Lonesome Boatman Cruises To Cork Success

Sean Allen's Lonesome Boatman was a popular local 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 event and controlled from the front from the beginning, keeping up the gallop to dominate by six lengths.


The success was well received by the Cork crowd, with the trainer a small local outfit based just 40 minutes away from the track.


Allen said: "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 concerning 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 shooting the horse at fences. The plan was to go a gallop and he was truly on-song.


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


Lonesome Boatman at Cork (Thomas Weekes/PA)


Regarding strategies, the trainer quipped: "Pints will be drunk and we'll discuss 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 keep his unbeaten record and was just under 3 too excellent for Grey Jude, leaving fitness instructor Henry de Bromhead considering an action up to Grade One level.


De Bromhead stated: "He is a charming young horse, did it perfectly in the end and the 2nd horse is a decent horse too. I got nervous after his error at the second-last but he leapt the last well and galloped out well. He is unbeaten and has not done anything incorrect so ideally he'll keep progressing.


"There aren't many choices throughout Christmas so he could run in Leopardstown's Grade One beginner over two miles. I think great ground is very important to him."


De Bromhead and O'Keeffe also collaborated to land the Paddy Power 'Did You Watch The Breeders Cup At All' Mares Maiden Hurdle with 6-5 favourite 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 actually begun a lot and while it is a little difficult to settle him, it isn't an enormous job and when I spoke with Sean (O'Keeffe) beforehand, he knew exactly what I wanted. You just need to add to heels and then offer him the reins, and Sean rode a beautiful race.


"The horse was purchased for small money and well done to JD Moore who found him for us. He had actually been placed in bumpers for a smaller trainer in England, we paid 12 grand for him and the strategy was simply to win a race with him.


"He'll get a few pounds in the handicap now however sometimes with a horse like this, there is absolutely nothing incorrect with having a high rating as you can box away racing in smaller fields and pick up 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 doesn't need it however I wasn't taking any possibilities. Ricky offered him a beautiful ride, the horse has fantastic scope but can be a little brave," stated Griffin.


"This horse will get an entry for the Drinmore now and while I understand Willie's (Mullins, champion trainer) horses have yet to come back, firstly we'll take pleasure in today and stress over that later."