Kilbeggan hosted its final meeting of the year yesterday evening and, not for the first time, J P McManus landed the feature race with the well-backed Farinel.
Conor O'Dwyer produced the Arthur Moore-trained gelding to lead off the home bend in the Ireland's Own Family Magazine Handicap Hurdle, and he quickened up nicely to beat Loan Man by two and a half lengths. 'That's a nice prize to win, and we will keep him handicapping with Listowel a likely target', said Moore afterwards.
The Cleaboy Stud Opportunity Handicap Chase proved a real incident-packed affair, with loose horses causing plenty of interference leading to a stewards enquiry.
Ballinarrid looked set to justify 3/1 favouritism after avoiding a loose horse before the last, but he appeared to bump eventual winner Keeponthesunnyside when falling at the final fence. The latter was left in front but drifted sharply right on the run-in, and seemed to hamper the length runner-up Swing West who was sandwiched between the winner and a loose horse close home.
The placings remained unaltered after an enquiry, and winning trainer Tim Doyle said: 'He loves the place, and that's his third win here this year'.
Blue may head to the Tralee Festival next week after justifying odds on support in the Gain Horse Feeds Maiden Hurdle. Paul Carberry sent the five-year-old to the front approaching the final flight to beat Temony by two lengths.
'He was a bit unlucky last time at Galway as he got caught in traffic at the top of the hill and lost his place. He handles fast ground well, and may go for a novice at Tralee', said trainer Noel Meade.
Carberry later completed a double in the hackettbet.com Beginners Chase, where Dale Creek got the better of Manacured after the last to win by a length.
Curragh trainer Michael Halford added to his impressive tally this year when Uncle Arthur showed plenty reserves of stamina to take the three miles Midland Breeders Supporting Kilbeggan Maiden Hurdle. The Satco gelding needed to be driven along by Barry Geraghty to maintain a prominent position, heading Aungier Gale before the last for a three lengths victory.
'Kilbeggan has been lucky for me this year, and I have now trained 34 winners under both codes since the resumption of racing after the foot and mouth outbreak', said Halford.
Moores Light, who is in foal to Accordion, rallied strongly on the run-in under John Cullen to deny Ferdia's Friend in the final stride of the Pat Doyle Memorial Mares Novice Hurdle.
[email protected]
