Mark Walsh continued his rich vein of form for JP McManus as he guided the Gavin Cromwell-trained Saveforarainyday to a clear-cut victory in the Conference & Banqueting Mares Maiden Hurdle in Limerick.
The five-year-old, helped by a first-time hood and always handy, took command before the second last flight and quickly stretched away to beat Fly Away Home by eighteen lengths.
In the absence of Gavin Cromwell and Frank Berry, Cromwell’s race planner Troy Cullen explained: “She was a bit keen the last day in Leopardstown. The hood helped and they went good and slow today and she managed to relax and finish out her race.
“Hopefully, she’ll progress from this – there are plenty of mares races for her.”
Hot-pot of the day, the Willie Mullins-trained Arslan was turned over at 1/6 in the Limerick On Instagram Maiden Hurdle, proving no match for Gordon Elliott’s all-the-way scorer Tip Of The Wings, Eleven lengths separated them at the line.
Winning rider Jack Kennedy commented: “That ground is as tough as it gets – they either handle or they don’t. And he went through it well.
“His run in Leopardstown was promising, good enough to win a maiden like this. He jumped well and could be nice. He can go out in trip on nicer ground.”
Rocky’s Howya, trained by Declan Queally and ridden by 7lb claimer Kevin Healy, made all to capture the opening claimer at the expense of Embittered and Timmy Tuesday, scoring by twenty lengths.
“He was champion point-to-pointer (he won nine) and it’s amazing that we had to wait this long for him to win on the track,” said Queally.
“I weighted him fairly and he’s paid for himself for the year. If he’s not claimed, we’ll go for something similar.”
Runner-up Embittered was subsequently claimed by Anthony McCann while the third, Timmy Tuesday, was acquired by Rachel O’Neill.
The father and son combination of Paul and Jack Gilligan enjoyed a welcome change of luck when Survivors Sister proved a shoch 25/1 winner of the Munster Suite @ Limerick Handicap Hurdle, beating Another Ocana.
“She’s a good filly, owned by good people, and was unlucky when she fell here at Christmas,” stated the winning trainer.
Another father and son team struck in the Panoramic Restaurant Novice Handicap Hurdle when joint top-weight Dollar Nolimit delivered for Ned and Kieran Buckley.
The trainer said: “Joseph O’Brien liked him but told me he was impossible to train. But this horse has a hell of an engine and needs this ground.”
Trainer Paul Hennessy stated: “It’s not often I get to use Patrick, so this is great,” after Patrick Mullins, charting a wide course, partnered 14/1 shot Of Land And Sea to victory over Jury Time in the bumper, adding: “I’ve had winners with nearly all of the Mullins family. I think only Tom is left, but there’s time.”
And Ray Hackett saddled Donnrua Dream (Liam Quinlan) to take the Cheltenham Raceday 12th March Handicap Hurdle at the expense of Wild Wild Wind.
Hackett admitted: “the tongue-tie and drop in trip made a big difference to him.”
