On the day when the Irish National took centre stage, the Dreaper family were fittingly back in the winner’s enclosure when Lar’s Lass triumphed in the Rathbarry & Glenview Mares Hunter Chase.
Twice a winner in the pointing fields this season when under the care of Jim Dreaper’s son Tom, Barry O’Neill was always full of confidence aboard the easy-to-back 13/2 shot and the pair caught the eye as the big field took the bend into the home straight.
The Kirkistown victor travelled well to the front, but the seven-year-old got in deep to the final fence and that gave her chief rival True Or False the chance to come back at her.
O’Neill’s mount was not to be denied however, and she gamely stuck her head down to prevail by four and a half lengths, with Fairland a further two and three quarter lengths back in third, whilst Loughaneala Og, a maiden winner in Ballyknock just five days earlier faded into fourth.
The Ocovango-sired Lar’s Lass could be set to remain inside the rails with a handicap put up by connections as an upcoming target.
It was even easier for Dundaniel in the following John Thomas McNamara Maiden Hunters Chase as the well-backed Dundaniel justified the market support for the Michael Kennedy stable.
Twenty-four hours earlier it was Michael O’Sullivan who dominated the Easter Sunday card at the Mallow card, and a day later it was the turn of his younger brother Alan to grace the winner’s enclosure at their local venue, as he was in the saddle, as Dundaniel was 11 lengths too good for the Comea maiden victor Boss Robin.
The field returned at wide intervals, with a further 16 lengths back to Tohellortoconnacht back in third.
