Seven pound claiming amateur rider Laura Hourigan stole the show at Tralee today where the Limerick rider landed the Denny Havasnack Race on King Carew, for her father Michael Hourigan.
Front running King Carew set a blistering pace from the start and opened up a substantial lead over her eight rivals. With half a mile left to race, it was clear King Carew was not going to be caught and Hourigan eventually eased the gelding inside the final furlong for a 25 length win.
Referring to King Carew's horrific fall in a chase at Galway recently, a delighted winning trainer Hourigan quibbed 'the auld fall at Galway shook him up!' The 12/1 winner, who contested the 2001 EpsomDerby, may now revert to hurdling in the near future.
The featured Denny Gold Medal Handicap Chase was won by Colonel Bradley for jockey Norman Williamson carrying the colours of J.P. McManus. The novice led travelling easily after three out where he overtook bold jumping front runner Cloudy Bays, eventually proving three lengths too good for Pat Verling's mount.
According to winning trainer Charlie Swan, the Kerry National is a likely target provided the ground doesn't become too soft.
Paul Carberry suffered minor concussion and was stood down for 48 hours after he received a bang while riding Fnan into fourth in the race.
Trainer Dermot Weld is under 30 winners short of a career total of 3,000 training successes and the Rosewell House handler continued his excellent recent run when landing the opening two year old maiden with newcomer Noahs Ark.
Pat Smullen's mount went clear of her seven rivals over a furlong out and defeated fellow newcomer House Around by four lengths.
Mark Weld, son of the winning trainer, later mentioned 'she hadn't done much work at home before today, so she could develop into a Stakes filly in time.'
Jockey Pat Shanahan partnered his first win since returning from a recent back injury when riding Clare Rose in the one mile 0-85 handicap. Pat Carey's filly needed to be strongly ridden to eventually head the runner-up, Tus Maith, well inside the final furlong.
Glimmer Twin won the one mile maiden for trainer-jockey combination Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning. The daughter of Kris S may now try to gain some blacktype before being sent to continue her career in America next season.
16/1 shot Newlands won the Bank Of Ireland Handicap Hurdle for Portlaoise trainer Mark Quigley, thus providing seventeen year old jockey Mark Walsh with his fourth career win while Arctic Passage provided trainer/jockey Gareth Power with his first training success in the six runner Maiden Hurdle.
The winner caused minor interference to Niylawar jumping the last but overcame a stewards enquiry, providing Power, a permit holder from Windgap, Co. Kilkenny with his fifteenth riding success, thus reducing his claim to seven pounds.
Odds on punters had a bad result in the concluding 6YO Maiden Hurdle when 4/6 favourite was beaten into second behind 7/1 winner Moscow Exchange. The winner recieved a well judged ride from Mark Grant to provide David Wachman with his first win at the festival.
