A possible attempt at the Galway Hurdle could be on the cards for Dolphin Bay trained on the Curragh by James Burns. Ridden by Nina Carberry the seven year old landed the feature race, the Murphys Irish Stout Handicap Hurdle in a close finish on day one of the Killarney Summer Festival. The fast finishing Jubilant Note posed the biggest threat but under Davy Russell was denied by a head in the shadows of the post.
More well known for his training performances on the flat James Burns said how Killarney has been a good track Dolphin Bay. 'He just loves it here, this is the third time he has won here. We skipped Fairyhouse and Punchestown to come here and I am delighted with the win. He will get an entry for the Galway hurdle but it depends on the ground, he wouldn't want it firm.'
Front runner Jim recorded his first win since October 2005 when a fortunate winner of the Malton Hotel Chase. The 9/4 second favourite was headed by Sher Beau at the second last but a mistake at the last saw the favourite take a crashing fall and hand the advantage back to Jim. Callow Lake ran on well to finish second.
'I think we would have only finished third before the fall of Sher Beau,' were the thoughts of Patricia Dreaper, wife of winning trainer Jim. She continued, 'He was starting to switch off going to the last but it is great to win with him again. He will keep going over the summer once there is a cut in the ground but it is hard to find races for him without him being top of the handicap.'
The busy mare Cluain Arra landed the Newmarket Motors Audi Quattro Handicap Hurdle for trainer Michael Hourigan and conditional jockey Stephen Gray. The winner by Supreme Leader was making a profitable stop at the Kerry track ahead of a stud appointment with Vinnie Roe later in the evening. It was an eight career success for nineteen year old Dundalk jockey Gray and his first for his boss Michael Hourigan.
'My secretary Tracy Hennessy is the owner and she is bringing her to Vinnie Roe this evening. Then she is entered in a chase in Mallow on Friday night and she could well go there,' revealed Hourigan.
Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh landed the first race of the three day festival with Impudent in what looked like a very decent maiden hurdle. The 100/30 favourite raced in mid division under Walsh before picking up the running at the second last, and despite not being fluent at the final flight she ran out a comfortable two length winner..
Trainer Willie Mullins revealed future plans for the In The Wings mare. 'She is a half sister to Royal Shakespeare and will certainly be a nice mare to breed from down the road. We will mix it over hurdles and on the flat with her over the summer and she needs a drop of rain that is why she is only running now.'
In the colours of the Kilshannig Racing Syndicate and trained by Eugene O Sullivan, A Good Excuse just got up by a head to land the spoils in the Gleneagle Hotel Handicap Chase. Under five pound claimer Pierce Gallagher the six year old rallied on what was a long run due to the bypass of the last, to collar Lugante on the line.
'It took him a while to get going but he has now won two on the trot and he could go for a race at Tralee next,' said winning trainer O Sullivan afterwards
In the concluding bumper Phoenix Run won snugly by a length and a half under Robbie McNamara for trainer James Sheehan while twenty-three-year old jockey Lee Lynch recorded her first winner on only her second ride when 25/1 shot Sendar landed the Killarney Grand Hotel Ladies Handicap in the colours of his trainer John Murphy.
Niall Cronin
? irish-racing.com
