Lonesome Boatman Cruises To Cork Success

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


The nine-year-old was an 8-1 opportunity under Darragh O'Keeffe for the three-and-a-half-mile Listed event and controlled from the front from the start, maintaining the gallop to prevail by 6 lengths.


The victory was well gotten by the Cork crowd, with the fitness instructor a little local outfit based only 40 minutes away from the track.


Allen said: "That is incredible! 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 would not desire to be pertaining to this race without a run.


"Today was the strategy and the guy on his back - what can I say, he was brave as a lion all over. Even when he was 5 or six lengths ahead, he was still shooting the horse at fences. The strategy was to go a gallop and he was actually on-song.


"I farm in Araglin, which is 40 minutes away and this is my regional course. I have 8 horses and my sibling Darragh, who is friendly with Darragh (O'Keeffe), rides out for me and I have plenty of regional assistance too."


Lonesome Boatman at Cork (Thomas Weekes/PA)


Regarding plans, the fitness instructor quipped: "Pints will be intoxicated and we'll talk about it then!".


Darragh O'Keeffe delighted in a treble on the card, with his very 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 preferred to keep his unbeaten record and was just under 3 lengths too excellent for Grey Jude, leaving trainer Henry de Bromhead eyeing a step up to Grade One level.


De Bromhead said: "He is a beautiful young horse, did it nicely in the end and the 2nd horse is a decent horse also. I got nervous after his error at the second-last however he leapt the last well and galloped out well. He is unbeaten and has done nothing wrong so ideally he'll keep advancing.


"There aren't numerous alternatives throughout Christmas so he could run in Leopardstown's Grade One newbie over two miles. I believe good ground is very 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 "The number of Days 'Til Christmas?" Irish EBF Novice Hurdle at 3-1 under Sean O'Keeffe.


The trainer stated: "He has actually begun a lot and while it is a little challenging to settle him, it isn't an enormous task and when I talked to Sean (O'Keeffe) in advance, he knew precisely what I wanted. You just need to add to heels and after that provide him the reins, and Sean rode a lovely race.


"The horse was bought for little money and well done to JD Moore who discovered him for us. He had actually been put in bumpers for a smaller sized 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 absolutely nothing incorrect with having a high score as you can box away racing in smaller fields and get cash."


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 does not need it but I wasn't taking any chances. Ricky gave him a charming ride, the horse has dazzling 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, first of all we'll enjoy today and fret about that later."