THE Crazy Bishop, fifth in fast week's Thyestes Chase behind English raider Couldn't Be Better, made all under Charlie Swan to win the featured Waterford Crystal Chase at a well attended Tramore yesterday.
"Richard Dunwoody, who rode him at Gowran last Thursday, said the blinkers suited him very well and they made a big difference today," revealed trainer Tony Mull ins. "If there are no problems we will step him up to two and a half miles for the Grade 2 Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles next month."
Donald Swan described Baltyrihy Boy's victory in the Benvo Lad Riders Maiden Hurdle as a just reward after Swedish born rider Lutu Otivefalk conjured up a tremendous drive from the penultimate flight aboard the odds on favourite to beat Born To Win and Kate Rudd by three lengths.
Limerick handler Andrew McNamara, having his first runner of the year, won the Fenor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle with Macaunta, who scored a comfortable four and a half length victory under Michael Murphy. McNamara, who has a string of 30 horses at his Kilmallock base, intends running the seven year old in a handicap chase at Clonmel next Thursday.
Gentle Mossy was a warm order, from 2 to 1 to 11 to 8 favourite, to open his account over hurdles in the Annestown Maiden Hurdle, but he never threatened, eventually finishing fifth to the Jimmy Mangantrained Miracle Me, partnered by Frank Woods, who forged ahead of Mr Maggot over the last to land the spoils.
After Choosey's Treasure and Barry Cash edged clear of Without Equal before the second last to win the Tramore Q.R. Handicap Hurdle, Eugene O Donnell representing winning trainer Aidan O'Brien said: "She is not the easiest of rides and Barry handled her very well. She may well turn out again in next Sunday's Spring Juvenile hurdle at Leopardstown."
Flat jockey Stuart Webster will resume race riding at Lingfield tomorrow after being out of action since December 1995.
Webster broke first his arm, then his leg, in falls on the gallops and has since had 24 pieces of metal inserted in the damaged bones.
