Kauntze runner upsets favourite

BECAUSE of a busy schedule at Goodwood today and tomorrow, Kinane was released by Dermot Weld from his two riding at Roscommon…

BECAUSE of a busy schedule at Goodwood today and tomorrow, Kinane was released by Dermot Weld from his two riding at Roscommon yesterday evening. The multiple who had a remarkable three days at York last week with winners from 13 mounts, will return from Goodwood tomorrow to fulfil engagements at the Leopardstown evening meeting.

A promising third in a good on his debut at the gelded Song carried two many guns for Power Play, who was conceding 7lb, in the Athleague Race. Owned and bred by Sheikh Mohammed, the Michael Kauntze trained winner will next run in a winners of one. He was gelded when proving very difficult to break.

The free-running Canuig came home 15 lengths clear of his rivals to win the Ballygar Hurdle at odds of 20 to 1. Trained by Jim Dreaper, this good looking seven year old had his rivals in trouble fully seven furlongs out.

Front running tactics were also employed to equally telling effect on Jeremy Hill's Boro Vacation, who completed his hat trick in the Frank Hannon Memorial Chase by 10 lengths, eased down, from the Fairyhouse winner Heist. Ridden by Tom Treacy, the seven year old clearly enjoyed himself in front, jumping impeccably throughout.

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Not surprisingly, he was nominated for the Galway Plate, an event his dam Boro Quarter won 10 years ago in the colours of the late Charmian Hill.

Paddy Mullins, who won his second Plate, in 1992, with The Gooser, is satisfied that Boro Vacation, an easy all the way winner at Thurles last month and since successful at Tramore, is improving. "He loves to be in front and he jumps well," he said.

Cable Beach led after the third and, making the rest of the running, held the challenging Holiway Star to win the Derrane Handicap Chase by a length. It appeared that the winner was tiring in the closing stages, but he returned with a deep gash in his near hind leg, probably sustained when struck into from behind at an early stage of the race.

"I hope he has not damaged a tendon," said a worried Michael Cunningham, who is hoping to have the horse fit for Galway.

Niall Quinn's Cois Na Farraige, an unlucky loser at Clonmel last week, atoned by winning the Hollywell Handicap in the hands of Brian Hunter. The Jim Bolger trained winner, who led from a furlong and a half out, wandered a little in the closing stages.