The Trigger pulls away to make it fab five success
THE Trigger completed a remarkable successive fifth victory for owner and trainer Ronan Mcnally in the Toals Handicap Chase at Downpatrick yesterday.
Top jockey, Mark Walsh was content to wait until jumping into the lead three from home to win under a hands and heels ride.
The local horse has won both over hurdles and fences to complete his five-timer for the Armagh trainer and son, Tiernan – the winner’s regular work rider at home.
Mcnally said of the veteran 11-year-old: “We thought he would win today.
“He’s just thriving at present. He keeps improving and eats every nut of his feed.
“He’s bouncing at home and fresh as paint. Mixing hurdles and fences has kept him sweet.
“This year we have trained him differently – letting him carrying a lot of weight and take him to the beach and don’t gallop him.
“He’s been doing some hunting and cross-country events with my son Tubs and it has turned him inside out.
“We have no plans at present but will see what comes up. Sean Flanagan (regular jockeyinjured) gets a lot of credit but Mark was amazing on him today. We are in the mix for six now!”
Dollys Destination(18s to 17/2) supplied another local victory in the Randox Hurdle, rapidly cutting through the field on the downhill run to lead at the final flight and winning easily.
The winner partnered by Conor Orr is owned and trained by Maghera based Gary Mcgill and having won over hurdles at
Navan last November and highlighted her wellbeing with an excellent effort on the flat at the Galway Festival.
Mcgill said: “She’s a tight, good, wee mare. We’ve always thought a lot of her.
“We gave her a run in Galway on the flat and she finished fourth and got badly hampered, so we thought we might as well come here today as she seems to like it around here.
“I couldn’t believe how she came down the hill and just took off. The gaps came at the right time for her and she got a nice run through.
“You could see her in maybe two or three weeks’ time.”
The Shane Nolan trained, Gotta Getaway with Eamon Corbett aboard provided a 16/1 shock victory. The locally trained Willyouwalkwithme
(finished fifth) attempted to make all but the winner got a dream run up the inside to prevail.
Corbett said: “She ran a cracker the last day and I just got chinned on the line and I was unlucky. Today we just got a nice split up the inner and got there and kept going. We were confident enough coming here today, so it is great to get it done.”
The Kevin Smith trained, It Takes Time fitted with first time cheek pieces supplied a bigger shock result when scoring at 40/1 providing jockey Conor Orr with a double.
Dakota Beat attempted to make all but it was Golden Nomad and the winner which jumped the last in unison and the winner staying on best in the closing stages.
Orr said: “Hopefully there will be another race or two in her. She has done that well today so hopefully at these types of tracks she might be competitive.”
Lighthouse Rose successfully made all with Philip Enright in the saddle in the mares handicap to continue Mark Mc Niff ’s purple patch.
Pat’s Pearl fell five from home bringing down Mrs Davies and Caerleon Kate but the winner denied favourite, Dime A Dozen by a wide margin.
The opening race proved a one horse contest when the Tom Gibney trained, Rhythm Devine made all and jumping superbly in the hands of Darragh O’keeffe scored for favourite backers.
The concluding Beginners Chase was won by the Gavin Cromwell trained Ruinous.
Red hot: The Trigger was on target yet again