Late burst sees Soorah sweep home

Tushna made a gallant attempt to add yesterday's £50,000 Eircell Handicap to his McDonogh victory on Tuesday, but ultimately couldn't cope with the late and decisive burst of Soorah.

The Maktoum-owned filly was just half-a-length too good for the joint favourite on which Kevin Manning, like Tom Queally earlier in the week, tried to make most of the running.

Grinkov, Friday's big race winner, did, however, follow up in the maiden hurdle, although those who took the 4 to 6 were sweating before the last flight.

Charlie Swan was hard at work behind French Style and Dariole, but on the run-in Grinkov's flat speed came into play and he managed to get home by half-a-length.

"I think he appreciates a bit more ease in the ground than he got there, especially over hurdles," said Grinkov's trainer, Pat Hughes. "We'll give him a five or six week break now and maybe look at a handicap." Hughes was grinning, but it was nothing to the grin of local trainer Martin O'Toole, who saddled just his third winner with Busy Signal in the second division of the High Speed Handicap Hurdle.

A second winner of the festival for jockey Jim Culloty - "I'm developing a taste for this place" - Busy Signal just inched out A Leaders Wish to provoke local cheers with a 16 to 1 success.

"I have the licence just over a year," said Turloughmore-based O'Toole. "I bought him in France where he won two flat races and I thought he had a nice weight today."

The warm favourite for this race, Colonel Bradley, was brought down at the fourth when Miss Information and Norman Williamson took a heavy fall.

The first division had fallen to Drewstown Lady, who held off the favourite Gift Token by three parts of a length. But, in a day of tight finishes, it was ironic that the six furlong sprint provided a decisive winner.

Benefits Galore had no trouble securing a position on the rail in the early stages, and although the race got tight just after the turn in, Tadhg O'Shea's mount quickened up to beat the topweight Crown Point by a length and a half. It was a third victory of the week for O'Shea.

Christy Roche had a 100 per cent Saturday record as the two horses he brought to the track won. However the Curragh trainer had not been overwhelmed with confidence that Bannow Bay would to his Thursday course success in the Dawn Milk Handicap Hurdle.

"I'm so happy I didn't see the handicapper before racing because I thought the 10lb he'd given the horse was too much. But in fairness Noel (O'Brien) is in the habit of getting it right," Roche grinned. "I'll never ever say anything to him ever again!"

Roche's grin was understandable as Bannow Bay ran out an easy, eight length winner from Spirit Dancer, and he also was delighted for amateur rider Alan Crowe who, like Roche, is from the Tipperary village of Bansha.

"He's been with me since he was 14 and rode three winners on the flat before getting too heavy. He's shown plenty of patience because he had to stop riding for six months to get his new licence and then broke a collar bone at Kilbeggan on his first ride back," said Roche.

Khairabar had to battle much harder to get home by a short head in the Beginners Chase and secure a second victory of the week for Paul Moloney, who is just returned from injury.

Permit holder Matty Tynan turned over some of the biggest yards in the country when his topweight Like A Dream made most to land the Premier Nursery, and the Ballydoyle hotpot Hadrian's Wall also got turned over in the maiden, finishing only third behind the Stephen Craine-ridden Monty Wolley.

A total of £1,287,128 was bet with the bookmakers on Saturday and the 16,592 attendance bet a Saturday Tote record of £487,316, up £93,000 on 1999.