IN front before the first furlong, the locally trained Gan Ainm made the rest of the running to win yesterday's featured Waterford Crystal, Nursery under top weight, eased down, by four lengths. It was a good performance on the part of Paddy Mullins's charge, who will revert to six furlongs in next month's Birdcatcher Nursery at Naas.
Gan Ainm, who had won here on her debut, then finished seventh behind Gunfire in a winners' race at the Curragh, but her handler claims she is a better filly now. There was no early pace and rider John Murtagh, who had hoped something would set off in front, elected to make the running. Owned and bred by John Brophy, a relative of Paddy Mullins, she may be even more effective with some cut in the ground.
Ceirsech, another locally trained winner, fought back to hold the challenges of Matangi and the disappointing favourite, Identify, in the Denny Cordell Lavarack Memorial, Race. The Jim Bolger-trained filly failed to win in 10 outings this season, but she has been running consistently well in good company. Identify put her head in front inside the distance, but Dermot Weld-trained filly did not battle.
Michael Kinane will ride the Weld trained Gordi in tomorrow's Irish St Leger, A running decision about the dual Leger winner, Vintage Crop, will not be made until the trainer has consulted owner and race sponsor Michael Smurfit.
Smurfit has a share in Gordi, who disappointed Weld in the Doncaster St Leger, in which he finished only 10th of 11 to Shantou. Kieren Fallon blamed the watered ground for Gordi's performance there but other excuses have now emerged. The colt returned with some cuts to a foreleg, probably sustained in scrimmaging at an early stage of the race. Both Gordi and nine-year-old Vintage Crop worked separately yesterday morning.
Key Change, trained by John Oxx, is a firm favourite with Liam Cashman at 5 to 2. As far as that layer is concerned it is a one-horse book. Gordi is a 6 to 1 chance, with Oscar Schindler (Stephen Craine) offered at 5 to 1 and the Paul Cole-trained Posidonas (Richard Quinn) half a point longer. Sacrament (Walter Swinburn) is likely to be the only other English trained runner.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained Moon Flower just got home from Doucette and Keeping The Faith in a close finish to the opening Fillies Maiden. The Seamus Heffernan-partnered winner is a half-sister to Last Tycoon.
Rudds Hill, a first winner in four years for Gorey, Co Wexford, permit holder Patrick Murphy, led on the inside on landing over the second-last flight to take the Milford Handicap Hurdle with ease under Frank Woods,
The winner was lucky to make the course, as an articulated truck overtook the horse box en route to Gowran and struck a wheel of the box with its front wheel. Murphy said he had a struggle to keep his car on the road, Rudds Hill, a 14 to 1 outsider, was instrumental, in the Jackpot pool, of £3,290 being carried over until the next Gowran meeting, on October 23rd.
Woods completed a double when landing the Major Jamie, trained by Arthur Moore, the narrow winner of the Bagenalstown Maiden Hurdle from Martys Step.
The newcomer Knockaroo was made favourite for the bumper and justified the confidence by beating another debutant Splendid by a length.
