Riders Willie Slattery, Garrett Power and Tommy Treacy were lucky to escape serious injury after a three horse pile up at the sixth flight in the ITBA Novice Hurdle which saw the narrow pillar to post winner Ear To The Ground lose the race in the stewards room at Naas last evening.
Willie Slattery's mount Island Song had just gone second when he crashed out bring down the chasing Insan Magic (Tommy Treacy) and Atitandall, which resulted in a broken right-collarbone for rider Garrett Power, but there was more drama to follow.
Philip Rothwell's front-running 16/1 shot Ear To The Ground and Joe Casey just held the chasing Homer and Paul Hourigan by the minimum margin with the well supported Yayo some fourteen lengths adrift back in third but a stewards enquiry was soon called after the winner appeared to edge into the runner-up on landing over the final flight.
The head on film showed the winner was in danger of losing the contest and after nearly fifteen minutes deliberating the stewards reversed the judges placings.
Before the Bloodhorse Insurances Median Auction Maiden the betting market indicated that Sandford Park was the pick of the Kevin Prendergast duo when showing at a warm even money favourite on most boards but it was 10/1 chance Gravy Train that won the day for the Curragh yard when he drew clear inside the final furlong to score under Pat Cosgrave with his stable companion only fourth.
Speaking by phone form hospital where he is recovering from surgery, Kevin Prendergast nominated the valuable Tattersalls Race at the Curragh in August for his three length winner.
Dr Dignity, third in a Leopardstown six furlong handicap in May, made no mistake off his current handicap mark of 94 when he justified odds-on favouritism at the expense of market rival Love Me True in the ITBA Maiden.
Partnered by Kevin Manning the son of Dr Devious has a bright future according to trainer Con Collins, 'I thought he was an unlucky horse as a two-year-old but he's not a bad sort and he'll win again.'
Dunboyne trainer Owen Weldon, successful with Clanboyo at Leopardstown last Saturday, followed up when another daughter of Clandolly namely Sticky Sweetheart scored under Niall McCullagh in the opening Woodlands Handicap over the minimum trip.
Berengarius defied top-weight in brave fashion in the Siucra Diamond Handicap Hurdle to provide owner, Dundalk businessman Michael Woods, with a remarkable 23rd success in 'a little over three years', all trained by Michael Halford.
The Guinness Galway Hurdle is now the big race target for the former Jim Bolger-trained gelding, who responded well to Barry Geraghty's urgings to forge past front-running Grimshaw approaching the final flight for a by five length victory.
