Graham Bradley had never set eyes on Tralee before walking the track yesterday morning but he proved he's a quick learner when guiding Solvang to a thrilling win in the featured Denny Handicap Chase.
"I'll be back to Tralee again I think," grinned Bradley after the presentation included a congratulatory kiss from the new Rose, Luzveminda O'Sullivan.
In the winners enclosure, the high-spirited Solvang looked to have plenty of energy left as he paced impatiently and threw a buck, no mean achievement considering minutes before he was all out to hold off the favourite Eton Gale by half a length with Flying In The Gale just a head back in third.
Bradley rode a fine race on the David Kiely-trained six-year-old but it was the relatively fast going that Kiely believed was crucial to the success of his 6 to 1 chance.
"It can't be hard enough for him. On soft ground, the handbrake comes on but on this he's a decent horse and I'm glad he's won a decent prize," Kiely said before reporting Solvang to be very much on the market.
"We just don't get enough fast ground in Ireland while in England it can be fast up until November. If he remains with me he might go to Listowel and we might take him across to England ourselves," he added.
Whatever route he takes, Solvang will be a formidable opponent as he proved by powering up the inside of Eton Gale before the turn-in and overcoming a penultimate fence mistake to hold on determinedly.
"The fences here are like the old Punchestown fences but they rode well and at least the second last was soft. This horse goes on fast ground and would be a great buy," Bradley confirmed. The second favourite Corket was beaten with a circuit to go and Richard Dunwoody said: "The ground was too quick and he was flat out all the way."
Corket's trainer Frances Crowley had had better luck in the Denny Havasnack where Moscow Express proved his versatility by making all the running under Brian Crowley to beat Palette by a length.
"I didn't want Moscow Express to make it and warned Brian but with no pace on it was good to see him make his mind up. I wouldn't rule him out of running in a flat handicap. He has beaten some decent ones there," said the trainer.
Jim Bolger continued his impressive run with a double. Husun won her second prize from three races in five days when finishing fast to win the Kerryman Handicap and Bolger plans to send her out again for a six-furlong race at the Curragh tomorrow.
Bolger saddled the first two in the Naughton Handicap where Dawn Project held off stable companion Gypsy Melody, which had secured a dream run up the rail, by a neck. "Hopefully there will be another day in the winner and the second has run a blinder," said Bolger.
In contrast, Dermot Weld had a succession of placed horses up until the odds-on favourite Titus came through in the closing stages to beat Antrim Coast by two lengths in the mile maiden. "We've had seven seconds and they've all been running well. This fellow loves this ground but we have no big plans for him," Weld said.
