It may have been three years since he won a race, and almost a year-and-a-half since he stunned the racing world by running a 200 to 1 blinder in the Aintree Grand National, but Merry People turned back the clock to score a shock victory in yesterday's Denny Handicap Chase.
There was no hint of a fluke about it either, despite the veteran starting the 25 to 1 complete outsider of the field. Sporting blinkers, Merry People made all of the running under a decisive Shay Barry ride to hold off his most persistent threat, Nicholls Cross, by three lengths.
Also behind him was the staying-on top-weight, Super Franky, and the favourite, Palette. But for those with a good memory there was plenty of reason behind the success of John Queally's horse.
The Dungarvan trainer has an eye-catching record around Tralee, and Merry People's last victory had come in the Denny way back in 1997. Queally had also picked up more immediate encouragement yesterday morning.
"I put blinkers on him this morning and I put Nicky Dee (former top point-to-point rider) on his back. Nicky must have had a word in his ear and whatever it was I'd say it gave him some fright," laughed Queally who arrived at this festival with a 63 per cent win average from his previous eight runners at the track.
Merry People unseated his rider at this year's Aintree Grand National, but in 1999 he ran a blinder until he fell at the second-last fence.
"He still retains a lot of ability, and although he'll be 13 he has got a reprieve and will go for the National again. He's a fresh sort of horse and won't run too often before it," Queally added.
The stewards held an inquiry into Merry People's apparent improvement in form, but they accepted Queally's explanation that the blinkers had freshened the horse. Another Queally was on the mark on an outsider when 15-year-old Tom Queally (no relation) scored his 16th win on the 20 to 1 Not A Sound in the mile handicap, coming through late to beat Masnada by three parts of a length.
"I got a call looking for Tom Queally to ride and you don't turn him down," said trainer John Muldoon.
It's not often that thoughts turn to Cheltenham during the Tralee festival, but the well-backed newcomer Saor Theas provoked them after winning the opening maiden hurdle for Christy Roche and JP McManus.
McManus named the horse with the South Liberties GAA club in mind, but Roche had last year's Cheltenham bumper in mind for Saor Theas until putting him away to mature.
"Even two weeks ago I thought we might do the same, but it's a long way to Cheltenham and I want to get some experience into him," said Roche, who is eyeing Listowel and Cheltenham's November meeting for Saor Theas. "I didn't do that with Youlneverwalkalone and this horse is still very raw. There's a chance this could be a real horse."
The Havasnack went, as expected, to the favourite Ansar, who Dermot Weld will now train for the English Cesarewitch.
Despite having an eight race card, compared to seven races in 1999, the bookmaker turnover for the third day of the Tralee festival was down over £50,000 yesterday to a total of £402,550. However the Tote figure was up to £107,003 from a corresponding figure last year of £100,645.
