Mossbank lands the Munster National

Mossbank justified the long held confidence of his trainer Michael Hourigan by readily landing the valuable Ladbrokes.com Munster National at Limerick this afternoon.

The seven-year-old gelding was always travelling strongly under Andrew McNamara, cruising to the front before two out where making his only semblance of a mistake. However he took the last in fine style and came home a comfortable two and a half lengths victor from Whataboutya, with Darby Wall a further half length adrift in third.

´He´s probably a better horse when a bit fresh, and that´s the fourth time he´s won on his reappearance including his first run in a point-to-point. I couldn´t believe how easily he was going three out and Andrew gave him a great ride. He´s been working like a real horse at home and Kevin Power got off him on Friday morning and said he was on fire.´

´I ´ll give him plenty of time between his races and maybe the Irish National could be a long term target,´ said Hourigan, who trains just a couple of miles from the track at Patrickswell and, like McNamara, was enjoying his first success in this three miles handicap.

McNamara followed up in the Pricewaterhousecoopers EBF Beginners Chase where Bernabeu just got the better of Florrie´s Boy. The Edward O´Grady-trained gelding subsequently survived a stewards inquiry into possible interference in the closing stages.

Davy Russell equalled McNamara´s tally on the day, and moved two ahead of Ruby Walsh in the jockeys championship, when recording a well executed 47/1 double aboard Major Finnegan and Like A Dream.

Liam Burke was full of praise for the Youghal man after Major Finnegan benefited from an ultra patient ride to land the Newenham Mulligan Novice Hurdle. Russell had him anchored at the rear of the field for most of the two miles and five furlongs of this Listed race, making smooth headway out of the pack to go after 11/8 favourite Shuil Aris approaching two out. The five-year-old gelding found plenty under pressure, landing in front over the last before going on to score by half a length.

´Davy gave him a grand ride and he jumped much better today. He´s a highly strung horse and we´ve been trying to teach him to relax. He´s taking his races much better now but is not able for soft ground,´ said Burke.

Like A Dream and Old Peak Road fought out a terrific finish to the two and a quarter miles Oakbruce Properties Handicap Hurdle, with the Matty Tynan-trained mare bravely sticking her neck out to score by the minimum margin. The nine-year-old mare has had a ´full life´ todate, now the winner of six races including a nursery at Galway in 2000 and she´s also produced a daughter by Mull Of Kintyre.

´Breeding didn´t seem to suit her as she loves being in the stables and working every day. She may even jump a fence as she´s a great leaper, and we may try to convert her into a National Hunt mare when she breeds again,´ said a delighted Tynan.

Gemini Lucy successfully adopted her customary front-running role under Andrew Leigh in the Grade 3 Sherry Fitzgerald O´Malley Chase, holding the strong challenge of fellow 13/8 joint favourite from the last to win by three lengths.

´Andrew said she took a serious blow at the top of the hill. She seems more settled this year and a bit more grown up and is jumping and not launching at her fences. I´m not sure where she´ll go next but England is an option if we are looking for good ground,´ said Jessica Harrington.

Brendan Duke has enjoyed great success with his raiders in recent times, and the Lambourn based trainer was on the mark again when Mister Benedictine came out best in a three-way photo to the Michael Punch & Partners Hurdle. Daryl Jacob got the gelding up in the final stride of the two and a quarter miles event to pip Head Waiter by a short-head with Merveilles just the same distance away in third.

´The trip was my big worry but he got it well and I´ve always said I believe Daryl will be champion jockey some day. His jumping was fantastic and kept us in the race and he could be very good when he goes chasing but we´ll wait now until next May,´ said Duke, whose Openide was soundly beaten in the Munster National.

Local trainer Eric McNamara got on the scoresheet with Emona Lad in the two and three quarter miles Pat Keogh BMW Handicap Hurdle, going on after three out under Paddy Flood for a convincing seven lengths verdict over El Jo. ´The two miles was too short for him at Listowel last time as he stays three, and he´ll jump a fence in time,´ said McNamara.

Alan Magee