Sunday Cork review and replays

Cromwell turning a corner

Gavin Cromwell’s recent resurgence continued at Cork on Sunday as Dgalwaygallivantor (12/1) won the BAR 1 Betting Handicap Hurdle under Eoin Staples.

Cromwell had been going through a relatively dry spell for his incredibly high standards but landed a Clonmel winner on Tuesday (Bridie's Beau) and a Navan winner on Saturday thanks to 33/1 chance Coole Cafe, and Dgalwaygallivantor kept the ball rolling in Sunday's two and a half-mile contest.

He emerged a neck to the good over Happy Dreams (12/1), with a length and three-quarters back to Caesar Rock (22/1) back in third.

Cromwell said on Racing TV: "It's grand to hear that's the third winner in the week, I haven't heard that for a while!

"I fancied him to run well, I know it was a big field but he had a good mark back over hurdles and had been working well so I thought he'd run well.

"I'm hoping (there will be more improvement). Eoin's 7lb is like a free 7lb but he (Dgalwaygallivantor) has plenty of size and scope."

Regarding the low-key autumn endured by the stable, he said: "There was plenty of them not running up to scratch. We've also got a lot of horses that have been running for a few years now and some of them are at their peaks in the handicap and just haven't been up to winning off their marks.

"It's difficult until that time comes, anyway we'll soldier on.

"They were all scoping perfect, so I don't know, they just weren't up to scratch."

Inside job for Meyler

Good Girl Kathleen (7/2) won the Joe Buckley Construction Stayers Novice Hurdle after Donagh Meyler stuck to the inside of the course nearly the whole way around.

The move paid off, with Emmet Mullins' mare staying on strongly to beat Quantum Quest (7/1) and Barra Rue (17/2), with 11/10 favourite Kalypso'chance a disappointing fourth.

Meyler said on Racing TV: "All her homework has been very good.

"Emmet said to be during the week, would we go to the two and a half in Punchestown or the three miles, I felt she'd win wherever she goes so it's good when things like that work out.

"If she takes another jump forward like she did from the last day, the sky's the limit."

Rest of the action...

The opening BAR 1 Betting 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle eventually went to 16/1 chance Glen To Glen for trainer Joseph O’Brien and Ritchie Deegan.

The complexion of the race changed entirely, however, when odds-on favourite Manoir De Mirande came down at the final flight when still holding an advantage in the hands of Jack Kennedy.

Ole Ole, prominent throughout but seemingly held when the market leader came down, boxed on for second, beaten a length by Glen To Glen who appeared to score a shade cosily in the end.

Kennedy soon got to his feet and went on to partner Lord Rouge to victory for trainer Gordon Elliott in division one of the BAR 1 Casino Maiden Hurdle, the 100/30 chance staying on best to beat Willie Mullins' 8/11 favourite Dani Donadoni, the front two coming 24 lengths clear of Mahon Falls (Mullins, 6/1) back in third.

Elliott said: "We thought there was an awful lot of improvement in him today, he's a big, massive horse. I'd say he's probably a chaser for next year but he's a big honest horse and jumped good on the whole. He got a bit close to the third-last and second-last but good other than that.

"There's plenty of improvement in him."

Regarding the prominent tactics, the trainer said: "To be honest, there's two different races. If you want to win you jump off in the first division, if you don't you don't. So, to be fair, we wanted to win so that's where you've got to be.

"He loved that soft ground. I'll talk to the ground and see what they think but I'd say next year over fences is when he'll come into his own."

The same trainer-jockey combination were possibly fortunate winners in division two as Kazansky (3/1) took top spot from Splendid Fellow (11/2), the race handed on a plate after the final-flight departure of the O'Brien-trained Le Labo who appeared to be on his way to victory under John Gleeson.

Kennedy said on Racing TV: "The horse (Manoir De Mirande) was running a lovely race in the first but just over-jumped the last.

"We were fairly hopeful he (Kazansky) would run a nice race so it was nice for him to get off the mark.

"I thought going to the last if I wing this then I have a chance, he (leader) wouldn't get too far away from me. If we'd beaten him or not I don't know but it's grand to get it (the win)."

Of Lord Rouge he added: "I just thought maybe the trip might be a bit sharp for him, he loved that ground. We liked him at home and he was good."

Elliott and Kennedy went on to complete a four-timer on the card when Kala Conti won the Grade 2 Mares Novice Chase and Found A Fifty won the Hilly Way Chase.

More from Sporting Life

• Free bets
• Racecards
• Fast results
• Full results and free video replays
• Horse racing news
• Horse racing tips
• Horse racing features
• Download our free iOS and Android app
• Football and other sports tips
• Podcasts and video content

Safer gambling

We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.

If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.

Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.