The final leg of Limerick's two day meeting concluded today where trainer Daphne Scholts saddled her first winner when Maith An Fear landed the Jimmy Mansell Benefit Fund Maiden Hurdle.
Despite making a few dreadful errors, Conor O'Dwyer managed to guide Maith An Fear to a two length win with gamble of the race, It's Showtime (5/1 - 9/4) back in fourth.
Curragh based Scholts moved to Ireland from Holland in 1996 and has held a license for two years and, although she currently has ten young horses in training, "has a few empty stables still!"
The local Michael Hourigan yard rarely leaves this meeting without a winner and Rabble Run landed a gamble (3/1 -
9/4) for the yard in the opening maiden hurdle.
Connections of newcomer Batang in the race (finished a staying on sixth) found themselves in trouble with the stewards who decided that the rider had made insufficient effort. Trainer
Gerry Cully was fined E800 fine, Batang's rider Andrew Leigh received a seven day ban while the horse can now enjoy a 42 day break.
Jockey James 'Corky' Carroll has impressed in point to points recently and claimed his seventh racecourse win on Pat Fahy's Native Stag in the National Students Raceday Challenge Maiden Hurdle. The son of Be My Native was all out under Carroll to win by half a length and Fahy is now due to contest a novice hurdle at Thurles next week.
Another horse bound for that same Listed race in Thurles is Bodakker who benefited from a fine ride from John Sullivan to win the Ladbroke Ireland Novice Handicap Hurdle. Co Kildare
trainer Jarlath Fahey later stated "he is tough out and is blessed more with stamina than speed."
The father-son, trainer-rider combination of Paddy and Martin Mooney landed Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle with 12/1 shot Shandarr.
Top jockey David Casey partnered Baily Mist to an impressive win in the most valuable event on the card, the €17,000 Ryan's Cleaners Mares Hurdle while Fourstargale received a proper
front running ride from JT McNamara to win the winner's bumper.
Filed by James McMahon
