Smart Punchestown Double For Walk In The Park
Monbeg Park (6g Walk In The Park - Cyclone’s Sister, by Stowaway) completed the first leg of a double for Walk In The Park at Punchestown on Friday when leading home a 1-2-3 for his sire in the two mile Novice Hurdle.
Trained by Sean Doyle for Donnchadh Doyle, the bay boasted course form, having won a maiden hurdle at the track in November and had since earned black-type in a Grade 3 hurdle. Sent off second favourite under JJ Slevin, he was travelling well when leading before the last and drew clear on the run-in. The winning margin was two and a half lengths, as Spillane’s Tower (Walk In The Park) claimed runners-up honours ahead of Uncle Phil (Walk In The Park).
The winning trainer later said that Monbeg Park would be a better horse over fences next season. Previously successful in a bumper and four-year-old maiden, the son of Walk In The Park was bred by Grange Stud.
The very next race, a bumper over two miles and two furlongs, went to another smart son of Walk In The Park, in Walk Away Harry (5g Walk In The Park - Calomeria, by Groom Dancer).
A promising second on debut, the Charles Byrnes-trained bay was ridden towards the back of the field by Ray Barron and improved approaching the turn for home. Pushed along soon after, he was ridden a furlong from home and led close home to win by half a length.
Owned by the Area Fiftyone Syndicate and bred by PJ Reynolds, Walk Away Harry completed a treble on the day for his sire, with Resplendent Grey (5g Walk In The Park - Caltra Princess, by Traditionally) having earlier made it two from two over hurdles at Perth.
Olly Murphy’s charge impressed on debut in a bumper in December and made a perfect start over hurdles earlier this month. Reunited with Sean Bowen on Friday afternoon, the bay raced in midfield before making headway from three out. Disputing at the penultimate flight, he was shaken up to lead before the next and drew clear on the run-in to win by four lengths and three quarters.
A step up in class may now be on the cards for Resplendent Grey, who is owned by Mrs RJ Skan and was bred by Ms Maria Kavanagh.