Paul Carberry's misfortune with injury has resulted in a purple patch for Barry Geraghty, and the 19-year-old jockey rode out his claim in style when winning on Almira at Fairyhouse yesterday.
This was Geraghty's eighth winner in the last six racing days and completed a treble of winners over each of the last two weekends. With the Noel Meade stable jockey Carberry out with broken ribs, Geraghty has stepped in with a flourish.
"That's my 55th winner and the claim gone," grinned Geraghty after Almira had made most of the running to beat the bottom-weight, Castlekelly River, in the Sutherland River Handicap Hurdle.
The mare was also continuing Meade's successful run since a brief period some weeks ago when the Co Meath trainer's string were showing some patchy form, but with Cardinal Hill being given a clean bill of health, the wheels are back on the Meade bandwagon with Cheltenham looming.
"Almira is out of a half sister to the Champion Hurdle winners, Granville Again and Morley Street, so she is bred to be good," said Meade, who still intends running Advocat in the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham despite the former smart hurdler being beaten again over fences in the earlier beginners' chase.
This was a thriller, with Advocat and Caitriona's Choice fighting a prolonged battle up the run-in. However, neither reckoned with the 12 to 1 shot, Sorcerer's Dream, getting a second wind. Arthur Moore's horse looked beaten on touching down over the last and also had to cope with being crossed by Caitriona's Choice. However, Conor O'Dwyer galvanised Sorcerer's Dream and he just got back up to win by a head, with Advocat another head back in third.
"I thought he would nearly win as the quarter mile less than last time suited him. I think he outstayed the two others and he'll make a nice handicap chaser," Moore said.
Budalus became the first Charlie Swan-trained horse to win more than once for the champion jockey this season when cantering home in the opening maiden hurdle, but probably the easiest winner of the day was Saxophone, who turned the featured Grade Three INH Series Final into an absolute procession.
Paris Pike and Gill's Honey were hard at it all the way up the straight as Tommy Treacy bided his time on the strapping Saxophone, who races in the Harcon colours of Mrs Tilly Conway. When Treacy did ask for an effort, the response was immediate and Saxophone won with his head in his chest.
"He is not up to SunAlliance Hurdle standard as he is not quick enough, but he stays, keeps going and will go chasing next season," said trainer Jim Dreaper, who may send Saxophone to Cheltenham on April 14th for a £20,000 auction novices' hurdle. Dreaper added: "It's great for the owners to have this horse after all the problems Harcon had. Boxes of tissues should be issued with these horses!"
Ninety minutes later, the tissues were forgotten again as the same colours were carried to victory in the bumper with Golfeur, who just edged out Woodys Blue Lagoon. The winner was ridden by Clare MacMahon, who was having her first ride in a bumper.
Irish Stout upset the odds-on Dixon Varner in the hunter chase and may yet take his chance in the Foxhunters at Cheltenham; while Roundwood picked up a deserved success in the handicap chase from the running-on Section Seven.
