Michael Kinane was in action for the first time at Greenmount Park in Limerick yesterday evening, and typically marked the occasion by completing a double aboard Reve De Rose and Discerning Air.
Reve De Rose made all in the Bauman Sideloader And Materials Handling Claiming Race, going clear early in the straight to beat Nomination Blues by four-and-a-half-lengths, and Curragh trainer Declan Gillespie revealed afterwards, 'She was entered in the sales at Goffs last week but had a little problem and didn't go there. I think she could make a three-year-old hurdler.'
Lady O'Reilly's filly was subsequently claimed for e15,000, and will be trained just down the road at Patrickswell by Michael Hourigan.
Hourigan later saddled Discerning Air to justify favouritism in the Phoenix Components Handicap, leading over a furlong out and coming home on the bridle to beat Miss Lauren Dee by a facile ten lengths.
Hourigan's son, Paul, made a welcome return to the saddle when successful on Glengariff in the Donie Daffy Hyundai Croom Maiden Hurdle. Hourigan, who took a break away from the game of nearly three months following a frustrating battle with the scales, kept the Tom Lacy-trained mare right up to her work to hold off Bennie's Pride by a length. The six-year-old, providing Lacy with his first success in 11 months, was walked back to the winners enclosure having pulled up lame after the line.
Pat Smullen leads the chase behind Kinane in the title race, and is now seven adrift after recording his 30th winner of the campaign on Ripple Of Pride in the Harrison O'Dowd Solicitors EBF Fillies Maiden. Dermot Weld's charge was prominent throughout, and stretched clear inside the final quarter mile to beat Satalia by five lengths.
Keith Hadnett had his claim reduced to 5lb after the Healy And Partners Handicap Hurdle where Wensum Dancer folied a gamble on British raider Young Buck. The Tom Hogan-trained mare led two out, and stayed on gamely to score by a length.
Alan Magee
