THE brilliant Benie Des Dieux turned up in all her glory in the Grade 2 John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle with a display of the highest quality and one which gave Willie Mullins pause for thought as regards where his star mare heads to at Cheltenham.
Such was the manner of this display that Benie Des Dieux is now odds-on for the Mares Hurdle but afterwards Willie Mullins indicated that he was giving consideration to the Stayers Hurdle.
On her first outing since winning the French Champion Hurdle, the Paul Townend-ridden nine-year-old was an even-money chance for this clash with Apple’s Jade.
Not for the first time this season the latter looked a pale shadow of herself and she pulled up not long after losing the lead at the third last.
At this stage, Benie Des Dieux took over and proceeded to stretch further and further clear of her discouraged rivals, with the result that she hit the line some 21 lengths ahead of the former Stayers Hurdle winner Penhill.
“Obviously Apple’s Jade didn’t fire but that was possibly as good a performance as our mare has produced,” reflected Mullins. “We’ll have to seriously look at the Stayers Hurdle as well as the Mares Hurdle. I’ll speak to Rich (Ricci) and Paul (Townend) and we’ll see, but she is a mare that likes a good cut in the ground and possibly you’ve a better chance of getting that on the Tuesday of Cheltenham rather than the Thursday.”
Of Apple’s Jade Gordon Elliott stated: “Davy said from the moment she put her foot on the track she was never going. I’ve been saying all season that she’s not showing the same spark and I’ll speak to Michael and Eddie (O’Leary) about what we do. If she runs again I’d say her swansong will be the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham.”
Aione provided Mullins with his first winner of the day as he justified 2/5 favouritism in the Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Ladies Auction Maiden Hurdle.
The imposing Coastal Path seven-year-old, who has already won a bumper this season and finished second on his hurdling debut last month, enjoyed a leisurely time of things up front in this two and a half miles affair.
Rachael Blackmore never had to get animated on the Susannah Ricci-owned gelding who finished with five and a half lengths to spare in a race that also acted as the second leg in the Irish Lady Riders National Hunt Series.
Willie Mullins reported that his charge will have entries in the two longer novice hurdles at Cheltenham while she makes plenty of appeal as a contender for the final of the auction hurdle series at the Punchestown Festival.
Good ride
The notable and heartening upswing in fortunes for the Liam Burke yard continued as Rebel Early (9/1) bagged the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle under Barry Browne.
Eleazar Des Neiges gave his all from the front but on the run-in he was unable to withstand the oncoming Rebel Early who prevailed by two and half lengths.
“I thought she was beaten between the last two flights but she found plenty and got a good ride. She’s not overly big so a light weight suits her and she would stay further,” commented Burke who trains the mare for his long standing supporters the Simply The Best Syndicate.
Elliott double
Gordon Elliott’s day took a marked turn for the better late on as he notched a double which began with Chosen Mate (6/1) in the Daly Farrell Accountants Beginners Chase.
After a most disappointing effort at Fairyhouse earlier in the month, the Northern Four Racing Partnership-owned gelding turned in a much better display.
He seemed poised to take the measure of Antey when that one fell three out and he picked up impressively in the closing stages to defeat Capuccimix by 11 lengths. A tilt at some good handicaps in the spring will be on the winner’s agenda.
Elliott then sent out Homme D’un Soir to land the P.J. Foley Memorial Flat Race for four-year-olds. Jamie Codd was on board the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned 5/4 favourite who produced a taking effort over the last quarter of a mile to stretch seven and a half lengths.
“He’s a baby and a cut in the ground is quite important to him. I’d say we are looking towards the good four-year-old bumper at Limerick rather than Cheltenham,” stated the trainer.
Brouder’s success continues
KEVIN Brouder closed to within nine winners of Darragh O’Keeffe in the conditional rider’s championship as Our Roxane (11/4) emerged from the fog to take the 80-102 rated Langton House Hotel Handicap Hurdle.
A winner at Limerick last month and 10lb higher as a result of that success, the Terence O’Brien-trained mare coped well with top-weight. She was in control of this two-mile event from three out and she defeated Blanketontheground by two lengths. The Woodstock Partnership-owned mare was making it 36 winners for this season for Brouder.
“This ground seems to be the key to her and I hoped that she would take some beating,” reflected O’Brien. “She’s entered in the Paddy Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown next Sunday and if she sneaks into that she will head there next.”