his enthusiastic owner, Hector O'hEochagain.
Having his first start of the season, the son of Fayruz was sent off an unconsidered 10/1 shot. However, after being prominent throughout under his excellent claiming rider, Sean Cleary, the four-year-old showed plenty of courage to defeat Side With Me by a head.
Ballinrobe will unlikely ever again witness anything like the scenes that followed the victory, as the crowd converged on the parade ring to witness the hugely popular Hector in full flow. Those closest to the ring got wet though, as a bottle of champagne was cracked open and sprayed out over their heads.
There were some priceless quotes from the winning-owner, but on passing the bottle over to the trainer he topped them all by saying 'Mr Flynn you genius, take a slug of that.'
Rider Cleary was later carried around on the back of the Mr O'hEochagain, as the cameras rolled to record a Christmas special of the 'Only Fools Buy Horses' documentary. RTE chiefs will doubtless be rubbing their hands with glee in anticipation of viewing figures for that particular airing.
Elsewhere, Dermot Weld sent out winner number sixty for the season when Beautiful Hill showed good battling qualities to get the better of an exciting tussle with Beckerson. Owner Stewart Weld is a first cousin of the winning trainer who wasn't present for the occasion.
Rosewell House has horses competing at all levels and they doubled up when Battling Mac triumphed in the 0-50 handicap. Owner Sean Craven from Galway previously had the very useful Social Harmony with Weld and this fellow stepped up on his Galway third placing to justify good market support 2/1 to 6/4. Stable jockey, Pat Smullen was aboard both.
