MEETING Mystical City on 7lb better terms for two and a half lengths, Space Trucker reversed Galway Hurdle placings when winning yesterday's Smithwicks Beer Handicap Hurdle by half a length. Thus, both the Plate runner-up, Bishops Hall, successful in Wednesday's Kerry National, and the Hurdle second were amply compensated with Listowel feature victories.
Clearly, Space Trucker was none the worse for his Flat race outing here on Monday, when he ran all too freely, but supporters might have thought otherwise, as he appeared to be going nowhere on the far side of the course. However, he was inclined to switch off for rider John Shortt, who improved his position on the inner before the third last.
Riding a peach of a race, Shortt tracked Alasad over the penultimate flight before going for his race on facing up to the last.
Sheikh Mohammed's newcomer, Epic Tale, a January foaled colt by El Gran Senor, justified short odds with a workmanlike performance in the first division of the Harvest Festival Maiden.
Weld confirmed yesterday that Zagreb is in good nick and will go to Longchamp for the Arc on Sunday week regardless of underfoot conditions.
The stable's Definite Article will be ridden by Gary Stevens in the Belmont Stakes tomorrow week. Oscar Schindler will run in the Arc if it is not soft. He is also bound for the Melbourne Cup.
Mo Chos Chle, a first winner in Ireland for the Niall Quinn formed Sporting Quest Racing Club, held the Weld trained newcomer Just Try Me to win the second leg by a length, having made or disputed much of the running.
The Jim Bolger trained winner was all at sea on the heavy ground on her debut at Tralee. Incidentally, Bolger has yet to decide whether to run his Moyglare Stud Stakes, third, Azra in the Cheveley Park Stakes next Tuesday, but he is leaning towards the C.L. Weld Park Stakes at the Curragh.
Locally born Tommy Stack saddled the first two home in the competitive 15 runner Helena Sheahan Memorial Handicap, High In The Clouds (Daragh O'Donohoe) beating the better fancied Sir Oracle (Pat Smullen) by a short head,
In the absence of Rockfield Native, stable companion Brave Fountain started favourite for the Kevin McManus Beginners Chase, but Aidan O'Brien's charge jumped all too deliberately and was beaten eight lengths by The Gopher. Only four runners finished the race - run on firm ground - and Caroline Gould, who was concussed, was removed to Tralee County Hospital for Xrays after she had injured her lower back following a fall with July Schoon at the fourth, while Gerry O'Neill was concussed and stood down for 21 days after Denny's Guess fell heavily at the fourth last.
