Latest news with #SummerRacingAtLimerickRacecourseBeginners'Chase
Irish Examiner
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
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.'
Irish Examiner
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Intellotto can make winning start to life over fences at Limerick
Not too many Lope De Vega's take their chance over fences, but Intellotto can add to the small band of the stallion's progeny to be successful in the sphere by taking the Summer Racing At Limerick Racecourse Beginners' Chase, the third race on this evening's card in Limerick. Joseph O'Brien's now five-year-old has won once in seven outings thus far on the level, boasts two wins from five outings over timber, and can make an immediate impact over the larger obstacles. Last time out, in mid-April in Mallow, he was having his first run since August, and it showed as he was never able to get into a position to land a meaningful blow. Nevertheless, he finished third behind Smooth Tom and just three parts of a length behind Jigoro, who is his chief rival this time. While that one has previous form over fences and it was a second-place finish, it was a disappointing effort, and the quick ground is likely to be against him. Intellotto is proven on good going, is 10lbs better off with Jigoro, and with that run under his belt, he should be more than ready to do himself justice. Only four go to post for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares' Chase but it is quite an interesting race. It is difficult to look beyond the Henry de Bromhead-trained Look To The West, who ran well on her chasing debut, which was during a sticky period for the stable, and duly built on it by winning a beginners' chase in late April at Kilbeggan. Having been tried at graded level twice last season, she is clearly held in some regard, and it will be disappointing if she fails to follow up here. However, Je T'Ai Ports has loads of experience and it's not inconceivable that she will be allowed to return to her free-going, front-running tactics to exploit the inexperience of the selection. If that is the case, it could put a very different spin on the race. A Law Of Her Own has some smart form but needs to improve to worry the selection. Aspurofthemoment can also make an immediate impact over fences by taking the Munster Drilling Beginners' Chase. Winner of a Dromahane point-to-point for Eugene O'Sullivan, he subsequently joined Gavin Cromwell and continued on his winning way by taking a handicap hurdle at Gowran Park. He then followed up at Bellewstown, and he looks the type to maintain his progress now sent over larger obstacles. Iceberg Theory and Grooveykindoflove can fill the frame.
