11-07-2025
Happy Jacky repeats the feat at Cork
The Mark Fahey-trained 11-year-old Happy Jacky, ridden again by 7lb claimer Peter Smithers, repeated last year's win in the three-mile RBC Brewin Dolphin Hurdle, but only after a protracted duel with market rival Reverend Hubert.
Committed turning out of the back straight by Smithers, the even-money favourite looked in trouble when Reverend Hubert loomed up in the straight but, in typical fashion, Happy Jacky fought back bravely on the run-in to earn the spoils by a head, before being dismounted by Smithers.
'He's a little warrior and the lads (owners, the Ryans) love him,' stated winning trainer Fahey. 'I thought he was beaten three times and going to win three times up the straight — but that's him — he never gives up.'
Smithers said: "Mark has some job done on him. I was going forward all the way, but thought we were in trouble between the last two, but he dug deep for me.'
Eddie Power's dual bumper-winner Sunny South West (5-4 favourite) made a successful start over hurdles when, untidy at the first, he made all under Phillip Enright to take the Buy Tickets On Maiden Hurdle at the expense of William Tell and That Danny Feeling.
'He never jumped those rubber hurdles before and was probably travelling too well and had too much time going down to his hurdles,' explained Power. 'He wants two and a half miles and there's a novice for him on the Thursday of Galway.'
Meanwhile, in Kilbeggan, the Henry de Bromhead-trained Amirite, runner-up to Idas Boy in the race last year, bagged the €100,000 Kilmurray's Homevalue Hardware Mullingar Midlands National under an inspired, front-running ride by Darragh O'Keeffe.
The nine-year-old, without a chase success since October 2022, jumped impeccably in front, with the exception of the last two fences, but found plenty for a determined O'Keeffe to hold second reserve Mica Malpic and Mark Walsh by a head, with an 11-length gap back to favourite Moonovercloon.
'It's great for his owners and everyone at home,' declared a delighted O'Keeffe. 'He's been knocking on the door in plenty of big handicaps and deserved to win a big pot.
'He's a classy horse and loves good ground. If you took his Punchestown effort out of it and looked at his Aintree run, he was probably entitled to be favourite.
'He missed the last two fences but, in fairness to him, he dug deep and stuck his head out when the other horse came to him.'
Stable representative Robbie Power added: 'He ran a blinder in the Topham over the National fences and Paddy (owner Paddy Hale) would like to go back to Aintree, for the National, if he gets in.'
The De Bromhead team completed an across-the-card double when debutante Salsinha, backed into 5-4 favourite, bolted up in the Cork bumper, under a supremely confident ride by John Gleeson.
The Philip Fenton-trained Shraheen defied top-weight in the €30,000 Writech Handicap Hurdle, Niall Moore's mount travelling close to the pace before seizing the initiative and holding Ad Caelum by three-quarters of a length.
'He's a fine horse, with the stamp of a chaser,' stated Fenton. 'That ground is as quick as he'd want. But I'm very pleased to win another nice pot with him. He needs to get out for a break and, all being well, will go chasing in October or November. He has a good technique over fences.'
