Master Tribe holds on

IT was like a wake at Leopardstown on Saturday. The attendance was well down on last year - and all because of the bookmakers' strike, the second in the space of two years. The dispute between their association and the IHA is about change and money.

It will have to be solved without further rancour and intransigence and in a spirit of compromise if Irish racing is not to suffer grave harm. A further meeting between the Authority and the bookmakers will be held this evening under the chairmanship of Michael Dowling, Secretary of the Department of Justice.

Success for Master Tribe in the £60,000 Ladbroke Hurdle was not expected, but in common with most Ladbrokes, it was not surprising to see a light-weight triumph, and yet again the race was run at a blistering pace.

Ridden by Norman Williamson, who had earlier landed the Pierse Leopardstown Chase on Time For A Run, Master Tribe was always travelling well. Taking up the running before rising to the last, the seven-year-old held by a head the furious challenge of the well fancied Black Queen. The Mary Reveley-trained Penny A Day finished six lengths adrift, with Family Way making ground to finish fourth.

Master Tribe, who was trained by Con Collins at two and threes years, was saddled by Mark Pitman, as his mother Jenny was at home nursing a cold. "He's a good horse when right and when he was beaten there were valid excuses," he said. This was the first British-trained win in the race since Barnbrook Again defied top weight 10 years ago, and Master Tribe certainly compensated Jenny Pitman for Dis Train's narrow miss in the race some years ago.

J. R McManus's Time For A Run stormed clear from the last fence to win the Pierse Leopardstown Handicap Chase from Whale Of A Knight. The 10-year-old who had run well behind New Co over this course on hiss previous appearance, was always in touch with the leaders before making his move on rising to the second last. A decent chaser on his day, Time For A Run may be sent to Cheltenham for one of thee handicap chases, probably the Kim Muir.

McManus's colours were also carried to success in the opener, with the Conor O'Dwyer-partnered Rawy winning with consummate ease. Five of J. P. McManus's horses won here at Christmas, while trainer Christy Roche has saddled six winners since he got his licence at the end of November.

Because of a slight disagreement between stable jockey Shane Broderick and trainer Michael Hourigan, champion Tony McCoy deputised on Ultra Flutter in the Fitzpatrick Hotel Group Novice Chase. This promising young jumper had just a length to spare over the English challenger Miracle Man and Norman Williamson, but I dare say the margin would have been more convincing over a longer trip, so well does Ultra Flutter stay.

Not surprisingly, Hourigan has nominated the Sun Alliance Chase for his charge, who perhaps surprisingly will be pitted against his more illustrious stable companion, Dorans Pride, at Leopardstown on February 2nd. Ultra Flutter jumped well enough but set a tardy pace, and McCoy was not slow to blame himself for that.

Staying won the S.M. Morris Handicap Hurdle for top-weight Rosin The Bow, who, under typically strong handling from Charlie Swan, wore down Mullover to win by a head.

Brass Band, a daughter of that fine racemare, Credit Card, showed that she has inherited at least some of her dam's ability on her introductory run over hurdles at Navan last month, and is now napped to take the Punchestown EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle this afternoon, writes Hugh Donovan.

Following six runs in bumpers, Brass Band was pitched in at the deep end at Navan, when taking on such useful types as Blaze Of Honour and Persian Halo. Apart from being a trifle slow at a number of hurdles, however, she performed extremely well, making much of the running and only surrendering second place on the run-in.

This afternoon's event, although only maiden, looks like being a highly competitive affair, with Mondeo Rose, Sheisagale, Accountancy Native and Crosschild all holding chances. Still, none of that quartet may be able to match Brass Band's stamina in the closing stages, and she may be one to keep in mind when she is eventually sent chasing.

Kings Return, having his first run since April, won what looked a very ordinary maiden hurdle at Thurles last Thursday without being seriously challenged.