RUBY WALSH rode his first winner for Charles Byrnes when Crystal Pearl won the mares’ maiden hurdle at Limerick on Wednesday. An odds-on favourite, the four-year-old scored a comfortable success for the pair the winner is likely to run on the Flat in the not too distant future. Gordon Elliott and Paul Carberry is a combination that has enjoyed plenty of success over the years and they struck with Casual Approach in the maiden hurdle. Sandra Hughes and Adrian Heskin teamed up to win the beginners’ chase with Morney Wing and the other winner over fences at the meeting was Boher Call who won the handicap chase for Paul Flynn and Luke Dempsey. Trainer Roger Sweeney saddled Corporate Box to win the mares’ handicap hurdle under Anthony Fox while the bumper went to Babbling Stream who was ridden by Patrick Mullins for Thurles-based Pat Doyle.
Katie T Stars At Limerick On Thursday
The Grade 1 mares’ hurdle at Punchestown is the immediate target for Katie T who ran out the easiest of winners in the 11f handicap at Limerick on Thursday. Successful in the valuable BoyleSports Hurdle at Leopardstown in January, Kevin Prendergast’s six-year-old is now set to clash with Annie Power next week in what promises to be one of the races of the festival. Her win was one of four for Chris Hayes who had taken the earlier fillies’ maiden on the Paul Deegan-trained Corail. Hayes also teamed up with Tim Doyle to take the 1m handicap on outsider Pushkar and rounded off a memorable afternoon with an easy victory on the Patrick Prendergast-trained King Christophe in three-runner finale. Jessica Harrington and Fran Berry scored with Neverushacon in the 11f maiden on the other event on the card went to the Conor Hoban-ridden Jealika who scored for trainer Mark Fahey in the sprint handicap at odds of 25/1.
Upcoming Fixtures
Cork – Monday 20th April
Wexford – Tuesday 21st April
Fairyhouse – Wednesday 22nd April
Tipperary – Thursday 23rd April
Dundalk – Friday 24th April
Kilbeggan – Friday 24th April
Limerick – Saturday 25th April
Gowran Park – Sunday 26th April
