THE BOWER, a tough, determined little seven year old, would not give best in yesterday's Beamish Stout Ruby Stakes which, to the surprise of many including his delighted trainer Con Collins, he hung on to win by a head from Al Mohaajir with Free To Speak arriving from the next parish, so to speak, to finish a close up third.
It was the first time The Bower had competed in listed company. "I get a great kick out of that!" declared Collins. "He's an extraordinary horse. You never have to gallop him or work him he just eats up whatever you give him.
"He was useless as a two year old and a three year old and he ran about 18 times before he won. But we tried him in blinkers at Bellewstown as a four year old and he won. We haven't dispensed with them since. I was hoping he wouldmanage to get third place today.
Ridden by Robbie Burke the 14 to 1 winner is a most consistent handicapper and has now won 10 races, including last year's Irish Cambridgeshire.
As Kevin Manning, rider of Al Mohaajir, said: "I got there to beat him but he wouldn't let me pass him."
Paddy Mullins saddled the mare Notcomplainingbut to win the Carling Gold Cup under bottom weight. Ridden by 8lb claimer Jamie Spencer, a son of the late George Spencer, trainer of the Champion Hurdle winner, Winning Fair, Notcomplainingbut went on five furlongs out and try as he would Miltonfield could not bridge the gap.
As she favours a left hand track the winner will probably run in the Leopardstown November Handicap. L'Opera ran well to finish third but, most unusual for a premier handicap there was a distance to the fourth horse, Theatreworld.
Desert King responded to a few backhanders to win the Oyster Tavern Maiden, going away by three lengths. It was not a riveting performance but as Aidan Brien said he is "mentally very immature. He has to learn to relax. But he could be very good, he has loads of speed."
Certainly, he was doing his best work at the finish and should have no problems in getting 10 furlongs next season. He will probably run in the Group One National Stakes at the Curragh.
There was a significant gamble on Poised To Rally but he was beaten over a furlong out as Blasket Island gave chase to the winner. The tacky ground may not have helped Poised to Rally.
We'll be hearing a lot more of Liss De Paor, the impressive four, length winner of the maiden hurdle. Ridden by Trevor Horgan in the absence of the injured Charlie Swan, Liss De Paor was prominent in the early stages and moving to the fore with more than a circuit to cover was six lengths clear of Tarthooth on turning for home.
A distance winner of her bumper at Gowran she jumped dwell and will improve her hurdling with experience.
