Lonesome Boatman Cruises To Cork Success

Sean Allen's Lonesome Boatman was a winner of the Paddy Power Cork Grand National.


The nine-year-old was an 8-1 possibility under Darragh O'Keeffe for the three-and-a-half-mile Listed occasion and dominated from the front from the outset, maintaining the gallop to dominate by six lengths.


The victory was well received by the Cork crowd, with the trainer a small local outfit based only 40 minutes far from the track.


Allen stated: "That is unbelievable! 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 wish to be pertaining to this race without a run.


"Today was the strategy and the male on his back - what can I state, he was brave as a lion everywhere. Even when he was five or six lengths ahead, he was still firing the horse at fences. The strategy was to go a gallop and he was truly on-song.


"I farm in Araglin, which is 40 minutes away and this is my local course. I have 8 horses and my bro Darragh, who gets along with Darragh (O'Keeffe), trips out for me and I have plenty of regional support too."


Lonesome Boatman at Cork (Thomas Weekes/PA)


Regarding strategies, the fitness instructor quipped: "Pints will be intoxicated and we'll speak 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 favourite to maintain his unbeaten record and was just under 3 lengths too excellent for Grey Jude, leaving fitness instructor Henry de Bromhead considering 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 too. I got worried after his mistake at the second-last but he leapt the last well and galloped out well. He is unbeaten and has actually not done anything incorrect so ideally he'll keep progressing.


"There aren't many alternatives throughout Christmas so he could run in Leopardstown's Grade One novice over two miles. I believe great ground is essential to him."


De Bromhead and O'Keeffe likewise teamed up to land the Paddy Power 'Did You Watch The Breeders Cup At All' Mares Maiden Hurdle with 6-5 preferred Echoing Silence.


Declan Queally struck Listed gold as Tackletommywoowoo landed the Paddy Power "How Many Days 'Til Christmas?" Irish EBF Novice Hurdle at 3-1 under Sean O'Keeffe.


The fitness instructor said: "He has begun a lot and while it is a little difficult to settle him, it isn't a huge task and when I spoke with Sean (O'Keeffe) beforehand, he understood exactly what I desired. You just need to tack on to heels and then give him the reins, and Sean rode a lovely race.


"The horse was purchased for little money and well done to JD Moore who found him for us. He had been positioned in bumpers for a smaller fitness instructor in England, we paid 12 grand for him and the strategy was just to win a race with him.


"He'll get a few pounds in the handicap now however in some cases with a horse like this, there is nothing incorrect with having a high ranking as you can box away racing in smaller sized fields and get money."


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 require it however I wasn't taking any chances. Ricky gave him a beautiful trip, the horse has brilliant scope however can be a little brave," stated Griffin.


"This horse will get an entry for the Drinmore now and while I know Willie's (Mullins, champion fitness instructor) horses have yet to come back, first of all we'll delight in today and stress over that later."