Gowran jockey Danny Mullins made a most welcoming return to the saddle over the weekend following a lengthy lay-off, as he enjoyed double big race success for his uncle willie on the two major Galway festival winners.
On Saturday, he partnered Galway plate winner royal Rendezvous in a thrilling finish to hold off the challenge of the Gordon Elliott trained hardline to land the Grade 2 featured champion chase, while on Sunday he was onboard the Galway hurdle winner Saldier who defied odds-on favoritism to land the horse & jockey hurdle in Tipperary.
Meanwhile, there was no such joy for Danny’s dad Tony, as his Princess Zoe could only finish 5th in the group 1 Qatar Prix du Cadran in Longchamp on Saturday.
Hopes were high that Princess Zoe could repeat last year’s victory, but despite traveling strongly at the top of the home straight, she didn’t accelerate as she would have liked & the race was won by the Alan King trained Trueshan with the Frankie Dettori ridden Stradivarius filling the runner-up spot.
There is a possibility that Princess Zoe could be re-acquainted with both Trueshan & Stradivarious in the long-distance cup in Ascot on Saturday week, 16th October, if not then she may travel back to France for the french St. Leger.
‘Influential lady’ provides local trainer winner at local track
Gowran native Jimmy Barcoe enjoyed victory in Gowran Park on Saturday, as his charge influential lady ran out an easy 6 length winner of the holden plant rentals handicap hurdle with Cathal Landers on board.
Having run a superb race to finish 3rd at odds of 66/1 at the recent Listowel festival, hopes were high & the progressive 7-year-old ran out a highly convincing winner.
Jimmy came close to securing a double when the ultra-consistent jiving jerry was a close third in the good enuf 2 eat caterers handicap hurdle.
Another noteworthy winner from the two-day meeting was Tullyveery lad who ran out a very convincing winner of the race displays handicap hurdle.
Tullyveery lad is owned by former Carrickshock & Kilkenny hurler Pat Tennyson, trained by Dunnamaggin man Ray Cody & ridden by Callan native Jack Foley who’s in a rich vein form at present.
Jack rode three winners at the recent Listowel festival, while also rode a winner in Killarney on Sunday for the Declan Queally stable, who trained western victory to win the Pat Walsh mares hurdle on Friday, having also won the race in 2019.
