COURTESY of a superb five-timer (which included a 159/1 treble on Friday), Eric McNamara was the trainer-in-form at Listowel’s Harvest Racing Festival.
The Rathkeale handler was first in the winners’ enclosure with Donkey Years, successful in the Devon Inn Dan Sheehan Memorial Handicap Hurdle.
The 17/2 shot, who was ridden by Mark Walsh, is the property of JP McManus of Martinstown.
“It’s great to have a winner in those colours,” commented McNamara to irishracing.com. “I’d like to have one crack at the Munster National (October 20, Limerick) with him.”
Next, with teenager Calum Hogan in the saddle, he scored with Ifitwasme (10/1) – for the Wilmot family – in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.
McNamara’s big festival winner came in the featured Є100,000 MCG Handicap Listed Hurdle Race with Frankendael, under an impressive ride from Daniel King.
“That was magic and he is a lovely, lovely horse who has improved all the time since we got him,” said the trainer, who also praised its syndicate owners headed-up by Vincent Casey.
The winner was returned at generous odds of 9/1.
Another winner for the in-form McNamara was the Seán Flanagan-ridden Mount Ferns (3/1) in a 2m handicap hurdle.
Finally, Seán Curran-owned Cahirdown Boy (3/1) won the Paud Fitzmaurice Memorial Handicap Steeplechase. He too was ridden by Flanagan.
Seán and Eric are great friends and famously won back-to-back Kerry Nationals with Ponmeoath in 2007/’08.
“The horses are in great form. We obviously aim for Listowel and it has been an unbelievable few days,” McNamara said.
For good measure, Athea trainer Eoin McCarthy topped-off a memorable festival for Limerick with a whopping 250/1 winner with the aptly named Kingdom Calling.
And, back to McNamara he registered another double at Down Royal on Monday of this week.
