The veteran Dorans Pride produced one of his best performances on the Flat to deny last year's winner Tryphaena a repeat success in the November Handicap at Leopardstown today. Despite Niall McCullagh putting up 4lb overweight, the 11-year-old foiled a gamble on Tryphaena to win the 28th race of his illustrious career. "He's a super horse and seems as good now as he was five years ago. This was a nice bit of work for next Saturday's Nicholson Champion Chase at Down Royal," said trainer Michael Hourigan.
Had the Down Royal meeting not been postponed for a week Dorans Pride would have been competing 24 hours previously in the featured chase against Looks Like Trouble and Florida Pearl while the runner-up Tryphaena could have run over hurdles at that postponed fixture last Friday. There is every chance now that Dorans Pride and Tryphaena will meet their jumping engagements there next weekend, but yesterday 10-1 chance Dorans Pride just proved a length too strong for his younger rival. McCullagh only arrived back in Ireland a couple of hours before the final meeting of the Irish Flat season, having been in New York to ride Mouramara for John Oxx in a race in which she disappointed as it was switched from turf to the dirt because of a downpour at Aqueduct.
Ireland's new champion jockey Pat Smullen, who had ridden a winner in the United Arab Emirates less than 48 hours previously, also made the trip back home worthwhile as Vinnie Roe took the Listed Eyrefield Stakes for his main employer Dermot Weld. Smullen celebrated his initial championship success in his home-land when 5-1 chance Vinnie Roe stayed on strongly and the 5-1 chance in the colours of film producer Jim Sheridan.
English apprentice Adrian Nicholls made a winning debut at the Dublin course as Factice Royal (14-1) sprang a surprise in the Blackthorn Premier Nursery for the Kevin Prendergast stable. The hot favourite Major Force, representing Weld and Smullen, was foiled in the Lifted Knockaire Stakes as the former Henry Cecil trained On The Ridge produced the better turn of foot in the closing stages. On The Ridge was bought for just 14,000 guineas at Newmarket sales recently by permit holder Luke Comer. The son of Risk Me paid an instant dividend as this seven furlong race was worth £19,500 when the 16-1 chance got home by half a length from the favourite in the hands of apprentice Paul Scallan. Michael Kinane sent favourite backers home happy when taking the finale, the Ravens Rock Handicap, easily on the 7-2 favourite Albatros from the Edward O'Grady stable. (PA)
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
