THE first graded race of the year at Fairyhouse represented something of a boil-over for punters but the Grade 3 John & Chich Fowler Memorial EBF Mares Chase could not have produced a more deserving winner than Agusta Gold.
This Margaret Mullins-trained eight-year-old has been an incredibly consistent sort throughout her career, finishing outside the first three just once in her 19 starts, and she thoroughly deserved this second blacktype success.
When she was last in action at Punchestown last February, she was denied in the final stride of the €100,000 Grand National Trial and it is to her considerable credit that she returned in such fine heart off a considerable layoff while also coming back in trip by a mile.
The market for this race revolved around the Willie Mullins-trained pair of Salsaretta (4/6) and Cabaret Queen (16/5) but the former was in trouble a long way from home and finished last (blowing hard post-race). The Kerry National heroine was a well held third after losing the lead before two out.
Meanwhile, the victorious daughter of Gold Well, who carries the colours of Kieran Leavy, produced a typically willing effort under Danny Mullins to carry the day by half a length from Moyhenna.
“This kind of track and big fences seems to suit her so hopefully we’ll have a crack at some of those good staying chases through the spring,” said the winning rider who indicated the Irish Grand National could be on the agenda for Agusta Gold.
The Cavalor Equine Nutrition Beginners Chase served up an eventful conclusion from which Forza Milan emerged victorious for James Nash and Kevin Brouder.
The Porterstown Chase fourth looked well held in fourth turning in but then Antey fell at the second last when still in the lead. This left Coko Beach and Eleazar Des Neiges doing battle for victory but it was slow-motion stuff from that pair in the closing stages and Forza Milan, in the colours of the TSKOC Syndicate, closed in gradually.
The 11/4 chance eventually hit the front late in the day to score by three-quarters of a length and he has the Irish Grand National as his major end-of-season target.
Willie Mullins was out of luck in the day’s feature and also with Antey but did end the day on a bright note as he sent out Whatdeawant (9/4) to turn over the odds-on newcomer Ginto in the bumper.
The Sean and Bernardine Mulryan-owned half-brother to Hardline travelled through this steadily run race with the utmost ease for Patrick Mullins and there was only going to be one winner when he moved ahead with well over a furlong to run.
At this stage Ginto was labouring in a share of third and, while he rallied well in the closing stages, Whatdeawant had two and a quarter lengths to spare.
“That was a nice performance and he shows more on the track than he does at home. Patrick was very pleased with him and he could go for a winners’ race or straight to Cheltenham,” stated Mullins.
PETER Fahey has a mare with the potential to make a major impact at the spring festivals in Royal Kahala who made it three wins on the spin at Fairyhouse in the mares’ conditions’ hurdle.
An impressive winner of a bumper and a maiden hurdle within nine days of each other here in November, this Winning Ways Starlet Syndicate-owned daughter of Flemensfirth produced her best effort to date in this smart two-and-a-quarter-mile affair.
A run through on the inner didn’t go absolutely smoothly for Kevin Sexton’s mount which meant that she had work to do to close down Hook Up on the run to the last flight.
However, when Royal Kahala got fully into the clear she made this look easy. Hook Up didn’t help her cause with a mistake at the last but the winner still gathered her up in a few strides for an easy five-length victory.
“After her last two runs I thought we had a cracking filly and I’m pleased with how she won,” stated Fahey. “All going well she will be back here for the Solerina Novices’ Hurdle at the end of the month and then we’ll see where she goes.”
Fahey’s elder brother Paul also got amongst the winners when Ballyshannon Rose (13/2) made it three wins on the bounce in the 80-109 rated handicap hurdle over three miles.
Off an 18lb higher mark than when first successful, the Fiona Hughes-owned mare led before two out and found plenty for pressure to hold off Call The Tune by a length and three-quarters. This victory meant that jockey Paddy Kennedy has equalled his previous best tally for a season (15) with almost four months still to go.
The winner could return to Fairyhouse later this month.
Love’s fairytale finale as Flindt reads script as Flindt reads the script
A RESULT that was the stuff of fairytales came to pass in the lady riders’ handicap hurdle as a race named in her honour provided Dot Love with the final success of her distinguished training career courtesy of the Sarah Kavanagh-ridden Flindt (16/1).
On Monday she turned over the licence at her Mullingar base to her longtime assistant Ciaran Murphy which represented perfect symmetry as Murphy partnered her first winner as a trainer, the 25/1 I’m On The Line at Kilbeggan in June 2001.
For his part, the Kieran Clarke-owned Flindt was recording his first success since April 2019 and he led after the last for a length-and-a-quarter success over the staying-on Djasek.
“I never thought he would do it for me but he’s a nice little horse who stays well and he’s done us a few good turns,” said the trainer. “I’ve enjoyed my 20 years enormously but Ciaran is doing so much and he deserves to take over the licence now. He’s a good horseman and he’s going to do really well at this.”
The trainer reflected on that famous day with Liberty Counsel back here eight years ago, winning the Irish Grand National at 50/1: “I thought she had a chance of finishing in the first few places but I was absolutely speechless when she won. It was a wonderful day and one I’ll never forget. She had great stamina, great staying power and she was a lovely, lovely mare.”
Noel Meade followed up a win at Cork the previous day with a cracking prospect in Flanking Maneuver (5/4) who impressed in the two-and-a-half-mile maiden hurdle.
This Gigginstown House Stud-owned son of Beat Hollow, who won a Downpatrick bumper on his penultimate start, looked right at home as he stepped up to this distance following his second to Percy Warner at Navan last month.
The strong-travelling Flanking Maneuver cruised to the front for Sean Flanagan before the second last flight and he had any amount to spare in handing out a six-length beating to Folcano. He can hold his own at graded level.