Reigning champion National Hunt rider Ruby Walsh was taken to Tralee Hospital for x-rays on his upper left thigh and pelvis after his mount Johnny Ringo was brought down on the opening day of the Listowel Festival.
War Cabinet fell at the fifth last flight of the two miles Bank Of Ireland Handicap Hurdle, bringing down the Eric McNamara-trained gelding.
Tralee trainer Tom Cooper saddled his first winner at Listowel when the David Casey-ridden Gallileo Strike held off Knockawad in a driving finish to this race. 'He loves fast ground, and will come back here on Wednesday for a mile handicap', said Cooper.
Michael Kinane dominated the Flat section of the card when completing a short-priced double on the Aidan O'Brien-trained pair Toreador and Bringontheclowns.
Toreador looked a class apart in the opening Castle EBF Maiden, and the Danehill juvenile duly justified 2/5 favouritism when heading Hasina at the furlong pole to score by two and a half lengths.
Kinane, now on the 63 winner mark for the season, adopted waiting tactics aboard Bringontheclowns in the Kingdom EBF Nursery. The topweight made gradual headway through the field, leading inside the final furlong to beat Jimjonpaddal by two lengths.
Vinnie Jones was on hand to greet Topacio in the winners enclosure after the Pat Hughes-trained gelding also pleased favourite backers in the Shannon Airport (Q.R.) Handicap, leading close home to beat Quadco by a length. The former Wimbledon footballer turned actor is friendly with a number of the Galway based Pearse Racing Club, and Hughes said afterwards, 'Topacio will have another run on the Flat, possibly in the Cesarewitch or Leopardstown November Hanidcap, before going chasing.'
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