Lonesome Boatman Cruises To Cork Success
Sean Allen's Lonesome Boatman was a popular local winner of the Paddy Power Cork Grand National.
The nine-year-old was an 8-1 opportunity under Darragh O'Keeffe for the three-and-a-half-mile Listed occasion and controlled from the front from the outset, maintaining the gallop to dominate by 6 lengths.
The triumph was well gotten by the Cork crowd, with the fitness instructor a small regional attire based just 40 minutes far from the track.
Allen said: "That boggles the mind! Darragh rode the horse in Punchestown (last May) and put this race to us. We knocked the cobwebs off him at Listowel in September as you would not want to be pertaining to this race without a run.
"Today was the strategy and the man on his back - what can I state, he was brave as a lion everywhere. Even when he was five or six lengths ahead, he was still shooting the horse at fences. The strategy was to go a gallop and he was truly on-song.
"I farm in Araglin, which is 40 minutes away and this is my regional course. I have 8 horses and my bro Darragh, who gets along with Darragh (O'Keeffe), trips out for me and I have lots of local support too."
Lonesome Boatman at Cork (Thomas Weekes/PA)
Regarding strategies, the trainer quipped: "Pints will be intoxicated and we'll discuss it then!".
Darragh O'Keeffe delighted in a treble on the card, with his very first winner being Mister Pessimistic in division among the Paddy Power From The Horse's Mouth Podcast Maiden Hurdle.
A and bumper winner, the four-year-old was a 4-11 preferred to keep his unbeaten record and was just under 3 lengths too good for Grey Jude, leaving fitness instructor Henry de Bromhead considering an action up to Grade One level.
De Bromhead stated: "He is a charming young horse, did it well in the end and the 2nd horse is a decent horse too. I got nervous after his error at the second-last but he leapt the last well and galloped out well. He is unbeaten and has actually done absolutely nothing incorrect so ideally he'll keep progressing.
"There aren't many choices throughout Christmas so he might run in Leopardstown's Grade One novice over 2 miles. I think good ground is essential to him."
De Bromhead and O'Keeffe likewise teamed up to land the Paddy Power 'Did You Watch The Breeders Cup At All' Mares Maiden Hurdle with 6-5 preferred Echoing Silence.
Declan Queally struck Listed gold as Tackletommywoowoo landed the Paddy Power "The number of Days 'Til Christmas?" Irish EBF Novice Hurdle at 3-1 under Sean O'Keeffe.
The fitness instructor stated: "He has come on a lot and while it is a little difficult to settle him, it isn't an enormous job and when I spoke with Sean (O'Keeffe) beforehand, he understood precisely what I desired. You just have to add to heels and after that offer him the reins, and Sean rode a beautiful race.
"The horse was bought for small cash and well done to JD Moore who discovered him for us. He had actually been positioned in bumpers for a smaller trainer in England, we paid 12 grand for him and the strategy was just to win a race with him.
"He'll get a couple of pounds in the handicap now however in some cases with a horse like this, there is absolutely nothing wrong with having a high score as you can box away racing in smaller fields and pick up cash."
Eoin Griffin's Ol Man Dingle was the winner of the the Grade Three Paddy Power Betting Shops Irish EBF Novice Chase, scoring at 11-4 under rider Ricky Doyle.
"I put the tongue-tie back on Ol Man Dingle today - he doesn't need it but I wasn't taking any chances. Ricky provided him a lovely trip, the horse has brilliant scope but can be a little brave," stated Griffin.
"This horse will get an entry for the Drinmore now and while I understand Willie's (Mullins, champion trainer) horses have yet to come back, firstly we'll enjoy today and fret about that later."