Cork jockeys win four of the first five races at Gowran Park
Captain Cody, right, with Jody Townend up, jumps the last during the first circuit on their way to winning at Gowran Park. Picture: Seb Daly/Sportsfile
THE race that stops a county, the Thyestes Chase, attracted a huge crowd to Gowran Park on its traditional slot on the penultimate Thursday in January and Cork jockeys enjoyed a lucrative afternoon landing four of the opening five contests.
The featured race €100k Grade 3 Goffs Thyestes Chase went to Henry De Bromhead’s Ain’t That A Shame with Rachael Blackmore aboard. He denied Paul Townend a treble.
Glengouly ran a cracker in second place for popular Cork owners (Roaringwater Syndicate). The winning owners Robcour (Brian Acheson) also landed the concluding bumper with the much-touted newcomer Samyr. The Thyestes winner earned a 33/1 quote for the Grand National in April.
Doneraile jockey Darragh O'Keeffe set the tone for Cork jockeys as Champagne Mahler produced an attritional front-running display in the opening Langtons Kilkenny Handicap Hurdle at Gowran Park.
The Henry de Bromhead gelding appeared to relish the drop back to two miles. Benjis Benefit carrying the colours of Paul Byrne was backed into 4/6 but he found little from the second last and could only finish fourth.
Jody Townend kept the Cork momentum going as Captain Cody justified prohibitive odds of 2/11 with a smooth success on hurdles debut in the Connolly's Red Mills Irish EBF Ladies Auction Maiden Hurdle. He'd finished sixth in last season's Cheltenham bumper and Jody Townend steered a wide course throughout.
She closed right up at the fourth last and ultimately struck the front before the last. Jody enjoyed an armchair ride beating Backtonormal by ten lengths. The winner jumped better as the race developed and could be above average.
The dual Cheltenham winner has had well-documented problems. He produced a powerful staying performance in the three-miler.
Paul Townend was patience personified making ground at the second last. Monkfish really opened up on the run-in as he stretched right away to win by five-and-a-half lengths. He also has a Gold Cup entry. He was well-supported in the market and justified the support (13/8).
Tactical Move completed a double for Townend and a treble for Willie Mullins in the beginners' chase.
He contested for the lead with Saint Felicien for much of the journey. Ultimately the final fence proved pivotal as Saint Felicien got under the last, whereas the 5/4 favourite pinged it. He stayed on strongly on the run-in to record a three-and-a-half length victory for Cork owners Joe and Marie Donnelly.
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