KHAYRAWANI made all the running to win yesterday's Murphy's Irish Stout Handicap Elurdie, his first appearance for just under three months. J P McManus's four year old will probably take his chance in the Galway Hurdle, though he is out of the handicap and yesterday's slowly run race was somewhat inconclusive.
"But I suppose that will put him a bit closer," said his owner, whose King Wah Glory will run in the Plate, for which he appears well treated on his best chase form. McManus's colours will also be carried by Minister For Fun in the Galway feature. Runner up in the race two years ago, the latter reappeared after a long absence to finish a close second behind Plate bound Boro Vacation at Wexford in May.
Khayrawani, who finally won his maiden over timber at Thurles in April, jumped well for Conor O'Dwyer and was comfortably clear of Northern Fancy when pinging the last. He loves fast ground, though yesterday's hurdle track was heavily watered. Just Little finished a disappointing fourth. Following a veterinary examination he was found to be respiratory distressed.
"It's good to see her back," said owner Seamus O'Farrell after Kelly's Pearl had made all the running to hold the challenging Micks Delight by a length and a half in the Doyle Brothers Chase. The Charlie Swan partnered winner clearly ran her best race since finishing last year in the Galway Plate, which is again her objective.
Norman Williamson returned to action on Micks Delight, having fallen at Newbury on February 10th and dislocating his right shoulder. He had resumed riding two days earlier following a long lay off with a broken leg sustained in a fall at Sedgefield in October 1995.
The unfortunate Williamson was all set to resume at Cheltenham in March, but he dislocated the same shoulder on the gallops - and, indeed, for the third time in his career. He had a marvellous 1994/95 season, when he completed the Champion Hurdle Cheltenham Gold Cup double on Alderbrook and Master Oats. He is now fully fit and will be in action at the Galway Festival.
Although without a race for 13 months, the Daniel O'Connell trained Nobodys Son was a convincing winner of the Whitbread Handicap Chase, having taken up the running on rising to the last. The grey had some leg trouble last year which threatened to re occur and was nearly sold to England as a hunter chaser. He will take his chance in the Plate, albeit hom well out of the handicap.
Pat Smullen completed a double on Dancing Bluebell in the Whitbread Claiming Race - no horse was claimed - and on Port Queen in an open Kerryman Handicap. The Michael O'Brien trained Port Queen led about two furlongs out and ran home an easy winner from High In the Clouds, Laced Memories and Nameloc, who both ran below form, were later examined by the vet. The former was found to be post race normal but Nameloc was coughing.
John Murtagh also rode a brace of winners, coaxing Gold Wind to a narrow success from outsider and bottom weight Spanish Craft in the Kerry EBF Handicap (Qualifier) and cruising home on Samakaan in the three runner Equitable Life Race. The Jeremy Harley trained Gold Wind will have a race at Fairyhouse before contesting the final at the Curragh in September. She is owned by Mrs Philip Solomon, the wife of a well known Bournmouth art dealer.
. David Barron, whose sprinting squad are in tip top form, struck with yet another of his speedsters at Redcar yesterday when Middle East opened his seasonal account in the Andersons Handicap.
