REST OF DAY TWO REPORT:THE RACE between JP McManus and Michael O'Leary to be leading owner this season might be tight but not as tight as the epic finish fought out by their horses in last evening's Grade One Bumper, where Lovethehigherlaw just edged out Waaheb to win for the Ryanair boss.
Only a short head separated the pair after a titanic struggle between two hugely-promising youngsters in the Chronicle Flat Race that boosted O’Leary’s prizemoney tally for the season to close on €1.3 million.
That still leaves him the guts of a hundred grand behind McManus with just three days of the season to go but much longer-term potential centres on Lovethehigherlaw, who Patrick Mullins powered to a dramatic victory. “Patrick rode our horse with the sheer confidence he has in him and he did today what he has been showing us at home,” said winning trainer Willie Mullins. “He’s going to be smart wherever he goes next year. He maybe wouldn’t want real winter ground.”
Dermot Weld plans to give Waaheb a long summer break.
Both Patrick Mullins and Waaheb’s rider Robbie McNamara got two day bans each for their use of the whip in this race.
Willie Mullins landed a third winner of the week in the handicap chase despite one of his runners, Apt Approach, falling at the last when leading. However his stable companion, and topweight, Scotsirish powered through late under Ruby Walsh to beat Lucky Wish by a couple of lengths.
The 16-time British champion jockey Tony McCoy celebrated his 37th birthday with a winner on board Street Entertainer, who provided trainer David Pipe with a first winner in Ireland in the conditions hurdle.
McCoy had to play a less central role in the Grade Two novice hurdle but amateur Barry O’Neill will always remember getting up the champion jockey’s inside after the fourth last on board Askanna.
The 33 to 1 shot was attacked by a number of apparently better-fancied horses from the turn in but always looked to be holding them comfortably enough and wound up beating Mossy Joe by a couple of lengths. It was 16th win of the season for Wexford-based trainer Colin Bowe who is a major figure on the point to point circuit.
The famous Danoli colours of owner Danny O’Neill were carried to a 25 to 1 success in the concluding bumper as Golanbrook beat off favourite Alfred James by a length and a half under jockey Pat Foley.
Oneeightofamile defied topweight in the Opportunity Handicap Hurdle to score for trainer John Kiely and jockey David Splaine.
