The 2021 edition of the Fr. Sean Breen Memorial Ladies Cup proved to be a family affair and one that will live long in the memory of rider Barry Walsh, as he sealed his first track success aboard Singing Banjo.
The subject of some each-way support having been available at prices as big as 50/1 on the morning of the race, the 11-year-old entered the race with some promising efforts to his name having only been beaten 12 lengths in a Downpatrick Maiden Hunter Chase on his penultimate start, whilst he was among the winners at Tattersalls point-to-point in December in what was his first success in well over four years.
Never too far away from the pace having been positioned in behind the leaders in what proved ultimately proved to be a dramatic contest as rain showers throughout the afternoon caught out a number of the runners.
Tout Paris was the first casualty to slip up on the flat in the opening mile, with Festival Opera and the former winner Enniskillen others to exit on the flat after the 12th.
Away from those dramas the favourite Youcannotbeserious under Derek O’Connor had taken over at the head of proceedings as the field raced nicely strung out before he made a serious error at fence 21 the drop fence saw him lose his challenging position, before a more serious error at Ruby’s Double second time saw him hit the deck.
By this stage the eventual winner had taken over a narrow advantage from previous Lingstown winner and former La Touche runner-up Vital Island, with pair settling down to battle out thrilling finish as they matched strides heading onto the racecourse proper.
Getting away the quicker from the final fence proved to be key for Singing Banjo as he went on to win by a length and a quarter over Vital Island with Saint Benedict surviving a scare at the last to claim third over the staying on Ciaran Murphy pair of Subset and Michael’s Pick.
“That was magic,” said Philip Rothwell after saddling a double on the day, “it is really, really good for the Walsh family and it has very little to do with me. He comes over a couple of weeks before he runs and we ran him in a couple of hunter chases to have him ready for today.
“Barry’s brother Aaron rode a couple of horses for me around here in Cross-Country races and we were second a couple of times.
“I have had a winner around here, but we were second to a pile of Enda’s so for their family is very special. It is a huge family thing for the Walsh’s for his Dad, his mother and his brother so it is all about them more than me.”
Singing Banjo is also declared in the La Touche Cup on Thursday.
Singing Banjo 🎶 🪕 wins The Kildare Hunt Club Fr Breen Memorial Chase For The Ladies Perpetual Cup under Barry Walsh.
— Punchestown (@punchestownrace) April 27, 2021
Two wins today for @philip_rothwell 🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/OY7l7p5Yng
