RACING/Galway Festival: John Thomas McNamara might be a champion point to point rider but two miles on the level around Galway proved no problem to him last night as he guided Rockstown Boy to a thrilling success in the GPT Handicap.
The €65,000 first day festival highlight is the most coveted contest on the flat for amateur jockeys in Ireland and Rockstown Boy had to overcome some typically intense competition to beat Le Leopard by a length and a half.
Limerick based McNamara (29) has tasted Cheltenham success with Rith Dubh in the 2002 National Hunt Chase and has also showed his mastery of the Punchestown banks on some of Enda Bolger's jumping stars.
However, he was faced with a slightly different task yesterday as he dropped Rockstown Boy out the back of the 24 strong field and allowed the race to unfold in front.
"I was a fair way back and I thought at one stage I was a bit too far back. But this is a good horse and Charles (Byrnes) knows how to train them," McNamara said afterwards.
A less than frantic pace from Callow Lake in the lead resulted in a packing field by the turn in and Rockstown Boy was widest of all before straightening up.
That the extra ground covered didn't stop the winner quickening clear speaks volumes for his chance in tomorrow afternoon's conditions hurdle.
"If he's alright he will probably take his chance because if the handicap is right he might be a stone and a half well in," grinned Byrnes who trains Rockstown Boy for the 72 member Morning Dew Racing Club.
"It was set up two years ago with about 20 to 30 members but the membership has kept growing and now they have four horses with me," he added.
"We have been thinking of this since Punchestown when he ran a good race behind Brave Inca."
Rockstown Boy drifted in the market in the face of concerted support for the Pat Hughes trained Treculiar but the syndicate spokesman Joe O'Brien admitted: "We had a few bob on . . . dinner money!"
There was more than a few bob invested in the seven furlong juvenile maiden which is traditionally one of the biggest betting heats of the week.
Last year the race threw up the Irish Derby hero Grey Swallow and Dermot Weld was widely expected to win it for the 17th time with Bobs Pride until there was also significant market support for the Ballydoyle hope Trueheart.
In the event both camps were disappointed as the experienced Defi made most under Declan McDonogh to hold off Bobs Pride by three parts of a length.
Typically though Weld didn't waste time hitting the scoresheet as the ex-German Zeroberto landed the novice hurdle in good style to provide Dr Ronan Lambe with a first ever winner.
The Dublin based owner, who is involved with the medical research company Icon, never had any worries until Zeroberto slightly crossed Studmaster at the last.
"He was a bit free when he came to us from Germany but Jim gave him a lovely ride, switching him off and getting him to enjoy the race," said Weld.
"He is in a mile and a half handicap on Thursday and a two mile handicap on Saturday."
Since Zeroberto is handicapped on his German flat form, his 56 rating will no doubt have Weld's followers out in force whatever day he appears this week.
Athlumney Lad doesn't appear quite as attractively rated but he too will switch back to the flat for Friday's Premier Handicap after providing Shay Barry with a lucky "spare" in the handicap hurdle.
Paul Carberry didn't pass the doctor on his return from a shoulder injury and Barry got advice from Mick Kinane, who has ridden Athlumeny Lad on the flat, before going out.
"He's a great man for instructions and he told Shay to get there and then give him a chance. That's exactly what he did," said Noel Meade.
Defi's trainer Kevin Prendergast doubled up in the mile and a half handicap as the topweight Faasel made it four wins in a row under apprentice Christy Geoghegan.
Trueheart might have failed for Ballydoyle but Aidan O'Brien still ended the evening with a winner as the MV Magnier ridden King Of Spades fought off Pure Theatre by three parts of a length in the bumper..
