CHARLIE SWAN, who cracked his collarbone in a fall on Tuesday evening, missed the ride on An Maineach, the narrow, but game winner of yesterday's featured Denny Gold Medal Handicap Chase. Swan would have fared no better than substitute Joey Donnelly, who gave Donald Swan's improving chaser a splendid ride.
An Maineach (The Maniac) and Bishops Hall disputed the early running, matching strides over most fences until the sixth from home, where An Maineach stumbled badly after hitting the obstacle and dropped back. However, collected by Donnelly, he was back on terms two fences later.
Bishops Hall, who had finished second in the Galway Plate, landed marginally ahead over the second last but was done within a few strides. An Maineach landed running after a fine leap over the last, but was immediately tackled by the Mark Dwyer partnered.
Second Schedual who, full of running, looked certain to win on drawing level. However, An Maineach battled like a lion and won by a neck.
An Maineach had run a blinder in the Plate until the third last where, in the words of his trainer, he dislocated his pelvis and did the splits. British based chiropractor Claire Fletcher was recommended to Donald Swan and she managed to push back the pelvis into its socket. The big horse will now be rested. Nobodys Son was killed when falling heavily at the third last.
King Wah Glory won the Denny Havasnack for the second year running. Again ridden by Jarlath Connolly J P McManus good gelding led before the distance to hold off the challenge of Hotel Minella by a length. The latter, who fell at the first fence on his chasing debut on Sunday, ran extremely well and will be much the better for the race. While King Wah Glory is rated higher over hurdles than over fences - he doesn't appear to like chasing - he reverts next to hurdling.
In the absence of French Ballerina, withdrawn on veterinary advice because of a high temperature, the Barry Print Maiden was won by the blinkered John Oxx trained Khalikhoum who made all the running under John Murtagh to win by a length and a half. It was his first run back after being gelded. He stays well and should make his mark over hurdles.
Pinging the final flight Dromineer raced clear to beat Caitriona's Choice and Ask The Butler in the O'Donnell Liston Maiden Hurdle. Tom Taaffe's charge, who had run well over timber at Galway, was backed down to favouritism and looked the likely winner after jumping boldly to land ahead over the third last. Owned by Christopher Cashin from Urlingford, Co Kilkenny, the winner will be put by until the spring.
A wide open Kerryman Ltd Handicap went to the Jim Bolger trained Osvaldo who took up the running inside the last furlong, while Joanna Morgan landed the Spectra Photo Labs Handicap on the Michael Byrne trained Flash Of Speed.
