Dromhale Lady took the feature on day two of the Killarney May meeting when capturing the 30,000 euro Cahernane House Hotel Handicap Chase in the hands of Timmy Murphy.
The ten-year-old mare carries the colours of popular local chemist Donie Sheahan, and she kept on really well from the last to beat another grey Rheindross by three lengths. 'We will give her a break now for the summer, and she'll be back for Listowel in September,' said trainer Michael Hourigan.
Arthur Moore hit out at the lack of opportunities for novice chasers after saddling Janidou to make a successful start over fences in division two of the EBF Beginners Chase. The J P McManus-owned gelding jumped well throughout, and Conor O'Dwyer oozed confidence in the straight as the seven-year-old came home on the bridle two and a half lengths clear of Supreme Venture.
'There are too many beginners chases and no novice chases for winners, and this situation will have to be addressed,' said Moore before adding, 'He will stay chasing but I don't know where we can run him next.'
Snowy Ford took division one in good style, always prominent under John Cullen to beat well-backed favourite True Blue Victory by four lengths. 'He's always schooled well, and the soft ground suited him. We will aim him at the better handicaps next winter,' said trainer Paul Nolan.
Dusseldorf has proved a good money-spinner for connections this year, and the Austin Leahy-trained first reserve took full advantage after getting into the Seamus Weldon Handicap. Helen Keohane sent the mare to the front inside the final half mile, and she galloped on strongly to beat Miss Devious by six lengths. 'If she comes out of this race alright, then she will go for an apprentice handicap at Downpatrick on Friday,' said Leahy, who has three half-brothers at home and 'they are all for sale'.
Storm Boxer, unplaced behind Liberman in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in March, got his jumping career off to a winning start in the McSweeney Arms Novice Hurdle. Robert Power sent the Paddy Mullins-trained gelding to the front entering the straight, and he kept on well under pressure to deny Dutch Lad by a length and a half. 'He is a soft ground horse, and we will probably leave him off now for the summer and bring him back for some of the good novice races in the autumn,' said Mullins' son Tom.
'A real chasing type,' is how trainer Louis Archdeacon described Look Between Us after the six-year-old caused a 16/1 shock in the Killarney Vintners Maiden Hurdle. David Casey's mount stayed on best on the run-in to beat Willie John Daly by three and a half lengths, and the County Cork handler commented, 'He burst a blood vessel at the Limerick Christmas meeting, and I really didn't fancy him today.'
There was a tremendous finish to the M D O'Shea & Sons Handicap, with Fran Berry getting Cache Creek up in the final stride to touch off Grisham to the surprise of most racegoers.
Alan Magee
