McDonogh has Hearts thumping at Fairyhouse
It took the locals a while to get going on the opening day of the Easter Festival at Fairyhouse today, but once they hit their straps they dominated the closing races on the card with winners for Noel Meade, Denise Foster, Gavin Cromwell and Dessie McDonogh, who won the feature RYBO Handicap Hurdle with Hearts Are Trumps.
After failing to find the winning post in the opening three races it was Noel Meade who who got the Meath flag flying when Liz Lalor, who only confirmed the ride this morning, guided Ificudiwud home to a one and a half length victory over Young Dev in the McCauley Pharmacy Ladies National over three and a half miles.
"It was a close call as I said to Eddie (O'Leary) at 9.50am that I couldn't get anyone to ride him and we'd be better not running him," explained the trainer.
"Suddenly it dawned on me to try Liz, who had rode in a few bumpers for me. She said she was supposed to be riding for Colin Motherway and only rang back at 9.57am to say she could ride.
"He was fresh and he jumped great for her. He's a funny horse as he doesn't like it fast and doesn't like it soft. She said even when he went into a softish patch she could feel him coming back underneath her. He's had an easy time because the ground was heavy and it worked out well," concluded Meade.
Willie Mullins temporarily halted the start of the locals gallop with victory in the next when Lady Breffni struck late to deny Robbie Power on board Jessica Harrington's Crosshill, but the last three winners on the card all went to Meath trainers with McDonagh's 12/1 shot Hearts Are Trumps winning under a great ride from Jody McGarvey to see off Denise Foster/Team Cullentra's Magic Tricks in a one-two finish for owner JP McManus.
McDonogh won the equivalent race in 1976 with Monksfield and again in 1985 with Herbert United
"He deserved that. He's a smashing horse. He's very professional and jumped great. You can see the muck on his heels there and he'd even like it better," claimed the delighted Moynalty trainer.
"The ground made a huge difference today. He even went to Listowel after Galway last year and he was dead in the straight. He's the only horse I have around the place, I have 10 in.
“He might have a run on the Flat. He ran well in a maiden at Thurles when he was fourth. We could look at a mile-and-a-half and he could even go two miles on the Flat. If he arrives in Galway in the same form as that it'll do,” concluded McDonogh.
Foster and Cullentra didn't have to wait long for their first winner of the festival as Party Central justified 6/4 favouritism to win the Mares Flat Race under Jamie Codd in the Bective colours of Noel and Valarie Moran.
"She's lovely. She was entitled to do that after Leopardstown and she did it nicely,. Jamie's head was on the block as he had her from the word go, he won the bumper on her for the Motherways. He was glad that he put the right mare in," explained Cullentra trainer Foster.
"She's absolutely lovely and the world is her oyster. There is a Grade 3 for her in Punchestown and she'll make a lovely novice hurdler next year. She's jumped already and she's brilliant. She's very exciting and I'm delighted for the Morans (owners)."
The final race of the day, also a flat race over two miles went to Gavin Cromwell with his 4/7 favourite Letsbeclearaboutit justifying his odds to win by a length and a half from Noel Meade's Harry Alonzo with Summerhill trainer Lorna Fowler saddling the third home Manisanda at 50/1.