A WEEKEND that contained more than its share of positives for Willie Mullins’ all powerful winter team saw Bacardys claim the notable scalp of Apple’s Jade in the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle.
The latter was bidding to become the first horse in 30 years to win three successive renewals of this race.
After eventually subduing the persistent Magic Of Light, who ran so well on her first start since taking second in the Grand National, the 1/4 favourite was quickly joined and headed by the strong-travelling Bacardys (100/30).
Paul Townend’s mount promptly stormed clear for a highly impressive nine-and-a-half-length triumph. The Shanakiel Racing Syndicate-owned eight-year-old has endured his share of tribulations since winning twice at Grade 1 level as a novice hurdler in 2017 but clearly retains all his ability in the staying division.
Chasing
“He ran very well in the spring in those staying hurdles but was coming off a bad chasing preparation. Hopefully, now with a full season over hurdles he can be competitive in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and Punchestown,” stated Patrick Mullins, who indicated that the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse could be next for the winner. Mullins also took the wraps off his Arkle Chase hero Duc Des Genievres in the thetote.com Fortria Chase but he finished a well held fourth as a resurgent Ballyoisin made it back to back-to-back victories in this Grade 2.
Enda Bolger’s charge was the top-rated runner but under a penalty he looked to have his work cut against Duc Des Genievres, the Cheltenham winner A Plus Tard and the Grade 1-winning Hardline.
However, the 9/2 shot produced a career best with a display that represented the very essence of two-mile chasing to take centre stage in a treble for both owner J.P. McManus and jockey Mark Walsh. After a typically bold front-running effort, Ballyoisin had plenty left to defeat A Plus Tard by two and three-quarter lengths.
“A place like here is up his alley with that line of fences down the back,” remarked Bolger. “They are good horses in behind him there today and he had 11st 10lb as well.
“He might be put away for the spring but I will see what J.P. and Frank say.”
Abacadabras primed for big time graded success
FOR the third time in four years the Grade 3 For Auction Novice Hurdle went to Gordon Elliott as Abacadabras built on his successful hurdling debut at Gowran Park last month.
The trainer’s last two winners of this race, Labaik and Mengli Khan, went to strike at Grade 1 level, and this Gigginstown House Stud-owned five-year-old looks a legitimate contender for top-level prizes.
In a steadily run affair, the strong-travelling 9/10 favourite produced a series of quick and fluent jumps for Robbie Power in the straight to defeat Latest Exhibition easily. The Royal Bond Novice Hurdle could be next for the winner.
Elliott had further cause for cheer when Andy Dufresne made an impressive start to his season in the P.S. Supplies Doors & Floors Maiden Hurdle over two and a half miles.
This McManus-owned gelding lined up as the winner of a point-to-point and a Down Royal bumper and showed more than a touch of star potential.
The 9/10 favourite hurdled superbly from the front for Mark Walsh and handed out an 11-length defeat to Cobbler’s Way.
“He’s a horse we’ve always thought a lot of and he’s not the finished article yet. He showed a lot of pace so he could come back to two miles if we wanted and he’s in the Royal Bond but I will talk to J.P. and Frank (Berry) about plans,” remarked the trainer.
Spark
Elliott also reflected on the effort of Apple’s Jade and felt that she didn’t show her usual spark. The trainer added that perhaps a few tough seasons at the highest level might be taking their toll on the mare.
A tremendous weekend for J.P.
A TREMENDOUS weekend for J.P. McManus was rounded off by last season’s high-class juvenile hurdler Fakir D’Oudairies (2/1) in the two-mile Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase. The Joseph O’Brien-trained dual Grade 1 runner-up took really well to this discipline with a classy display from the front under Mark Walsh, and when he needed a good jump at the last he produced it to make sure of a victory over the dual Champion Hurdle second Melon, who made an encouraging start to his chasing career.
“As he was getting the four-year-old allowance and the fact he is such a natural jumper made it a fairly straightforward decision to go chasing and that was a very good performance,” observed Joseph O’Brien, who could target the Drinmore Novice Chase with the winner.
The progressive Theatre World notched up his second course and distance triumph of the season in the 80-116 rated two-and-three-quarter-mile handicap hurdle. A second winner in four days for the combination of Ross O’Sullivan and the Downtown Syndicate, the 7/2 favourite shrugged aside a 9lb rise in the ratings under Luke Dempsey. The front-runner comfortably saw off Electricitywork and should add to his tally this winter.
Hopeless
Northern Irish-based trainer Gary McGill was out of luck with Electricitywork but he struck with Dollys Destination (14/1 in the morning before returning at 8/1), who came from a seemingly hopeless position to land the Hotel Park St Johann Tirol Austria Handicap Hurdle on her first start since June. The six-year-old, also owned by the trainer, was only sixth at the last but she then stormed home to win a shade cosily from Encore Lui and The Moyglass Flyer.
A mixed day for odds-on punters concluded with a reversal in the Kevin Bell Trust (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race where Fakir D’Alene (4/6) could manage only seventh behind Noel Meade’s Joshua Webb. Eoin Walsh was on board this Flemensfirth four-year-old who was running for the first time since Easter and is owned by the trainer’s long-standing patron Jimmy Kernohan. The well supported 10/1 shot was clearly all the better for that initial outing as he finished strongly to defeat Jungle Junction by two lengths.