22-05-2025
Double delight for in-form O'Keeffe
Darragh O'Keeffe's recent move up the ladder at Henry de Bromhead's stable has already begun to reap its reward, but on Thursday night at Limerick it was a 27-1 double provided by Enda Bolger and Edward O'Grady which brought his tally for the new season to an impressive 13 winners.
In the Treaty Plant Hire Handicap Chase, he got Bolger's Tippin And Tappin up in the shadow of the post, but it was less dramatic aboard O'Grady's Priory Park, which led turning for home and found plenty to beat stablemate Ceroc in the Gairdin Glas Handicap Chase.
Of the latter, O'Keeffe reported: 'I thought he'd run a big race. He was a bit unlucky the last day, in Killarney, over shorter. The second-last fence was omitted then and they got away from me, and all I seemed to do was stay on. Up in trip today, and there was an honest gallop, and he jumped well, on the whole. It worked out grand.'
Useful hurdler Intellotto made a seamless transition to chasing in the Summer Racing At Limerick Racecourse Beginners' Chase.
The mount of JJ Slevin, and trained by Joseph O'Brien, he set off in front alongside market rival Jigoro and they remained almost inseparable until he began to turn the screw as they approached the turn for home. Quite quickly, matters were in hand, and the odds-on favourite raced away to win as he pleased.
'He's a clever horse, with plenty of scope and plenty of size, and it was a nice first run over fences,' said Slevin. 'He was entered in Killarney the other day, but Joseph decided to wait and do a bit more schooling with him. He was a high-class hurdling horse, and it looks like he's going to run to that level over fences. He could be an exciting novice for the summer, into the autumn, I hope.'
In the opener, Seán O'Keeffe got it very right aboard the Sean Aherne-trained Get It Right, setting the fractions from the outset and keeping plenty in the tank to fend off the persistent late challenge of market leader Crowsatedappletart.
In the absence of would-be favourite Look To The West, only three went to post for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares' Chase. Je T'Ai Porte took over at the top of the market and did a good job of justifying that position.
Keith Donoghue allowed the Gavin Cromwell-trained 4-5 chance to lead early and thereafter she remained in control despite A Law Of Her Own, who eventually lost second place to Justabitofyours, throwing down a credible challenge early in the straight.
Clonshire River gained a long overdue first success inside the rails by taking the Anglo Printers Handicap Chase for Eddie and Patrick Harty and jockey Kieren Buckley. Still relatively lightly raced over fences, this was a decent effort and one he should be able to build upon.
'It's been a long time coming with this fella,' admitted Eddie Harty. 'His first run for us was a very good run, and he looked like he could go on to things. However, he went backwards but had little bits of issues, in fairness to the horse. This was a while coming, but he likes the summer ground, and we freshened him up for this. His jumping won it for him, really — he jumped really well.'
Iceberg Theory built on a most promising chasing debut by taking the Munster Drilling Beginners' Chase, despite the ground being quicker than ideal. Conor Stone-Walsh set off in front, but his mount was unable to hold his position on the ground.
However, the young rider kept him close enough to mount a late challenge. As Boston Rover ran around on the approach to the final fence, he jumped upsides and then picked up better than the long-time leader to win with a couple of lengths to spare.
Winning trainer Paul Nolan said: 'You can see by his galloping, he bends his knee, but it's hard not to take your chance in a 120-or-less-over-hurdles race.
'He has had a few nice runs. His run was good the last day, against Henry's mare (Majestic Force). He was sketchy early on in that race and got himself detached a bit, but Seán (Flanagan) looked after him and got him going late. On the basis of that, he had a great chance today, and we had to let him take his chance.'
