Brancardier, owned and bred by Waterford solicitor Gerard Halley, turned the Belfry Hotel Waterford Maiden Hurdle into a procession at sunny Tramore last evening when he recorded a bloodless pillar to post victory in the hands of Conor O'Dwyer.
After the well supported 5-2 chance slammed his market rival Ballinarrid, who was also a warm order in the betting ring from 7-4 to evens, winning trainer John Berry remarked, 'He's just a good ground merchant but he's not too bad on his day. He might run in a handicap next but his owner wants him to go chasing so I'd say he'll do that sooner rather than later.'
Pat O'Connor (18), who hails form Cashel, was in trouble with the stewards after finishing fourth aboard Thomond O'Mara'a Frontliner. The teenager was banned for five days for insufficient effort and ordered to forfeit his riding fee while trainer O'Mara was exonerated after informing the officials he was not satisfied with the ride.
Ruby Walsh brought his seasonal tally to six when completing a double aboard Paul Lenihan's Little-K in the two mile handicap chase after Bart's Choice, trained by racecourse director Willie Mullins, landed a nice touch from 4-1 to 5-2 in the opening maiden hurdle.
'He's a typical Mandalus and wants good ground. I'll probably find a winners of one or a handicap, whichever one comes along where I can get good ground for him,' Mullins said after his charge came home seven lengths clear of Lisadobber Lady.
Charlie Swan opened his seasonal account on the flat when he saddled Aboriginal to make every yard a winning one under Paul Scallan in the fourteen furlong handicap.
After notching up a second flat success of his training career, the dual purpose Swan said,' This horse has been very unlucky and cracked his pelvis twice but the fast ground seems to be the key to him. It was the plan to have him handy.'
Emmett Stack (Liffeydale), who eased his mount up in the final fifty yards losing out on the runner-up berth by a neck to Clonagam, was suspended for four days and ordered to forfeit his riding fee after his misjudgement.
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