KILLARNEY has been a happy hunting ground for Bruree trainer Enda Bolger over the years and he struck again at the scenic track with Stealthy Tom which scored a narrow success in the two and a half-mile handicap chase during its recent festival meeting.
Ridden by Simon Torrens, the 3/1 favourite closed on the leaders with two fences to jump and he led before the last, holding on in the JP McManus colours to beat the Gavin Cromwell-trained Broken Ice, a 20/1 chance, by a nose.
Dermot Weld was on the mark at both Sligo and Killarney and it was Chris Hayes of Shanagolden who rode his winner at the Kerry venue. The Colvin Ryan-owned Grappa Nonino landed the two-mile handicap at odds of 11/4, the four-year-old coming through to lead inside the final furlong and win by a length and a quarter from the John Murphy-trained 5/4 favourite Barometer.
Trainer Richard O’Brien (Ballingarry) helped County Meath apprentice Jack Kearney complete the second double of his career as Marvelosa took the ten-furlong maiden. A 5/6 favourite, the four-year-old didn’t enjoy the clearest of runs in the straight but came through to lead inside the final furlong to beat the Joe Murphy-trained Mon Coeur by half a length. Kearney had earlier won on the Gordon Elliott-trained 13/2 chance In From The Cold.
Ballingarry’s Billy Lee was first off the mark at Leopardstown as Deepone took the seven-furlong two-year-old maiden on his debut in great style. Trained by Paddy Twomey, the 3/1 favourite made light of an unfavourable outside draw as he came through to beat the Jessica Harrington-trained Instant Appeal by two and a half lengths for owner Vimal Khosla.
At the same meeting, Chris Hayes closed out the card with another winner for Dermot Weld as even money favourite Shamida won the concluding 12-furlong fillies’ maiden. Owned by HH Aga Khan, the three-year-old had a little in hand as she beat the Harrington-trained Scarlett O’Hara by half a length.
There’s twilight racing action at Limerick this Thursday and Friday.
