SIX times national hunt champion Charlie Swan completed a well executed 94 to 1 treble on Like A Lion, Micks Delight and Jazzy Refrain at a sunny Killarney last evening.
The Donald Swan-trained Like A Lion was Swan's first success since his 10-day suspensions ended here last Sunday and his first since April 29th when he rode a winner at Listowel, one day after winning the Whitbread Gold Cup at Sandown on Life Of A Lord.
Altogether, Swan has ridden 154 winners this season including six on the flat and five in England.
Although he landed running over the last in the Transmould/Menvier Novice Hurdle, the odds-on Finchpalm did little in front and was collared in the closing strides by the rallying Like A Lion on whom Swan persevered well.
The jockey completed a quick double when landing Micks Delight the two-length winner of the Great Southern Hotels Beginners Chase.
Micks Delight was the first winner as a trainer for Ronnie O'Leary since he received his licence six months ago. O'Leary spent 14 years in England and was second jockey to Jimmy Fitzgerald's stable. He rode more than 100 winners and now trains six horses in Killaloe, Co Clare. The winner is owned by Dr Paschal Carmody on whose land O'Leary trains.
Jazzy Refrain was the champion's easiest winner. The John J Walsh-trained mare, who showed much improved form on her favoured firm ground, landed in front over the penultimate fence in the Racegoers Club Handicap Chase and clear to the last bounded over to beat Rossbeigh Creek by five lengths. Pat McWilliams suffered a dislocated collarbone when falling with Veritatis Splendor.
Sudden Storm, a diminutive filly by Strong Gale, won first time of asking over timber when getting the better of Nephin Far on the run in to take the opening maiden hurdle. Trained by Paddy Mullins and ridden by Tom Treacy, Sudden Storm is a member of the Arkle family and was bred by 87-year-old Corkonian Noel Tanner, first chairman of Bord Na gCapall.
Ivory Reef and apprentice Ted Durcan just got up to beat the front-running Dromalane in the Killarney Vintners Handicap, while the Charles O'Brien-trained Rupestrian got his nose in front to win a closely contested Hotel Dunloe Castle Handicap.
Christy Roche, who partnered Rupestrian, completed a double when landing the concluding Killarney Racegoers Club Maiden on the Aidan O'Brien-trained Jalber.
Unbridled's Song, the beaten Kentucky Derby favourite, is to miss the Preakness Stakes on Saturday according to his trainer Jim Ryerson
"We're not going to come. It's just the uncertainty of what kind of stress a hard race like the Preakness might put on the foot, although I can't fault the patch on the quarter crack," said Ryerson.
