WHEN the 6/5 joint-favourites Mr Jackman and Gapard Du Seuil settled down to do battle nearing the last flight of the O’Brien Event Catering Maiden Hurdle the race looked to be going entirely to script, but ultimately victory went to the 22/1 shot Formal Order who might well have found his true vocation.
A capable sort last year when he was placed four times on the flat, this four-year-old hadn’t shown much on his first two runs for Matthew Smith but a switch to jumping in this two-and-a-half-mile affair looks to have utterly revitalised his fortunes. In a race that turned into something of a sprint, Formal Order launched his effort on the approach to the last and landed running to join a game Mr Jackman. The latter, a dual bumper winner, clung on grimly on the run-in, but at the line Keith Donoghue’s mount carried the day by a head.
“His two runs for us weren’t great but he had been a bit keen and then we put earplugs on him last time which actually had the opposite effect and he didn’t travel at all,” remarked Smith who trains the winner for the M&S Partnership. “At home he works like a good horse and it’s nice to see him confirm what he has always shown at home. He’ll go for a winner’s race next.”
He has had to wait some time to add to the bumper victory he recorded at Thurles in March 2018 but Young Ted now looks ready to deliver on that early potential after bolting up in the Kaizen Brand Evolution Maiden Hurdle over three miles. On his first outing since March, the Noel Meade inmate was returned the 30/100 favourite and he made predictably short work of these rivals under Sean Flanagan to win by an easy 11 lengths.
“He had a few little issues that he took a while to get over out but he was good there and hopefully he’s on his way back to being the horse he promised to be. He stays very well and I’d say we will keep him at this trip,” reported Meade, whose charge carries the colours of Tom McParland.
DENIS O’Regan has been enjoying a good run of things lately and he notched up his fifth winner in just over a fortnight as John Kiely’s Line Out justified 4/1 favouritism in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Handicap Chase over an extended two and a half miles. The Lillingston Family-owned gelding won, looking to build on a beginners’ success at Ballinrobe earlier in the month and took some time to warm to his task.
O’Regan’s mount turned for home with every chance though and soon looked to have the brave front-runner Cooldine Bog covered. Line Out gave the latter another chance with a somewhat ponderous jump at the last but he got back on an even keel to prevail by half a length.
“He’s getting there and on better ground he will improve. He wasn’t enjoying the chewed up ground,” stated the rider. “It’s great he has won for the Lillingstons who are great supporters of mine and he took time to get going over fences so he’s a testament to John Kiely and all the team that he’s gotten to this level.”
Labouring
Fresh from a maiden hurdle success at Downpatrick two weeks previously The Shunter successfully transitioned to fences in the Salessense Beginners Chase for horses rated 116 or less over hurdles. On his first run over fences since December the Emmet Mullins inmate made a few mistakes but this mattered little as he took charge of this race from the third last and he went on to score by 18 lengths under Brian Hayes. The 11/10 favourite is owned by Paul Byrne.
Clonguile Way, who looked to be labouring badly at one point of the race, eventually emerged victorious in the 0-102 rated Europrint Wicklow Handicap Chase over two and three-quarter miles. The Conor Maxwell-ridden seven-year-old was being driven along in 10th nearing the end of the backstraight but by the time he reached the third last he was showing in front. In the straight the 9/1 shot kept pulling out more to defeat the top-weight Lord Lariat by a length and a quarter.
Clonguile Way carries the colours of the Eightsnotfours Syndicate and could be bound for next month’s Goffs UK Horses In Training Sale.
THE afternoon concluded with a smooth victory for Lorna Fowler’s Colonel Mustard (16/5) in the Racing Post-sponsored lady rider’s bumper which should be the springboard to bigger things for this five-year-old.
This Olivia Frost and Harry Fowler-owned son of Makfi progressed from his second to Purple Mountain at Killarney in August to win in leisurely fashion under Aine O’Connor, finishing four and a quarter lengths clear of Phillapa Sue.
“He learnt a lot from Killarney and we always thought a lot of him, I’d say he was beaten by a very good mare down there,” reported the trainer. “He was ready to run around this time last year but he didn’t get to run until last month and I’d say the time has actually stood to him. He could go hurdling now but I’ll speak to the owners about plans first.”
Gotthenod (16/1) made it two winners in as many days for Dot Love in the Fitzpatrickpromotions.ie Mares Handicap Hurdle which provided Simon Torrens with a chance winner as he stepped in for the sidelined Cathal Landers. The Tommy Ward-owned mare won at Wexford on her penultimate start and put an unplaced Listowel run behind her to defeat Paula’s Prayer by seven lengths.
“We thought she might win again in Listowel but she’s showing signs of being in season after that race. Hopefully she can win another over hurdles and chasing will be her game eventually,” stated Ciaran Murphy.