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 possibility under Darragh O'Keeffe for the three-and-a-half-mile Listed occasion and dominated from the front from the start, maintaining the gallop to prevail by six lengths.
The success was well gotten by the Cork crowd, with the trainer a little local clothing based just 40 minutes far from the track.
Allen said: "That is incredible! 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 strategy and the guy 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 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 regional course. I have 8 horses and my sibling Darragh, who gets along with Darragh (O'Keeffe), trips 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 discuss it then!".
Darragh O'Keeffe took pleasure 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 just under 3 lengths too excellent for Grey Jude, leaving fitness instructor Henry de a step up to Grade One level.
De Bromhead said: "He is a lovely young horse, did it well in the end and the second horse is a good horse also. I got worried after his mistake at the second-last but he jumped the last well and galloped out well. He is unbeaten and has not done anything wrong so hopefully he'll keep advancing.
"There aren't numerous alternatives throughout Christmas so he could run in Leopardstown's Grade One beginner over 2 miles. I believe good ground is necessary 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 stated: "He has actually come on a lot and while it is a little tricky to settle him, it isn't a massive task and when I spoke with Sean (O'Keeffe) in advance, he knew exactly what I wanted. You just need to tack on to heels and then give him the reins, and Sean rode a lovely race.
"The horse was purchased for little cash 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 strategy was simply to win a race with him.
"He'll get a couple of pounds in the handicap now but in some cases with a horse like this, there is absolutely nothing wrong with having a high ranking as you can box away racing in smaller sized 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 require it but I wasn't taking any opportunities. Ricky provided 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 know Willie's (Mullins, champion fitness instructor) horses have yet to come back, firstly we'll delight in today and worry about that later."