WINNING WAVE
McNamara bows out in triumph at Tramore
ARELATIVELY low-key but busy weekend on the home front features both the closing sessions of the August Festival in Tramore and tomorrow’s Dundalk card boasting a handsome €140,000 prize fund.
Last evening at the Waterford venue jumping fans surrounding the parade ring gave a heartfelt ‘three cheers’ as Andrew McNamara signed off with a hardearned 5/1 handicap hurdle triumph aboard Shark Hanlon’s Most Honourable when quitting the saddle and planning to start training in the coming months.
The tall 32- year- old f rom Croom, Co Limerick who has been suffering from a persistent back problem is wisely switching careers after partnering close on 500 winners in 15 years.
Andrew’s younger brother Robbie suffered life-threatening injuries at Wexford in early April and is undergoing extensive rehabilitation therapy to cope with paralysis. He also has ambitions to follow their father, Andrew senior, into the training ranks.
The McNamaras will no doubt be well aware the sport is ultracompetitive under both codes here, even if the rewards can be worthwhile as the level of prize money continues on an upward curve.
For instance, those competing in the top events tomorrow on Dundalk’s all-weather course have a combined €75,000 to aim at thanks to the ongoing sponsorship input from Bar One Racing in advance of the featured Red God Handicap.
It’s no surprise then that most of our principal handlers are represented there on a varied card with a full field of 14 run- ners, backed up by t hree reserves, declared for the Red God Handicap. The field for the extended mile and a quarter ranges from worthy top weight Shalaman down to Ulster Derby scorer Botany Bay.
Meath- based Tony Martin could be the trainer to follow as he has Galway Festival runnersup Golden Spear and Shalamzar in the field. The preference is for the former in Colin Keane’s hands after beating all except Clondaw Warrior over a slightly longer trip and easier surface.
They travel barely half that distance an hour earlier in Bar One’s Mourne Handicap and the lion’s share of the spoils could be earmarked for the Hassett family’s Master Speaker. His consistency deserves rather bet- ter reward, is proven around the circuit and will have Wayne Lordan’s assistance.
Lordan could initiate a double aboard David Wachman’s Danehill Dancer filly Tessonna. She did not have the clearest of runs in the closing stages when a very promising debut third to Leafy Shade in what looked a much stronger Curragh affair than the company she keeps in tomorrow’s opener.
Half an hour later top weight will hardly prevent Your Pal Tal from winning over the minimum trip at the Louth venue once more in the Rated Race for the Johnny Levins yard while John Murphy’s Naas runner-up Compass Hill with Séamie Heffernan aboard looks the answer to the concluding maiden.