I’m Slippy showed plenty of tenacity to win the Tattersalls Ireland George Mernagh Memorial Sales Bumper at
.
Trained by Robert Tyner and ridden by Josh Williamson, I’m Slippy was sent off a 9-1 chance on his racecourse bow and he travelled well throughout the valuable two-mile affair.
Look Me had first run on him up the inside rail, but I’m Slippy responded to his rider’s urging to emerge a half-length victor, with Early Dawning a further length and a quarter back in third.
Tyner said: “He’s never disappointed me since I put my hand on him. He’s a tall, athletic horse.
“I was concerned was he too nice to be a really good horse. He’s had a beautiful temperament from the word go.
“Josh gave him a nice ride. He’ll have a holiday now and he jumps well.”
Jonathan Burke steered Philip Dempsey’s Hillsdale to victory in the BoyleSports, Proud Sponsors Since 2014 Novice Handicap Chase.
The leading rider is based in Britain as stable jockey to Fergal O’Brien, but showcased his riding ability back on home soil with a near all-the-way success aboard 6-1 shot Hillsdale in this €50,000 Listed event.
Dempsey said: “He’s quirky but talented and switching back to two miles seemed to help. That trip will probably suit him for now.
“He’s free and wants to get on with things. He was a very difficult young horse and very hard to break or do anything with. It’s taken him a long time to learn about racing. He’s not the easiest to ride.
“We’ll look at Punchestown as it’s the last throw of the dice, but it may come a bit quick.”
Grann’s Boy was a 33-1 winner of the Cawley Furniture Novice Handicap Hurdle for Harry Rogers and Darragh O’Keeffe, narrowly denying the 7-2 favourite Sticwiththeprocess by a short head.
“I thought he’d run well but I thought the ground was against him. Heavy ground doesn’t really suit him, but it didn’t look that bad and Darragh was very good on him,” said Rogers.
Ted and Mark Walsh teamed up to claim top honours in the Sherry Fitzgerald Sherry Rated Novice Chase with 7-2 chance Buachaillbocht, while the Ryan’s Cleaning Maiden Hurdle went to the Tom Cooper-trained Icare d’Aubrelle (100-30), with Jordan Gainford the winning rider.
Cooper said: “He’s a horse with a lot of problems but got it together today. He won his bumper easily in Naas and could have been top drawer but for leg trouble.
“His legs are good now and he’s crying out for a fence. We’ll put him away now and then go chasing.”
Pat Fahy’s stable stalwart Drop The Anchor was a 12-1 winner of the Paddy Kehoe Suspended Ceilings Handicap Hurdle under 7lb claimer Harry Sexton.