Coolcashin takes victory at Thurles
Thursday, 26 November 2009 16:54Stamina won the day for Coolcashin as he gained some compensation for his recent Punchestown defeat in the Glen Chase at Thurles.
Michael Bowe's eight-year-old was almost brought down before narrowly failing to catch Aranleigh in a Grade Three event and was sent off the 10-11 favourite to atone.
He went in pursuit of Faltering Fullback when that one headed long-time leader Equus Maximus three out and although his rival fought valiantly, Coolcashin stayed on just the better to prevail by a neck.
Swift Counsel (7-1) did Pesoto's Drinmore claims no harm when he benefited from the last-fence blunder of Apt Approach in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase.
The John O'Callaghan-trained gelding got closest to Pesoto at Limerick prior to this and loomed up to threaten Apt Approach's lead at the final obstacle.
The market leader was still moving smoothly but got the fence all wrong and Ruby Walsh did well to stay in the saddle, with Swift Counsel capitalising for a seven-length call.
Winning jockey Davy Russell completed a double on the day when the Mouse Morris-trained Hangover showed his appreciation for having his sights lowered with a comprehensive five-length success in the www.thurlesraces.ie Beginners Chase as the 11-4 favourite.
The complexion of the Templemore Handicap Chase also changed at the final obstacle as clear leader The Dew At Night came to grief with the prize seemingly at his mercy.
That paved the way for Arthur Moore's Regal Rumpus to come through and the 12-1 chance passed the post 10 lengths ahead of Tooman Lane.
Experience told in the Liscahill INH Flat Race as Katie Walsh steered Adrian Murray's Down Royal runner-up Cass Bligh (7-2) home ahead of Rockfield Abbey, while the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase brought the curtain down on proceedings and went the way of 7-1 shot Inoma James.
