Lonesome Boatman cruises to Cork success

Sean Allen’s Lonesome Boatman was a popular local winner of the Paddy Power Cork Grand National.

The nine-year-old was an 8-1 chance under Darragh O’Keeffe for the three-and-a-half-mile Listed event and dominated from the front from the outset, keeping up the gallop to prevail by six lengths.

The victory was well received by the Cork crowd, with the trainer a small local outfit based only 40 minutes away from the track.

Allen said: “That is unbelievable! Darragh rode the horse in Punchestown (last May) and put this race to us. We knocked the cobwebs off him at Listowel in September as you wouldn’t want to be coming to this race without a run.

“Today was the plan and the man on his back – what can I say, he was brave as a lion everywhere. Even when he was five or six lengths ahead, he was still firing the horse at fences. The plan was to go a gallop and he was really on-song.

“I farm in Araglin, which is 40 minutes away and this is my local course. I have eight horses and my brother Darragh, who is friendly with Darragh (O’Keeffe), rides out for me and I have plenty of local support too.”

Regarding plans, the trainer quipped: “Pints will be drunk and we’ll talk about it then!”.

Darragh O’Keeffe enjoyed a treble on the card, with his first winner being Mister Pessimistic in division one of the Paddy Power From The Horse’s Mouth Podcast Maiden Hurdle.

A point-to-point and bumper winner, the four-year-old was a 4-11 favourite to maintain his unbeaten record and was just under three lengths too good for Grey Jude, leaving trainer Henry de Bromhead eyeing a step up to Grade One level.

De Bromhead said: “He is a lovely young horse, did it nicely in the end and the second horse is a decent horse as well. I got nervous after his mistake at the second-last but he jumped the last well and galloped out well. He is unbeaten and has done nothing wrong so hopefully he’ll keep progressing.

“There aren’t many options during Christmas so he could run in Leopardstown’s Grade One novice over two miles. I think nice ground is important to him.”

De Bromhead and O’Keeffe also teamed up to land the Paddy Power ‘Did You Watch The Breeders Cup At All’ Mares Maiden Hurdle with 6-5 favourite Echoing Silence.

Declan Queally struck Listed gold as Tackletommywoowoo landed the Paddy Power “How Many Days ‘Til Christmas?” Irish EBF Novice Hurdle at 3-1 under Sean O’Keeffe.

The trainer said: “He has come on a lot and while it is a little tricky to settle him, it isn’t a massive job and when I spoke to Sean (O’Keeffe) beforehand, he knew exactly what I wanted. You just have to tack on to heels and then give him the reins, and Sean rode a lovely race.

“The horse was bought for small money and well done to JD Moore who found him for us. He had been placed in bumpers for a smaller trainer in England, we paid 12 grand for him and the plan was just to win a race with him.

“He’ll get a few pounds in the handicap now but sometimes with a horse like this, there is nothing wrong with having a high rating as you can box away racing in smaller fields and pick up money.”

Eoin Griffin’s Ol Man Dingle was the winner of the the Grade Three Paddy Power Betting Shops Irish EBF Novice Chase, scoring at 11-4 under rider Ricky Doyle.

“I put the tongue-tie back on Ol Man Dingle today – he doesn’t need it but I wasn’t taking any chances. Ricky gave him a lovely ride, the horse has brilliant scope but can be a little brave,” said Griffin.

“This horse will get an entry for the Drinmore now and while I know Willie’s (Mullins, champion trainer) horses have yet to reappear, firstly we’ll enjoy today and worry about that later.”