Ballygunner Castle gave Willie and Danny Mullins back-to-back triumphs in the Guinness Kerry National, the featured event of Listowel’s Harvest Festival last Wednesday.
The 11-1 chance raced prominently throughout and was closest to the pacesetting Doctor Ken as the field went out on its final circuit of the three-mile test.
Ballygunner Castle jumped to the lead at the second last fence and kept on strongly. Ol Man Dingle ran second, over four lengths in arrears.
The gelding, aged just seven, owned by John Brennan and David Flynn, was winning for the first time in almost two years.
“It was a great performance from the horse. It just didn’t happen for him in the Galway Plate last time and we were disappointed. But today he found a great rhythm early in the race with the tactics adjusted,” Danny Mullins said.
“We had always expected a good performance from him. We were kind of scratching our heads why it hadn’t come sooner, but no better day than to win a Kerry National.
“I got a good jump at third last and once we levelled up, he galloped out strongly and hit the line well. I think there is plenty more to come from him in staying handicap chases.”
The jockey was winning the race for a third time, having scored a year earlier with Spanish Harlem for Willie and in 2012 on Faltering Fullback for trainer Eric McNamara.
Millstream Lady showcased trainer Eric McNamara’s ability to prime one for Listowel as she came home a 16-1 winner of the staying handicap hurdle on Wednesday.
Local jockey Tom Kelly crept his way to the front at the top of the home straight. His task was no doubt aided by a number of rivals exiting the contest at the penultimate flight and he stayed on to score by upwards of a length.
“That’s my first winner at Listowel and I am delighted. I ride out for Eric three mornings a week. I had a good winner for him in the Connacht National and it’s great to repay him with one here,” Kelly said.
The grey mare is owned by Eamon Leahy, Seamus O’Riordan and Edward Hayes.
Tralee trainer Tom Cooper looks to have a nice recruit on his hands in the shape of New Grange who bolted up in the bumper at Listowel on Wednesday.
The four-year-old won his only point-to-point start by a big margin in February and was clearly expected to do something similar on his rules debut as the 10-11 favourite.
Patrick Mullins got the call for the ride and never had a moment’s worry as the Walk In The Park gelding came home a leisurely seven lengths in front.
“Tom was very sweet on him. He picked up well off a strong gallop. I think he will stay further,” Mullins said.
Congratulations are due to Ross Sugrue who executed a ride of some nerve on Kilt for his boss Philip Rothwell at Listowel on Thursday.
The young Tralee man rode a very patient race and went from last to first inside the final few strides of the Adare Manor-sponsored handicap hurdle for conditional jockeys.
Sugrue was winning just his second race as a professional, both for the same stable, and it came at odds of 9-1 by half a length.
“He took a bit of settling for the first mile, but he got there easy in the end. It was great to get it. A lot of people from home are here, including my family and it’s brilliant,” the rider smiled.
Sugrue made it a week to remember when he successfully joined forces with another local man, trainer Tom Cooper, on Potters Pal in the 2m3f handicap chase a day later.
The 5-1 winner made his move entering the home straight where the final two fences were omitted owing to the low sun and came over three lengths clear.
Potters Pal, also owned locally by the Kingdom Red Syndicate, had placed third at the track 48 hours earlier and only got into the race as a second reserve.
A Royal winner landed in ‘The Kingdom’ when Reaching High easily opened his account in Ireland in Listowel’s maiden hurdle on Friday last.
Quite when the last time the colours of The King and Queen were last seen in an Irish winners’ enclosure is unclear, but it could not have come much easier than this.
The 1-4 favourite Reaching High, formerly trained by Sir Michael Stoute, was a class above his rivals, going in by ten lengths.
“One for the King in the Kingdom!” Mullins smiled. “He did it nicely. He is tall and long and he needs to meet the hurdles at pace, rather than to try and ‘fiddle’ them. He has a bit to learn yet but that will come.”
Mullins made it 11 wins for week at the meeting when Roc Dino, odds-on at 8-13 favourite, won the novice hurdle by two lengths under Paul Townend.
The haul meant he equalled Dermot Weld’s record of winners at the Harvest Festival set in 1994 when it was a six-day meeting. Townend was leading jockey with six wins, all for Willie.
Upcoming Fixtures
Cork Tues, Sep 29 (first race 1.55pm)
Bellewstown Weds Sep 30 (first race 2.09pm)
Sligo (NH) Weds Sep 30 (first race 2.20pm)
Bellewstown Thurs Oct 1 (first race 1.35pm)
Clonmel (NH) Thurs Oct 1 (first race 1.49pm)
Dundalk Fri Oct 2 (first race 5.30pm)
Gowran (NH) Fri Oct 2 (first race 1.56pm)
Gowran (NH) Sat Oct 3 (first race 1.25pm)
Curragh Sun Oct 4 (first race 1.20pm)
Killarney (NH) Sun Oct 4 (first race 1.35pm)
