Listowel report: Travelling by helicopter to the races might not contribute to good time-keeping, but as Banasan's success in yesterday's Guinness Kerry National indicated it seems to do wonders for your big-race chance.
Just over two weeks ago the Aga Khan witnessed Azamour's Irish Champion Stakes victory from his helicopter after arriving at Leopardstown too late to land. However, Banasan's owner Seán Mulryan didn't even get the overhead shot.
The Co Kildare-based property developer flew to Listowel in good time but his chopper was diverted to Kerry airport in Farranfore 45 minutes away and a late car ride wasn't quick enough to get him to the track in time.
He missed a performance by Banasan that many in the Listowel crowd hadn't banked on due to ground that was changed to "heavy" after the first race.
Sure enough only six of the 16-strong field managed to finish but at the head of the lot was Ruby Walsh's mount who overhauled the gallant topweight in the straight and had a length and a half in hand of Fatherofthebride at the line.
"I didn't think he'd go on the ground but the trainer was right. He was sweet on him," said Walsh, who along with Michael O'Brien, was winning the €90,000 first prize for the first time.
With O'Brien not at the races either, it was left to his assistant Denis Cullen to welcome back Banasan who wasn't entirely unproven on soft ground.
"He has won twice on the soft at Galway but at the back of our minds was the worry that he wouldn't like it. The ground was the worry," Cullen said.
"The Galway Plate had been the target, but then he was trained with this in mind. He was working fantastic."
The Culdee started favourite but was never travelling on the ground and was well back when falling at the last, while the well backed Golden Storm didn't jump well and was beaten with almost a circuit to go.
John Cullen's mount Broadstone Road fell six out leaving the jockey with a lacerated arm that saw him stood down until Sunday.
Barrow Drive could reappear in the National Lottery Chase at Gowran next month and his trainer Tony Mullins said: "Anything around two and a half miles or two miles six where he doesn't have to meet the absolute top horses would be ideal."
Dangerousdanmagru went one better than his run here on Sunday when sent clear by jockey Tom Ryan after the third last and easily holding Old Kilminchy in the handicap chase. It was Ryan's 12th career success.
The same statistic applies to the flat apprentice Christy Geoghegan who gave a polished display aboard Akarem in the opening conditions race. The odds-on favourite Valentina Guest faded to fourth.
Master Ofthe Chase was another odds-on failure in the three-runner novice hurdle as Domnul Admiral powered 20 lengths clear for Barry Geraghty, while Cathy Gannon continued her good run on Summer Magic who successfully returned from a break in the first seven-furlong handicap.
A total of €316,436 was bet on the Kerry National, but the overall boomaker turnover was down to €1,557,449 from the 2003 figure of €1,760,927.
The Tote turnover was also down from last year's figure of €521,832 to yesterday's total of €466,299.
