Credit Transfer shows no mercy to her rivals

YESTERDAY'S very testing ground was ideal for Credit Transfer who won the long established Tetraterna Cup for the second year in succession at Gowran Park, this time by a distance.

Trained by Francis Flood, who in his amateur days won this event on a few occasions, the Henry Cleary partnered mare led with a circuit to cover. Eight. lengths clear at the fifth last fence she put more and more daylight between herself and her struggling rivals as she bounded over the remaining fences.

Credit Transfer will run in next Wednesday's Kilkea Castle and Friends Champion Hunters Chase at Punchestown where the going is likely to remain in her favour. There are only nine entries for this extended three mile chase but it has also attracted last year's 15 length winner and top hunter chaser Elegant Lord.

"She'll give him plenty to do," declared Flood confidently. Certainly Elegant Lord is at his best on good, fast ground but he has won on soft going and, under such conditions, had no trouble in taking care of Credit Transfer at Leopardstown in February. However, yesterday's winner, who is owned and bred by Portlaoise farmer Henry Dunne, has had only two races this campaign and is improving.

Petard, the easy winner of the opening Gowran Maiden, showed promising early season form last year but subsequently lost her way attributed by Jim Bolger to a low grade virus. Overcoming the unfavourable number one draw the Kevin Manning partnered filly had improved into fourth place on turning for home and, leading just before the furlong pole, stretched clear to beat debutante Tirol's Luck by six lengths. All going seems to come alike to Mrs Seamus Burns' filly who might be up to winning a listed race.

There was a nine minute delay getting the 15 strong field away but not for the first time the loading started too late.

Lancaster House and Tilbrook virtually dominated the Bennettsbridge Handicap from the outset with the Declan Gillespie trained, Pat Smullen partnered Lancaster House holding on for a narrow win. The winner is owned by Trinidadian Mrs Eudora Chay for whom Gillespie rode a couple of winners in the Jim Bolger trained Chay Tien and Northern Tide, trained by Michael Grasssick.

The stewards inquired into the apparent improvement of Lancaster House compared to his running at the Curragh last month when he finished last but one behind Proud Titania. Gillespie stated that his charge bolted before the start at the Curragh and was slowly away from the flag start jumping wide on the outside. The explanation was accepted.

Another Grouse touched down ahead of Slaney Peace at the second last and ran on well to win the Bagenalstown Handicap Chase very easily. Risk of Thunder, who finished third will attempt to win next week's La Touche Cup for the second successive year. She has already won twice at Punchestown.

Ceili Queen made all the running to win the Kilkenny Handicap Hurdle.