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 Listed occasion and dominated from the front from the beginning, keeping up the gallop to prevail by six lengths.
The triumph was well received by the Cork crowd, with the trainer a little local outfit based just 40 minutes away from the track.
Allen stated: "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 would not want 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 all over. Even when he was five or six lengths ahead, he was still shooting the horse at fences. The plan 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 brother Darragh, who gets along with Darragh (O'Keeffe), trips out for me and I have a lot of regional assistance too."
Lonesome Boatman at Cork (Thomas Weekes/PA)
Regarding plans, the trainer quipped: "Pints will be intoxicated 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 favourite to preserve his unbeaten record and was just under 3 lengths too good for Grey Jude, leaving fitness instructor Henry de Bromhead considering an action up to Grade One level.
De Bromhead stated: "He is a beautiful young horse, did it nicely in the end and the second horse is a decent horse as well. I got anxious after his mistake at the second-last however he leapt the last well and galloped out well. He is unbeaten and has not done anything incorrect so hopefully he'll keep advancing.
"There aren't many alternatives throughout Christmas so he could run in Leopardstown's Grade One beginner over 2 miles. I think good ground is essential 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 "The number of Days 'Til Christmas?" Irish EBF Novice Hurdle at 3-1 under Sean O'Keeffe.
The trainer said: "He has actually come on a lot and while it is a little difficult to settle him, it isn't a massive task and when I spoke with Sean (O'Keeffe) beforehand, he understood exactly what I wanted. You just need to add to heels and then offer him the reins, and Sean rode a charming race.
"The horse was purchased for small cash and well done to JD Moore who found him for us. He had been put in bumpers for a smaller sized fitness instructor 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 handicap now but sometimes with a horse like this, there is nothing wrong with having a high rating as you can box away racing in smaller fields and select 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 require it but I wasn't taking any possibilities. Ricky offered him a charming ride, the horse has fantastic 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, champ fitness instructor) horses have yet to come back, to start with we'll enjoy today and stress over that later on."