Trainer Colm Murphy showed his string are in top order at the moment as he produced a double at Clonmel's all jump card on Friday evening. The Wexford based handler got of the mark in the opener when Ireland's current leading jockey Davy Russell was on board the easy to back Scholars Mate.
The Shernazar gelding took up proceedings before the second last flight from long time leader Allgrownup and held the late challenge of Aldhaher Beebers to score by a length.
'He is a nice horse but he fractured his face the last time out when he fell at Fairyhouse in December. A horse behind came and kicked him in the face and he just started to think about things more when he got him back after that, but we will keep him going now and that would have done his confidence the world of good.' revealed Murphy.
Ireland's current champion jockey Ruby Walsh was in the saddle to complete the trainers brace when Bambootcha justified favouritism to land the mares handicap hurdle. The winner was making it two on the trot having won her maiden at Tipperary last time out.
Racing mid division throughout, the winner ran out a three length victor and the fall of Amazon Jean at the last secured the victory for the 5/2 market leader.
Speaking on the daughter by Saddlers Hall, Murphy said, 'She is a nice filly who won a point-to-point and I thought she might get a trip. She goes well over two miles however and I will keep her at that now and go for a handicap next. Hopefully we will find a race at Galway and she could be jumping fences at that stage.'
That was the first leg of a personal double for Walsh as he and the Francis Flood trained Smile Later ran out a two and a half length winner of the feature Gain Horsefeeds Novice Chase. The Artic Lord filly was always near the head of affairs and was challenged by the well-backed Stadium Project before the last. A mistake at the final flight conceded any chance the latter had of winning as 5/4 favourite Smile Later made it two from two this term.
'She jumped brilliantly all the way and it is her jumping this season that has brought her on so much from last year. We might look for a winners of two at Killarney on good ground and that track should suit. She is tougher and stronger this year and it is always great to have Ruby on board,' commented Fran Flood Junior after the race.
Michael Moran saddled the first winner of his training career when Watermelon scored in the Cahir Motor Company Hyundai maiden over two miles. It was also a first win for the four-year-old mare by Beckett who failed in her eleven previous attempts on the track.
Ridden by Mick Darcy, the winner made full use of the penultimate flight fall of the well backed Campanile to go on score all out from 2/1 favourite Cousin Lizzie.
A delighted Moran said, 'That is my first winner having had my licence for a year. She is a nice mare and we will look for a handicap now or maybe a race on the flat.'
Another restricted trainer Thomas O' Connor was on the mark with Lady Pharly who landed the Avonmore Milk Handicap Hurdle over two miles. In the hands of Tommy Tracey, the winner paid a massive ?52.10 for a win on the tote and gave the jockey his third winner of the week and it was a second career success for Listowel trainer O Connor.
Paul Nolan was responsible for a closing race double and indeed he saddled the first two home when Tarn Ridge got the better of stable companion Home Force after the last to land the spoils for new owners the Red Menace Syndicate in the Countrylife Handicap Chase.
Settled in by Cullen the seven year old was a length and a quarter winner and winning trainer Paul Nolan said afterwards, 'He lost his way a bit last before today but that was soft ground and I think summer soft suits him better. We will look for a handicap now and maybe we might make it to Galway.'
In the concluding bumper the morning reserve Mudslinger (3/1f) made full use of the withdrawal of Rathmolyon Lady to complete the double for the trainer in the colours of Michael O Leary's Gigginstown Stud. The winner who is a full brother to Newmill also survived a stewards enquiry to send favourite backers home happy.
'He is disappointed me in his point-to-point but my horses were all running under a cloud at that time and thankfully they seem to be out of that now and hopefully they will keep firing on all cylinders from here on into the winter. It is good to see he could win on his track debut and he will probably go over hurdles next,' concluded Nolan.
By Niall Cronin
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