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 dominated from the front from the outset, maintaining the gallop to prevail by 6 lengths.
The victory was well gotten by the Cork crowd, with the fitness instructor a small regional attire based just 40 minutes away from the track.
Allen said: "That is astounding! 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 concerning this race without a run.
"Today was the strategy and the male on his back - what can I say, he was brave as a lion all over. Even when he was 5 or 6 lengths ahead, he was still firing the horse at fences. The strategy was to go a gallop and he was really on-song.
"I farm in Araglin, which is 40 minutes away and this is my regional course. I have eight horses and my bro Darragh, who gets along with Darragh (O'Keeffe), trips out for me and I have a lot of regional support too."
Lonesome Boatman at Cork (Thomas Weekes/PA)
Regarding plans, the trainer quipped: "Pints will be drunk and we'll discuss it then!".
Darragh O'Keeffe delighted in a treble on the card, with his 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 preserve his unbeaten record and was simply under three lengths too excellent for Grey Jude, leaving trainer Henry de Bromhead eyeing a step up to Grade One level.
De Bromhead stated: "He is a lovely young horse, did it nicely in the end and the second horse is a good horse as well. I got nervous after his mistake at the second-last but he jumped the last well and galloped out well. He is unbeaten and has actually done nothing wrong so hopefully he'll keep progressing.
"There aren't many options during Christmas so he could run in Leopardstown's Grade One amateur over two miles. I think nice ground is very important to him."
De Bromhead and O'Keeffe likewise collaborated 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 "How Many Days 'Til Christmas?" Irish EBF Novice Hurdle at 3-1 under Sean O'Keeffe.
The fitness instructor said: "He has actually begun a lot and while it is a little challenging to settle him, it isn't a huge job and when I talked to Sean (O'Keeffe) in advance, he understood exactly what I desired. You just have to tack on to heels and after that give him the reins, and Sean rode a charming race.
"The horse was bought for small money and well done to JD Moore who discovered him for us. He had actually been positioned in bumpers for a smaller sized trainer in England, we paid 12 grand for him and the plan was simply to win a race with him.
"He'll get a couple of pounds in the handicap now however often with a horse like this, there is nothing with having a high rating as you can box away racing in smaller sized 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 does not require it however I wasn't taking any possibilities. Ricky gave him a beautiful ride, the horse has dazzling 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, champ trainer) horses have yet to come back, to start with we'll delight in today and stress about that later on."