All roads led to Tramore last weekend for the Graun Hill venue’s four-day August festival and proceedings kicked off on Thursday with a mixed card.
Local handlers fared extremely well over the four days and Pat Flynn, having suffered an earlier reverse with the second-placed Storm Away in the opening Brennans Pharmacy (Ladies) Maiden, sent out his initial winner of the meeting courtesy of Prince Chaparral in the Harney’s Of Dunhill Handicap.
Whilst winless for three years, the seven-year-old Prince Chaparral made smooth progress on the descent into the dip and the well-supported 100/30 shot stayed on dourly with Shane Gray to lead in the shadow of the post en-route to dismissing Bobskier.
Not to be outdone, Henry de Bromhead saddled Queiros Bleu to collect the following Part Woodbyrne Memorial Handicap Chase.
Switched off by Andrew Lynch, the French-bred Queiros Bleu could be called the most likely winner from the third last and he eased to the front after two out to put two and three quarter lengths between himself and previous course winner Count Salazar.
Queiros Bleu, sporting the familiar Sizing Europe colours of Ann and Alan Potts Partnership, is likely to run at Killarney later this month.
Many believed that Storm Away would open her account on the flat in the Brennans Pharmacy (Ladies) Maiden. Always travelling well with Adrienne Foley, Storm Away stormed into the lead with six furlongs left to travel.
