The favourite backers had an in-and-out day at Listowel yesterday, but after Cairncross's 20 to 1 shocker in the featured Smithwicks Handicap Hurdle, the majority feeling was definitely out.
The exceptions were the raucously happy followers of Armagh trainer John Woods who cheered Cairncross to the echo after his spectacular three-length defeat of The Bongo Man. The favourite Try For Ever could finish only sixth and She's Our Mare, after being badly hampered on the turn in, fell at the last.
Equally happy was Tom Treacy, rider of three winners on the day at odds of 865 to 1, who brought Cairncross from last three hurdles from home to take it up at the final flight.
"This is amazing. I've had a spell where things were going wrong for me and today everything has come right," said Treacy who has now scored eight winners this term.
Treacy acknowledged the riding tips from Harry Rogers, who rode Cairncross over two and a half miles previously, and Woods, who trains just 11 horses, added: "Harry told us after Galway that two or three miles didn't matter to this horse." Cairncross will now be aimed at a race at Gowran next month.
Garrett Cotter had a nasty fall off Honey Trader at the fourth last in this race and was taken to Tralee hospital with concussion. He has been stood down for 21 days.
Treacy's other winners were Glin Castle, who made a comfortable winning debut over fences in the Kevin McManus Beginners Chase and Moneyclear, who stayed on too strongly on the run for Muskerry King in the Spectra Handicap Hurdle.
Mazurka and Bootlegger were winning favourites as expected but the tone had been set in the opening maiden when the favourite, Carmenta, refused to load and the 50 to 1 shot Uptomeeyes proceeded to win for Fethard trainer Mattie Tynan and Jamie Spencer. The trainer was one of the few to back the winner but his investment paid only 16 to 1 on the Tote.
£928,103 was bet with the bookmakers yesterday, up over £100,000 on last year, and the Tote aggregate was also up to £326,712.
Paul Carberry was out of luck on the big-race favourite Try For Ever and earlier had picked up a one-day ban for failing to arrive at the track in time to ride Finoel in the Beginners Chase. Carberry explained to the stewards that he had planned to be picked up from his hotel at 12.30, two hours before the off-time, but overslept and woke up at 1.50. The stewards decided the explanation was not a valid reason for failing to honour his riding commitments.
Saeed bin Suroor yesterday confirmed that Sea Wave is likely to be the sole Godolphin challenger in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp a week on Sunday.
Daylami is also a Godolphin entry in the race but connections favour the Champion Stakes at Newmarket on October 17th.
Jo Mell will miss tomorrow's Tote Festival Handicap at Ascot. Tim Easterby's five-year-old gelding has failed to recover from a bruised foot.
