Charlie Swan maintained his advantage in the jockeys championship with a 15 to 1 double at Thurles yesterday. After Waterloo King and Montelisa brought the eight times champion's seasonal total to 56, his nearest challenger Conor O'Dwyer had to rely on the winning newcomer Scotia Nostra to keep the difference between them at 21.
On extremely testing going, Swan used Waterloo King's undoubted stamina to stretch the opposition before the straight in the Garrykennedy Handicap Chase and the partnership won pulling up from Teal Bridge.
"He loves the mud and Charlie gave him a peach of a ride," said Doneraile Co Cork trainer John Joe Walsh who was winning his 10th race of the season. "He's Joe Casey's ride but Joe broke bones in his foot at Fairyhouse. Hopefully he'll be back to ride the horse at Limerick over Christmas."
Willie Mullins ran three in the Carey Bros Hurdle, including the odds on Palette, but Montelisa seemed to thrive on the fast pace set by another Mullins horse, Punting Pete, and Palette could never get in a serious blow at her.
Swan looked set to complete a treble in the Munster INH Maiden Hurdle on The Bongo Man but after cruising to the second last, he folded quickly and O'Dwyer sailed through on Scotia Nostra to beat his stable companion Society Brief.
"It's a pity they didn't divide it," quipped trainer Arthur Moore who was having his first runner for Edinburgh winner Kevin Doyle. "I got the horse from Mick O'Toole in September and Mick had him well schooled. I thought he'd go close today and he's obviously good," Moore added.
Kevin O'Brien was concussed after a heavy fall off Pharbrig at the third last in this race and was stood down for a week. He was also detained overnight in Cashel hospital.
The Dromineer Handicap Hurdle turned into a battle of the greys with Rosetown Girl just holding off her fellow 8 to 1 shot Run Sparky by a head under a powerful drive from Paul Hourigan, riding the mare for his father Michael.
In the stewards opinion it was too powerful a drive from Hourigan and they gave him a four-day suspension for using his whip excessively which means the young rider will miss the St Stephen's Day fixtures.
"Rosetown Girl is a well bred mare from the family of the Irish Grand National winner Insure and she'll go to Limerick now," said Hourigan Snr.
Pancho's Tango had had a sore wither before the Nenagh Handicap Chase, forcing Fergie Sutherland to use the swimming pool for his preparation but it made no difference as Jason Titley guided him to an eight-length win over the favourite Pinkpinkfizz.
Laochra's 12 to 1 win from the favourite Johnston's Ville in the last leg of the jackpot saw just six winning dividends on the £28,362 jackpot pool on a day when a new Tote record of over £64,000 was set for Thurles.
