RACING: The season's leading jockey Paul Carberry rode Rathgar Beau to success on his only mount at Thurles yesterday when he again stood himself down after aggravating a painful thumb injury.
Having missed Leopardstown last Saturday and most of the previous afternoon's card, Carberry pounced with 5 to 4 shot Rathgar Beau to get first run on the 11 to 10 favourite Native Jack in the Irish National Hunt Novice Hurdle before again calling it a day earlier than expected.
"The thumb is very sore and I might give the weekend a skip and wait until next week before resuming," said Carberry after he had cried off Commanche Pride who was narrowly beaten in the Thurles Handicap Chase.
Rathgar Beau delighted the 22 members of the One-0-Eight Racing Club when getting back on the winning trail under a confident Carberry, who switched his mount to the outer rounding the final bend, was in front over the second last and held Native Jack by a length and a half.
"We will look for another novice event for Rathgar Beau, whose owners want him to go to Cheltenham for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle. Then we will try to win a Flat race or two with him," said winning trainer Eamon Sheehy.
Paul Moloney took over on Commanche Pride only to lose by half a length to main market rival Take The Lot under a determined drive from Kieran Gaule.
Champion jockey Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins, the leading trainer at the course in recent years, shared a double.
Boneyarrow took some substantial money out of the ring when romping away with the opening Cashel Maiden Hurdle to fulfil the promise shown last week at Leopardstown in stronger company.
Boneyarrow (9 to 10) coasted in 11 lengths clear of 50 to 1 chance Hollygrove Native, while stablemate Scolardy had 14 lengths to spare over the odds-on Emperors Guest in the Heineken Hurdle.
Glenelly Gale was another well-backed favourite to oblige in style in the Heineken Chase, coasting to the front rounding the last bend.
Greywell showed his appreciation for the testing conditions to take the bumper, giving his trainer-rider Liz Doyle her first success on the track since taking out her licence.
