Paul Nolan recorded his most significant flat race win to date when Cloone River took the featured Guinness Gold Cup at Tralee this afternoon.
Tadhg O'Shea gave the 7yo a good drive to lead close home, half a length being the margin of victory over top-weight, Mutakarrim. A son of prolific race winning mare, Grangemills, Nolan suggested his charge now deserved a break and would make a lovely chaser in time.
Despite being 11Ibs 'wrong' at the weights, Victory Craft was supported from 20/1 down to 9/1 for the Apprentice Handicap. The gamble proved to be an inspired one, as Rachel Costello partnered the previously twenty times raced maiden to an all the way win. The gelding was having his first outing since joining Newcastle West permit-holder Thomas Walker.
The opening 7f maiden appeared to be going to script when Ballydoyle newcomer, Amalie Bay (2/5 fav) led early in the straight and soon went clear. However in a very rarely seen incident, the son of Danehill effectively pulled himself up well inside the final furlong when the race was firmly in his control.
Though pilot, Michael Kinane did get his mount into stride again, the momentum lost cost him victory, as Almost Forever, in the famous Robert Sangster silks came flying through from a position of last into the straight to secure a short head victory for trainer, David Wachman and jockey Seamie Heffernan.
Bookmakers aren't usually smiling after a success for the Con Collins yard. However the win of Viva La Diva (5/1 to 13/2) would have been welcomed by the layers in the Fillies Handicap. Robbie Burke, fresh from his big win aboard Latino Magic on Wednesday, partnered the victor and thus foiled gambled-on favourite Tropical Lady (6s to 3s) who could only manage sixth.
Michael Kinane looked to have secured compensation for his misfortune in the first when going clear in the straight aboard Castledale in the premier nursery. However even his legendary strength couldn't keep his mount going for long enough to hold the storming late run of Chestnut Gallinule and Declan McDonagh who got up by a neck.
John Oxx's odd-on favourite, Vintage Port got turned over by Dermot Weld's 8/1 chance, All Theatrical in the 1m 3f maiden but Oxx later gained a degree of compensation when the Sheikh Mohammed-owned Baikal took the closing handicap.
Filed by James McMahon
