THE SEVEN-RUNNER INH Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hurdle at Thurles yesterday proved to be a real bookmakers’ benefit with victory going to 16 to 1 shot Elysian Rock, for trainer Mouse Morris and jockey Martin Ferris.
Rhyl Accord, the odds-on favourite, could only manage a well-beaten third.
“He was in better form today but wants better ground again to be seen at his best. He is a half-brother to Venalmar but I’ve no plans from here,” said Morris.
Conditional jockey David Splaine, son of leading show-jumping rider Robert, recorded his first winner since returning from injury when guiding Capal Dubh Alainn to an easy 18-length win in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle .
Splaine, who missed most of last season with a broken leg and hadn’t ridden a winner for a year, held the son of Kalanisi up before eventually producing him to lead before the straight.
Local trainer Bill Harney registered a double, with Prairie Call winning the Cashel Mares Maiden Hurdle and Kakagh, ridden by John Cullen, taking the Littleton Maiden Hurdle after a stewards’ inquiry following a dead heat with Colleoni.
Tony McCoy’s supremacy at Ffos Las is unrivalled and the champion jockey further underlined his status by taking his track tally to 13 with a near 40-1 treble aboard Meath All Star, The Sliotar and Made In Time.
He ended the day with a near 47 per cent strike-rate in South Wales after his hat-trick, which was initiated as Meath All Star stamped his mark on the toteplacepot Maiden Hurdle.
McCoy also has a fearsome 50 per cent hit-rate when teaming up with Co Meath trainer Gordon Elliott and it was that handler that he partnered the 2 to 1 favourite.
Elliott said: “He came to me over the summer from Willie Mullins’ and he’s a nice horse with a future. He liked the longer trip and the soft ground and you’ll probably see him racing over here again in the future.”
McCoy bagged win number 12 as The Sliotar edged out Blazing Bailey in a thrilling climax to the toteexacta Beginners’ Chase (3m) and his 13th came up as Rebecca Curtis’ previously unraced 7 to 4 favourite Made In Time proved different class in the bumper.
