Lonesome Boatman Cruises To Cork Success
Sean Allen's Lonesome Boatman was a popular regional winner of the Paddy Power Cork Grand National.
The nine-year-old was an 8-1 chance under Darragh O'Keeffe for the three-and-a-half-mile Listed occasion and controlled from the front from the start, maintaining the gallop to dominate by six lengths.
The success was well received by the Cork crowd, with the trainer a little local outfit based only 40 minutes far from the track.
Allen stated: "That is amazing! 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 wish to be coming to this race without a run.
"Today was the plan and the man on his back - what can I say, he was brave as a lion everywhere. Even when he was 5 or 6 lengths ahead, he was still shooting 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 local course. I have eight horses and my sibling Darragh, who is friendly with Darragh (O'Keeffe), rides out for me and I have plenty of local support too."
Lonesome Boatman at Cork (Thomas Weekes/PA)
Regarding strategies, the fitness instructor quipped: "Pints will be intoxicated and we'll speak about it then!".
Darragh O'Keeffe enjoyed a treble on the card, with his very first winner being Mister Pessimistic in division one of 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 3 lengths too great for Grey Jude, leaving fitness instructor Henry de Bromhead eyeing a step up to Grade One level.
De Bromhead said: "He is a beautiful young horse, did it nicely in the end and the second horse is a good horse also. I got nervous after his mistake at the second-last however he jumped the last well and galloped out well. He is unbeaten and has not done anything wrong so hopefully he'll keep progressing.
"There aren't numerous options throughout Christmas so he might run in Leopardstown's Grade One amateur over 2 miles. I think nice ground is crucial 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 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 said: "He has begun a lot and while it is a little tricky to settle him, it isn't a massive job and when I spoke with Sean (O'Keeffe) beforehand, he understood exactly what I wanted. You just need to tack on to heels and then offer him the reins, and Sean rode a beautiful race.
"The horse was purchased for small money and well done to JD Moore who found 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 plan was just to win a race with him.
"He'll get a few pounds in the now but often with a horse like this, there is absolutely nothing incorrect with having a high ranking as you can box away racing in smaller fields and pick up money."
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 however I wasn't taking any possibilities. Ricky offered him a charming ride, the horse has dazzling scope but can be a little brave," said Griffin.
"This horse will get an entry for the Drinmore now and while I know Willie's (Mullins, champion trainer) horses have yet to reappear, firstly we'll delight in today and stress over that later."