Downpatrick trainer Brian Hamilton supplied a popular local success when Dynamic Allen under a very confident ride by Kevin Brouder claimed the Coors Hurdle. The winner in rear for most travelled into the race in impressive fashion – leading at the last and going clear up the home straight writes Joe Kavanagh.
Brian Hamilton said: ”I’ve just got here from the point-to-point at Enniskillen and I watched the race on the phone going through Downpatrick! I had a runner in the first race at the point-to-point and had to rush back here to see it. She’s in again on Wednesday at Punchestown but I don’t know – we’ll see what way she comes out of that there. She had a few breathing issues so we had to have her wind done a couple of times. Once she sees she is going forward and passing horses she races far better.”
Another local Northern Ireland trainer from Armagh, Keith Watson, produced Manomine to open his account over hurdles in the long distance handicap following a runaway success in the Charity race at Punchestown last weekend. The local winner with Andrew Ring aboard made all the running and gamely held the late challenge of Pat’s Pearl while favourite Classic Escape finished third but was never on terms. Keith Watson said: ”We were actually about to give up on this horse four or five months ago. We basically pulled him out of a field four weeks ago. He’s in running at Tramore on Tuesday and Clonmel next Thursday so I say he will turn up for either one.”
Navan trainer Noel Meade claimed the opener for the sixth time in the past ten years. Monition attempted to make all the pace but the winner Seeyouinvinnys led at the final flight and asserted on the run home. Meade said: “I was hoping to get soft ground for him somewhere. I always thought he wanted winter ground, and that he would be okay when he got winter ground. I was within an ace of taking him out but then thought sure we’ll run him.”
Well Joey was well held up by Adam Short prior to readily making progress to land the handicap chase for trainer Paul Stafford.
My Oakclahome partnered by Cathal Healy gave a gritty effort to deny the front running Nabraska to win the hunterchase – the favourite Different Spot was pulled up four from home.
The Larne-based Crawford brothers provided the third local winner of the night when Legacy Thor proved the easy winner of the bumper partnered by Ben for his trainer/brother, Stuart.
