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, keeping up the gallop to prevail by six lengths.
The victory was well gotten by the Cork crowd, with the trainer a small local attire based just 40 minutes far from the track.
Allen stated: "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 pertaining to this race without a run.
"Today was the plan and the guy on his back - what can I say, he was brave as a lion all over. Even when he was five or six lengths ahead, he was still firing 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 8 horses and my bro Darragh, who gets along with Darragh (O'Keeffe), rides out for me and I have a lot of regional support too."
Lonesome Boatman at Cork (Thomas Weekes/PA)
Regarding plans, the fitness instructor quipped: "Pints will be drunk and we'll discuss it then!".
Darragh O'Keeffe enjoyed a treble on the card, with his first winner being Mister Pessimistic in department 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 favourite to maintain his unbeaten record and was simply under 3 lengths too good for Grey Jude, leaving trainer Henry de Bromhead eyeing a step up to Grade One level.
De Bromhead stated: "He is a beautiful young horse, did it perfectly in the end and the 2nd horse is a good horse as well. I got anxious after his mistake at the second-last but he leapt the last well and galloped out well. He is unbeaten and has actually not done anything incorrect so hopefully he'll keep advancing.
"There aren't numerous options during Christmas so he could run in Leopardstown's Grade One novice over two miles. I believe nice ground is essential to him."
De Bromhead and O'Keeffe also collaborated 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 fitness instructor said: "He has begun a lot and while it is a little challenging to settle him, it isn't an enormous task and when I spoke with Sean (O'Keeffe) beforehand, he understood precisely what I wanted. You just have to tack on to heels and then give 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 actually been put in bumpers for a smaller trainer in England, we paid 12 grand for him and the plan was simply to win a race with him.
"He'll get a few pounds in the handicap now however often with a horse like this, there is nothing incorrect with having a high ranking as you can box away racing in smaller sized fields and choose 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 does not need it however I wasn't taking any possibilities. Ricky provided him a beautiful trip, the horse has fantastic scope however can be a little brave," stated Griffin.
"This horse will get an entry for the now and while I understand Willie's (Mullins, champ fitness instructor) horses have yet to reappear, firstly we'll take pleasure in today and stress over that later on."