Richie Harding's career appears to be going from strength to strength and the 21-year-old partnered his fifth winner at Limerick's Christmas festival when landing the Woodlands House Hotel Hurdle with the Michael Hourigan-trained Jolly Moonbeam at the track on Saturday, writes Neil O'Donnell.
Owned by British-domiciled John Carey, Jolly Moonbeam appeared o have a battle on her plate when Risky Reef moved up menacingly on the run to the second last. However, Risky Reef forfeited all chance by blundering at the final flight and Jolly Moonbeam was quick to capitalise as Harding drove her out to score by one and a half lengths.
' She was a bit dead in herself when she finished down te field at Navan te last time, ' said Hourigan's daughter Kay. ' She took up swimming after that and it has certainly done the trick. '
Its Echoes Sister completed a brilliant afternoon for trainer Hourigan by capturing the closing Irwin Brothers Jewellers Ladies Flat Race with Kate Doyle, younger sister of leading amateur Liz Doyle. Incidentally, this was 23-year-old Doyle's initial victory in the plate.
Joey Casey partnered his first winner for Michael Grassick by guiding Little Rort to victory in the Guinness 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle. Little Rort struck the front at the third last and the gelded son of Ali-Royal made the rest to beat Bringontheclowns, a former dual juvenile winner for Aidan O'Brien, by two lengths.
' He keeps galloping and we'll find another contest for him, ' related Grassick. ' Joey spent the summer with me riding work on the flat horses and it's nice to be able to give him a winner. '
The stewards deemed that Steven Craine gave the fifth-placed Royal Mirage an injudicious ride in this event and the seven lb claimer was supended for three racedays.
The Sean Treacy-trained Grange Leader recorded his seventh career success when landing the opening Meteor Handicap Chase with Shane McCann.
Homebred by his Goresbridge owner Eamon Gavin, the triumphant top-weight asserted from the last to beat favourite Lough Ennel by two lengths.
Treacy was absent at Leopardstown, but his wife Geraldine remarked : ' Grange Leader will probably now run in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park next month. '
Annette McMahon saddled her initial winner at he local course when former winning 'pointer' Carrodown Storm took the Laurent Perrier Ladies Day Maiden Hurdle with Ian Power. Sporting the colours of Morgan Downey, Carrodown Storm took command on the run to two out to dismiss the staying-on Alphazar by four lengths.
' Ideally, she wants a bit further, ' said the winning trainer. ' It's great that she won here and it's all the more special as my Late father Hugh bred her. '
The Pat Kelly-trained Brave Eagle displayed that he was showing no after-effects from finishing fifth behind Bizet in the Robert Butler Group Handicap Hurdle at the course 24 hours previously by capturing the Tote Exacta Handicap Hurdle with Philip Carberry. The triumphant seven-year-old, who is owned by the Co Galway-based T G Racing Syndicate, swept past Sandysaran after two out to score by two and a half lengths.
'Keep yourself in the best company and your horse in the worst company, ' quipped Tattersalls (Ireland) director David Pim after he saw his silks being carried to victory by the Dessie Hughes-trained I'vehadit in the Irish Independent Beginners Chase.
In all probability, the Roger Loughran-ridden I'vehadit will now contest another novice chase.
