Lonesome Boatman Cruises To Cork Success

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


The nine-year-old was an 8-1 opportunity under Darragh O'Keeffe for the three-and-a-half-mile Listed occasion and controlled from the front from the start, keeping up the gallop to dominate by 6 lengths.


The triumph was well gotten by the Cork crowd, with the fitness instructor a small regional clothing based just 40 minutes away from the track.


Allen said: "That is amazing! 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 wouldn't desire to be coming to this race without a run.


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


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


Lonesome Boatman at Cork (Thomas Weekes/PA)


Regarding plans, the fitness instructor quipped: "Pints will be intoxicated and we'll talk about it then!".


Darragh O'Keeffe took pleasure in a treble on the card, with his first winner being Mister Pessimistic in division among 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 great for Grey Jude, Henry de Bromhead considering a step up to Grade One level.


De Bromhead said: "He is a charming young horse, did it well in the end and the 2nd horse is a good horse also. I got worried after his mistake at the second-last however he jumped the last well and galloped out well. He is unbeaten and has actually done nothing wrong so ideally he'll keep advancing.


"There aren't lots of choices throughout Christmas so he might run in Leopardstown's Grade One amateur over 2 miles. I believe great ground is necessary 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 stated: "He has begun a lot and while it is a little tricky to settle him, it isn't a massive job and when I spoke to Sean (O'Keeffe) beforehand, he understood exactly what I wanted. You just have to tack on to heels and then provide him the reins, and Sean rode a charming race.


"The horse was bought for small cash and well done to JD Moore who found him for us. He had been put in bumpers for a smaller sized fitness instructor in England, we paid 12 grand for him and the strategy was simply to win a race with him.


"He'll get a couple of pounds in the handicap now however often with a horse like this, there is absolutely nothing wrong with having a high rating as you can box away racing in smaller sized fields and get cash."


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 need it however I wasn't taking any chances. Ricky provided him a lovely trip, the horse has fantastic scope however can be a little brave," said Griffin.


"This horse will get an entry for the Drinmore now and while I know Willie's (Mullins, champ trainer) horses have yet to reappear, to start with we'll enjoy today and worry about that later on."