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 possibility under Darragh O'Keeffe for the three-and-a-half-mile Listed event and controlled from the front from the beginning, maintaining the gallop to prevail by six lengths.
The triumph was well gotten by the Cork crowd, with the fitness instructor a little local attire based only 40 minutes away 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 wouldn't desire to be pertaining to this race without a run.
"Today was the strategy and the guy on his back - what can I state, he was brave as a lion all over. Even when he was 5 or six lengths ahead, he was still firing the horse at fences. The strategy was to go a gallop and he was actually on-song.
"I farm in Araglin, which is 40 minutes away and this is my local course. I have 8 horses and my sibling Darragh, who gets along with Darragh (O'Keeffe), trips out for me and I have lots of local assistance too."
Lonesome Boatman at Cork (Thomas Weekes/PA)
Regarding strategies, the trainer quipped: "Pints will be drunk and we'll speak about it then!".
Darragh O'Keeffe took pleasure 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 point-to-point and bumper winner, the four-year-old was a 4-11 preferred to maintain his unbeaten record and was just under 3 lengths too great for Grey Jude, leaving fitness instructor Henry de Bromhead considering an action up to Grade One level.
De stated: "He is a lovely young horse, did it nicely in the end and the 2nd horse is a decent horse as well. I got worried after his error at the second-last however he jumped the last well and galloped out well. He is unbeaten and has actually done nothing wrong so hopefully he'll keep advancing.
"There aren't lots of choices during Christmas so he might run in Leopardstown's Grade One novice over two miles. I think great ground is very important to him."
De Bromhead and O'Keeffe also teamed up to land the Paddy Power 'Did You Watch The Breeders Cup At All' Mares Maiden Hurdle with 6-5 favourite Echoing Silence.
Declan Queally struck Listed gold as Tackletommywoowoo landed the Paddy Power "How Many Days 'Til Christmas?" Irish EBF Novice Hurdle at 3-1 under Sean O'Keeffe.
The trainer stated: "He has begun a lot and while it is a little tricky to settle him, it isn't an enormous task and when I talked to Sean (O'Keeffe) in advance, he understood precisely what I wanted. You just have to tack on to heels and then provide him the reins, and Sean rode a lovely race.
"The horse was purchased for little cash and well done to JD Moore who discovered him for us. He had actually been put in bumpers for a smaller sized trainer in England, we paid 12 grand for him and the strategy was just to win a race with him.
"He'll get a few pounds in the handicap now however often with a horse like this, there is absolutely nothing incorrect with having a high rating as you can box away racing in smaller fields and choose 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 possibilities. Ricky offered him a charming ride, the horse has brilliant scope however can be a little brave," said Griffin.
"This horse will get an entry for the Drinmore now and while I understand Willie's (Mullins, champ trainer) horses have yet to come back, firstly we'll enjoy today and stress over that later."