Laura Hourigan stole the limelight on day one of the St Patrick's weekend meeting at Limerick when partnering a near 40/1 double aboard Horner Rocks and Oliverjohn, both trained by her father Michael. Ms Hourigan, a 19-year-old secretarial student in Limerick, gave Horner Rocks a confident ride in the lady riders handicap hurdle, produced the six-year-old full of running to head Redlyn before the last for a two lengths verdict. Horner Rocks may bid for a quick follow-up here on Monday, while Oliverjohn turned the bumper into a procession when drawing clear in the straight for an easy 14 lengths win.
Kirmar may head next for Aintree after returning to form in the Hugh McMahon Memorial Silkwood Chase. Pat Fahy's eight-year-old gelding, sidelined for 15 months after badly damaging a tendon in October 2000, struck the front two out under Sean McDermott to beat Joes Hero by two-and-a-half lengths. “He needed a few runs to get him right, and I will enter him for a handicap chase at Aintree. He may run at Fairyhouse instead, but wherever he goes there must be some cut in the ground,” said Fahy.
Emperors Guest defied the burden of top-weight in the featured 4-year-old handicap hurdle to provide up-and-coming claimer Ian Power with his tenth success. Paddy Mullins' charge led off the home turn but needed to be driven right out to hold off Quigaboy by a diminishing one lengths. “He needs better ground but, with such good prize-money on offer, we decided to come here. He may go for the Champion four-year-old Hurdle at Punchestown,” said trainer's son Tom.
Backdoor Champion stayed on strongly in the straight for amateur Tom Gibney to beat Lantern lad by nine lengths in the opening maiden hurdle. “He was very sick with a lung infection last autumn, and the run at Leopardstown a fortnight ago really brought him on,” said successful permit holder Andrew Heffernan.
Verney Bird earned a crack at “one of the good novices at Fairyhouse or Punchestown” according to trainer Mick Halford after taking the two-mile novice hurdle. The five-year-old found extra under pressure for claimer Adrian Lane to beat Sheer Frustration by two and half lengths.
Back On Top (Shay Barry) had his task eased in the beginners chase when Aye Surely fell at the last, eventually scoring by two lengths from uneasy favourite Eternal Night.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
