THE exacting demands of the three and a half miles BoyleSports Grand National Trial Handicap Chase brought out the very best in Ifyoucatchmenow who left the form of her first three runs over fences well behind to claim a last gasp success for Willie Mullins and Conor McNamara.
For the winning rider this represented his second €100,000 handicap success in as many months following his Dan Moore Chase triumph on Charlie Stout, while Mullins was adding to his previous wins in this race with Some Target (2011) and Hedgehunter (2003). A capable hurdler, Ifyoucatchmenow (14/1) came here off an eighth to Minella Indo at Navan last month but this gruelling stamina was just what she wanted.
Valiant effort
Fellow mare Agusta Gold posted a valiant effort having raced in the first two places throughout but from before the last there seemed a certain inevitability about the winner’s charge. Ifyoucatchmenow, who is owned by David Dunsdon’s Coldunell Limited, landed running after the last and she overhauled a tremendously game Agusta Gold in the shadow of the post to score by a head. There was a further gap of two and three-quarter lengths back to the 6/1 joint favourite Cheb De Kerviniou, while the former Irish National winner General Principle completed the placings.
The winning jockey was hit with a six-day whip ban for his efforts.
“It’s great for Conor. We’ve been using him for a while and it’s great to give him a winner like this,” said Mullins. “I thought this mare would have won more races than she has but probably this extended trip is what she needs. I don’t know if she will get into the Irish National but she will have the option of a three-and-three-quarter-mile handicap chase back here at the Festival.”
IT was a day of woe for favourite backers as three odds-on favourites met with defeat and one of them was Lord Royal (8/11) who went down to Gordon Elliott’s Run Wild Fred in the three miles Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle.
This Grade 3 contest was saved from last week’s abandoned Clonmel card and has in the past proved to be a notable guide to the Cheltenham Festival. Whether Run Wild Fred (14/1) will line up at Prestbury Park remains to be seen, but if nothing else the Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding has stepped out of the shadows cast by some of his stablemates. Mark Walsh sent Run Wild Fred to the front with four to jump and the Shantou gelding found any amount for pressure to defeat the favourite by a length and three quarters.
“He’s an unassuming horse. He’s very idle but he’s very tough and he stays really well,” commented Elliott. “He’s in the Albert Bartlett and a few of the handicaps at Cheltenham but he could stay at home too.”
Elliott went on to strike with the day’s only winning favourite as Pencilfulloflead (4/6) picked up the Leinster Leader Maiden Hurdle over two and three-quarter miles.
The Robcour-owned gelding was somewhat awkward at a number of his hurdles but when Robbie Power asked him to assert nearing the straight he took a number of lengths out of the field and he could afford to idle markedly on the run to the last and still win by a dozen lengths. A winner’s event at Navan next month is likely to be next for the son of Shantou who chased home Asterion Forlonge on his previous outing over timber.
Doubles for Walsh and Harrington
NEVERUSHACON (4/1) marked himself out as an emerging force in the cross country sphere with victory in the P.P. Hogan Memorial Cross Country Chase. On his third outing in this discipline, the Paddy Kennedy-ridden nine-year-old revelled in the test provided by the myriad of different obstacles and he headed the game front runner Ballyboker Bridge after the last to score by two and a quarter lengths. The odds-on Yanworth was a further half-length back in third.
“That’s the best thing that’s ever happened. His owner David Reid Scott has been in the Mater Hospital since last June with a spinal injury.
“Virtually all his grandchildren are here and this will give him a great boost,” reflected a delighted Jessica Harrington.
The trainer completed a double as the Mark Walsh-ridden Barrington Court showed signs of returning to her high class bumper form with a gritty success in the mare’s maiden hurdle.
The J.P. McManus-owned six-year-old gave her all from the turn in to defeat Getaway Gorgeous by head and she will surely progress considerably for her first run since September.
Shock win
Some three years after he last won a race, the Eamonn Delany-trained Yaha Fizz sprang a 33/1 shock in the two-mile rated novice chase. The 10-year-old produced his customary free-wheeling effort from the front and build up a huge lead for Ryan Treacy. When the 1/3 favourite Zero Ten fell at the eight fence, Yaha Fizz’s four remaining rivals looked to have a daunting task on their hands and not even a shuddering error two out could stop the leader. He went on to finish some 15 lengths ahead of Early Doors.
“That’s his ground and his trip and Ryan (the only rider to have won the horse) gets on very well with him,” commented the trainer’s son Alan, who parts own this son of Zagreb with his father.
The day concluded with a stirring finish to the David Trundley Artist At Punchestown Handicap Hurdle and victory could have gone any one of four ways as the last flight loomed in this three-mile affair. Ultimately it was the Seamus Spillane-trained Ballea Fox (5/1) who carried the day under Barry John Foley. The latter was also on board when this Noel Hanley-owned gelding recorded his previous success at Limerick in March 2018.
Gearoid Brouder, who rode the runner-up, Ice Cool, was given a six-day whip suspension.