Champion elect Ruby Walsh brought his seasonal tally to 75 when landing the featured Champion Hurdle aboard 7/1 chance Holy Orders at Fairyhouse today. The Willie Mullins-trained gelding tracked Golden Storm rounding the home turn and after a big leap at the penultimate flight soon led and kept on well under pressure to score in the end by half a length.
Mullins insisted after the race: "I was hoping to get third or fifth prizemoney but this is a bonus. He'll go back on the flat but I'll keep the Galway Hurdle in mind for him." Alcapone (10/1) and David Casey came home well clear of Native Dara in the Swordlestown Cup, but the race was tinged with sadness when warm favourite Well Ridden was pulled up before the seventh fence after suffering a heart attack.
Bannow Bay, a warm order before racing, started 11/8f for the Ballymore Stayers Hurdle as Limestone Lad (5/2) proved uneasy in the ring and the market proved correct as the market leader duly obliged after a thriller. Catch Ball (14/1) proved the biggest threat to Bannow Bay after the final flight, but to the credit of the Christy-trained favourite he battled on gamely under a tremendous drive to land the spoils by half a length.
Rathcoole builder Oliver McKiernan, who acquired a permit three years ago, opened his account on the track when saddling Winning Dream to land the Irish Examiner Novice Chase. The 8/1 shot collared market leader Outlook Good on the approach to the final fence to score in the hands of Alan Fleming for a surprise victory. McKiernan expressed his surprise after the race: "That was unexpected as he's more of a of a 3 mile chaser type."
Hot Stuff and in-form Barry Geraghty survived a steward's enquiry to win the opener for John Kiely, but for Tommy Treacy the race was not so good. Treacy suffered a horrible fall from Keltech Grey and was brought to Blanchardstown Hospital with a suspected broken left arm. Fifty winners of the Jackpot scooped £1,201.60 each when Kings Valley and Paul Carberry justified favouritism in the handicap chase, while John Daniel Moore teamed up with his father Arthur to score aboard Ivan De Vonnas in the finale.
Filed by Shane Murray
