Champion Jockey Joseph O’Brien completed a four-timer at Dundalk last night, the highlight of which was when former Scurry Handicap winner Mountain Coral rolled back the years to win the Crowne Plaza Hotel Race & Stay Package Handicap for trainer Frank Oakes.
Mountain Coral, who completed a four-timer culminating in the 2009 Scurry Handicap at The Curragh, came into yesterday’s race without a win in two years and two days but was helped home by O’Brien who steered the nine-year-old to a half length win over fast finishing and well backed 7/4 favourite Miller Beach.
Afterwards Oakes, whose son-in-law and assistant Barry Cash picked up the Outstanding Achievement award at Monday’s HRI Awards, stated: “He’s a right old lad! He wasn’t right for a while but has been good enough again recently. I thought he’d win last week but he came from a good bit back.
“He is what he is now and it’s hard to keep him sound; he’s a bit like myself! As long as he’s happy we’ll keep him going though and hopefully he’ll win another one.
O’Brien, who retained his Jockeys’ Champion title last month, was earlier successful on Antiquus and Deep Speed, and he completed an impressive four-timer when he guided Habesh to victory in the second-last race of the evening.
Big decision
Tony McCoy will decide today whether to partner Cantlow or Colour Squadron in Saturday's Stewart Family Thank You Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
The perennial champion jockey has the choice of owner JP McManus’ three runners in the fiercely-competitive handicap, with Cantlow and Colour Squadron set to be joined by Tap Night. McCoy said: “It’s a tough choice. I think Tap Night is probably a bit high in the handicap and it is probably going to be between Cantlow and Colour Squadron.”
Potential raider Home Farm has been heavily supported in recent days, but will miss the Grade Three prize following an unsatisfactory scope.
Trainer Arthur Moore is hoping the six-year-old will have recovered enough to run at Leopardstown over Christmas where he holds an entry in the Paddy Power Chase on December 27th. “He didn’t come up with a clean scope this morning. It wasn’t as clean as I would have liked so we’re not going to risk sending him over,” said the Naas handler.
“It’s disappointing, but we’re lucky we had it done. He should be back at Christmas for Leopardstown hopefully.”
Fog hits racing
Yesterday's meeting at Kempton was abandoned due to fog.
Clerk of the course Brian Clifford conducted three inspections before finally being forced to admit defeat following a 4.40pm check.
Earlier the remainder of the afternoon meeting at Lingfield was been abandoned due to the fog. Two races of a scheduled seven were run in thick fog but visibility worsened as the afternoon wore on and officials were forced to call an early end to the afternoon.
