Sport

Liss De Paor and Theatreworld give O'Brien double

LISS DE PAOR, an impressive all-the-way winner of Saturday's Edmond Whelan Memorial Novice Hurdle at Listowel, looks like developing…

By MICHAEL O'FARRELL
Mon Sept 30 1996 - 01:00

LISS DE PAOR, an impressive all-the-way winner of Saturday's Edmond Whelan Memorial Novice Hurdle at Listowel, looks like developing into a useful staying hurdler. Whether she will be capable of emulating her close relative, Shuil Ar Aghaidh, who won Cheltenham's Stayers' Hurdle three years ago remains to be seen.

Thanks to a couple of big Jackpots carry-overs, tote betting of £1.36m was up by £56,000 on last year. The bookmakers' take of £3.7m was up by £285,000. The six-day Festival, blessed with unexpected good weather, attracted more than 70,000 people, which was some 10 per cent up on last year.

Liss De Paor, who was better fancied than stable companion Clonagam, jumped well throughout for Trevor Horgan and the easy Tralee winner quickened to put the issue beyond doubt after pinging the third last. The winner, owned by a syndicate from Dungarvan, Co Waterford, will bid for the novice hurdle series along with stable companion Private Peace, the impressive winner of a maiden hurdle early last year.

Theatreworld completed a double for Aidan O'Brien with 12-length success in the Slan Abhaile Race. Altogether, O'Brien sent out nine winners during the week. Trevor Horgan also rode Father Rector to win the Golden Vale Milk Handicap Hurdle, but this good stayer's five-and-a-half length success was facilitated by the second-last flight fall of the closing Vicar Street.

READ MORE

Suited by the conditions, Wednesday's Kerry National runner-up Anabatic overcame a third-last fence blunder to win the Kerry Petroleum Chase with ease. Michael O'Brien's charge, who has had problems with bursting but has now got his confidence back, may now be trained for the Murphy's Irish Stout Gold Cup, formerly the Mackeson Gold Cup, at Cheltenham next month. According to his handler, a strongly-run two and a half miles will suit him as will soft ground.

Niall McCullagh completed a double with Charita and Classic Express. The Carlow born jockey, who was married recently and is currently on honeymoon in Kerry, has now, with 23 winners exceeded his previous best score.

For the second time at the Festival, Tommy Stack saddled the first two home. On this occasion, Mystic Ring beat his better-fancied stable companion, One Man Band, to win easily. The latter was bidding for a hat-trick in the race.