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Tumbling Dice lands feature for in-form handler Taaffe
TRAINER Tom Taaffe has his string in top form at present and saddled Tumbling Dice for an emphatic win under Shane McGovern in the Grade 2 Hilly Way Chase.
The seven-year-old set for home with four fences remaining and was clear of his rivals when almost tipping up at the final obstacle. Fortunately he recovered to take the spoils by ten lengths from Jim, with the favourite Kill Devil Hill, whose trainer reported that he was never travelling throughout, being pulled up after the second last.
Tumbling Dice is owned by Taaffe’s cousin Lucy Donegan, and his trainer said: "Today was the main plan. He was lucky at the last, and I’m delighted for Shane who is my assistant. He rides bloody well and has given the horse a top-class ride. I half-fancied him in the Paddy Power Chase at Cheltenham, but the horse fell asleep and I told Shane to ride him positively today."
Stable-companion Streetshavenoname was bidding to give Taaffe and McGovern a double in the 2m handicap hurdle, but lost his chance with a couple of costly mistakes and finished second behind the Philip Fenton-trained Son Of Oscar and David Casey. Fenton opted to travel to Punchestown instead, where he was out of luck with Sher Beau in the day’s feature.
Taaffe still managed to complete a double courtesy of the Adrian Joyce-ridden odds-on favourite Treacle in the 2m hurdle. The five-year-old broke his duck over timber by 15 lengths, and Taaffe said "He’s the first horse I’ve had for Bjorn Nielsen who works on the Stock Exchange in New York. He’s had a lot of good flat horses and a couple of Group winners. This is a big chasing type of horse and I’ll fiddle away with him in a couple of hurdle races and go chasing with him next year."
Former point-to-point winner Emma Jane enhanced her value with a convincing length and a half victory under Andrew Lynch in the Grade 3 3m stayers’ novice hurdle. The six-year-old is trained in Co. Wexford by Darragh Berry, who concentrates mainly on the point-to-point sphere.
He said "She’s a tough lady and loves soft ground. I’ll give her a break now and wait for a hurdle race later on. She’s crying out for fences."
Another Nation’s rider Eddie Power picked up a four race day ban for using his whip with excessive frequency in the latter stages of the race. He was also ordered to attend RACE for one day’s tuition in the correct use of the whip.
The John Murphy-trained Lala Nova, with Sean McDermott aboard, took the listed mares novice chase by two and a half lengths from the luckless favourite Chicago Vic, who was brought to a standstill when hampered by a faller at the fifth last.
Murphy commented: "I suppose it was an incident-packed race, and Chicago Vic was nearly brought down and lost 20 lengths. I’ll look for anothernovice chase for her."
Condara sprang a 25-1 surprise for the Philip Rothwell stable in the novice handicap hurdle when making all to give his 18-year-old rider Shane Jackson his third winner on the track by nine lengths from the favourite Kashnito D’Hommee.
Rothwell said "That’s amazing and I’m thrilled for his owners Anne and Peter Byrne that he’s won. He broke down on both front legs and we left him off for a year. Then when he was nearly ready to run he broke his pelvis and we had to give him a year off again."
The father and son team of trainer Maurice Keane and amateur rider Alan teamed up for a one and a quarter length win through 20-1 shot Dancing Tornado in the bumper. The five-year-old races in the colours of thetrainer’s wife Bernie, but Keane snr., suggested: "Maybe someone else might own him next time he runs. He handles this ground."
Star performance: Tom Taaffe, who sent out a double at the meeting, the highlightbeing Tumbling Dice’s win in the Grade 2 chase.
Quote of the day: "It’s a man’s job, but he’s well able to do it" - Tom Taaffe’s reaction to 7lb claimer Adrian Joyce’s handling of Treacle who gave him his second winner in the 2m maiden hurdle.
Day to remember: For 23-year-old Alan Keane, who registered his first win in the saddle on his mother Bernie’s horse Dancing Tornado, who is trained by his father Maurice, in the bumper.
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