Review TRALEE 23RD AUG

Cheltenham bumper hero of 2003, Liberman saved the best for last as he turned a most unpromising position into a narrow triumph, in the feature of the day, the Brandon Hotel Handicap Hurdle at Tralee yesterday.

Hurdling without any great conviction for the most part, the former Martin Pipe inmate, who had began his career with Paddy Mullins, found himself trailing the field after five out, but in the words of trainer Tom Mullins (son of Paddy), 'he warmed to it when Robert (Power) got after him.'

Beginning his challenge from early in the straight, the 4/1 joint-favourite showed good fluency over the last two flights and stayed on well on the run in to mow down outsider Ela Marathona by a head close home.

Mullins said afterwards, 'it was shakey with a mile to go and I wasnt happy with his jumping until the last two. Maybe hed go back to the flat now before the winter.'

Elsewhere a 98/1 double for Harry Rogers was the main story to emerge, the Ardee trainer justifying a ten-hour round trip with Rocking Annie completing the mixed-brace when taking the handicap chase by five lengths.

Gaining a definite lead away from the fourth last under Philip Carberry, the Shardari mare showed plenty of staying power to dispose of Give Me Style.

The going description was changed to soft after the running of the second race and as the offspring of College Chapel are known to revel in such conditions it wasnt a surprise to see his son, Kilmannin oblige.

Brought to the front under two furlongs out by Pat Smullen, the 8/1 shot initiating Harry Rogers double, was soon ridden clear for a comfortable victory, in the process breaking his maiden at the sixteenth attempt.

Faint Heart was an expensive failure when runner-up at Galway and she was just shaded for favouritism in the opening maiden. However this time the daughter of Sadlers Wells didnt disappoint, leading at the two furlong pole before going on for an easy win.

Seamie Heffernans mount came home three lengths in front of promising outsider, Sina Cova, with 2/1 favourite, National Swagger (lost shoe and sore) back in eighth. David Wachman missed his winner, being an absentee at Deauville sales.

The small Co. Clare yard of Joe Quinn followed up the success of Elva Express at Cork on Sunday when Set Barabbas Free got the better of a duel with Princess Dariyba in division two of the mile handicap.

Brazilian, Diego Dias (22) was partnering his third winner in this country after having ninety six in his native land and interestingly his work-permit only allows him ride for Quinn.

A half-brother to the talented staying chaser, Satco Express, Gold Spear made it third time lucky over fences, making all under Michael Darcy in the two and a half miler. Eamonn Sheehys son of Torus was a 7/2 chance as the long absent Best Grey went off favourite (finished a never-dangerous sixth), and the winning trainer said longer distances would prove more suitable.

Neeze made all in the sprint handicap for Eddie Lynam and Declan McDonagh, whilst Arachine, well-supported in the morning, justified 2/1 favouritism in the closing contest in the hands of Fran Berry for Pat Hughes.

That win for Berry will have helped erase memories of a ban picked up for careless riding in the opening race. Here he was deemed to have tightened up National Swagger and Fuerta Ventura on his mount Pennyforurthoughts in an incident after two furlongs. The ban is for two days, September first and third.