Sport

Fine run by Miss Emer

While many of racing's bigger names were searching for future stars of the flat at the Orby Yearling Sales at Goffs, those few…

Thu Oct 08 1998 - 01:00

While many of racing's bigger names were searching for future stars of the flat at the Orby Yearling Sales at Goffs, those few in attendance at Fairyhouse saw a couple of potentially useful recruits to the jumping game yesterday.

It is difficult to gauge just how good her opposition was in the Birch Maiden Hurdle, but Miss Emer could not have been an easier winner.

Goldanzig, with decent hurdle form to her credit, was simply no match for Noel Meade`s easy-to-back 9 to 4 favourite, on whom Paul Carberry barely had to move to win by a length.

Meade said: "We have not done much schooling with her as the plan had been to keep her to the flat for this season".

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Miss Emer now goes for a winners' race, according to Meade and, similarly, Rathbawn Prince has that option after his facile success in the Rossmore Maiden Hurdle.

Rathbawn Prince raced clear after the front-running Donadino blundered away his chance at the last, and Dessie Hughes will now decide between the Leopardstown November Handicap and a hurdles event at Punchestown later this month for his 6 to 4-winning favourite.

Fran Berry, who rode a confident race on Rathbawn Prince, had earlier scored a narrow success aboard Ray Of Light in the Palmerstown EBF Nursery, giving trainer Michael Halford his 15th win of this season.

Johnny Murtagh, the champion-elect, who recorded his 80th win of the season at Tipperary on Sunday, added to that impressive figure with a double of his own.

Murtagh got his afternoon off to a winning start when successful with Sister Bella in the Kilcloon EBF Maiden and followed up on the heavily supported Landing Craft for Vivian Kennedy in the Clonalvey Handicap.

On an afternoon of doubles, Noel Meade secured the training honours when his well-touted newcomer Young Buck scored a 10-length victory in the Sycamore Flat Race.

Tony McCoy moved on to the 49-winner mark for the season after Water Flower made up for taking the wrong course last time with a brave victory in the Dean and Dyball Novices Hurdle at Exeter yesterday. An avalanche of money forced the Martin Pipe-trained filly from 6 to 4 to evens favourite including a single bet of an even £5,000.