WHAT looked the race of the day in Thurles produced a really likeable winner in Velvet Elvis who continued his progress with a fine all the way display in the Horse & Jockey Rated Novice Hurdle.
This victory, which moved trainer Tom Gibney on to the 13-winner mark of what has been an already impressive career best season, followed a maiden success over three miles at Cork last month and the drop in trip by half a mile presented Velvet Elvis with no difficulties whatsoever.
The Derek Kierans-owned son of Shirocco produced a lovely effort from the front and hurdled well under Darragh O’Keeffe.
The chasing pack were hot on the heels of the leader turning in but a bold jump two out by Velvet Elvis (8/1) saw him open up an invaluable advantage which he maintained to the line to score by three and a half lengths. Capilano Bridge took second while the favourite, Capodanno, kept on again for third after dropping back turning for home.
“He’s a lovely horse and a very laid-back one but he really sharpens up when he comes to the track. Dropping back in trip on this ground wasn’t going to be an issue for him and he really gallops to the line when he comes off the bridle,” commented O’Keeffe, whose mount could be set for a valuable novice handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse at Easter.
The day kicked off with a smooth victory for the Willie Mullins-trained Harrie in the beginners’ chase over two miles.
As he went in search of his first success since landing a Tramore maiden hurdle in December 2018, this lightly raced nine-year-old gelding dominated this race from the front. Harrie (11/4) had the chasing odds-on shot Whatsnotoknow in trouble from some way out and eventually came home eight and a half lengths ahead of Recent Revelations.
Paul Townend’s mount is owned by the Harrie and Brett Graham Syndicate and was bouncing back from a fall behind Franco De Port at this track three months previously.
Jody’s Jet
Mullins made it three doubles in as many days courtesy of Cool Jet (7/2) in the John Thomas McNamara Series Flat Race where the son of Jet Away progressed from a solid debut fourth behind Harry Alonzo at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Jody Townend was on board this Douglas Taylor-owned son of Jet Away in a race where the champion trainer also supplied the 10/11 favourite The Bandit.
However, the latter could only manage eighth on his debut and was reported to be blowing hard post race. For his part, Cool Jet took charge of this race early in the straight and had plenty to spare in crossing the line five lengths clear of Spanish Present whose jockey Michel O’Sullivan picked up a two-day whip ban.
“That was more like his home work. Jody said he was quite keen and she said she was taking a pull turning in, that’s how well she appeared to be going,” stated Mullins, who indicated that his charge will get a Cheltenham entry.
IT was a day to cherish for Baltinglass-born jockey Charlie Hart (18) who rode the first winner of his career when Denis Hogan’s Bal De Rio (5/1) won the maiden hurdle over just short of two miles.
Almost three years after his last success and a 20-race maiden over timber, the 119-rated eight-year-old was a deserving winner under Hart.
The High Stakes Syndicate-owned gelding was pressing Hamundarson for the lead from the turn-in and he got the better of a protracted struggle with the last-named to carry the day by half a length.
After a near miss with Hamundarson and sending out Recent Revelations to take second in the beginners’ chase, Gordon Elliott got amongst the winners when the Keith Donoghue-ridden Dunboyne (3/1) bagged the maiden hurdle over just short of three miles.
The winning pointer, who had started his career on the track with runner-up efforts in maidens won by Bob Olinger and Capodanno, enjoyed the marked step up in trip.
In the colours of one of Elliott’s first owners, Stephen O’Connor, Dunboyne took control coming away from two out and was probably value for more than the winning margin of two lengths over Mercury Lane. The favourite Fais Ton Chemin pulled up early on having struck into himself.
AFTER giving trainer Louise Lyons her first winner on the track at Naas just prior to Christmas, Espion Du Chenet (10/1) added to his haul in the two-mile handicap chase.
The seven-year-old pulled up at Clonmel last time but showed that effort to be all wrong as he cruised to the front for Ryan Treacy turning for home.
Espion Du Chenet got lonely in front late on which allowed The Chapel Field to close in menacingly but he clung on to prevail by a short head. The winner carries the colours of the trainer’s partner Nicholas Teehan.
“In hindsight he wasn’t straight enough for Clonmel as he had missed a few days over Christmas after his fall here. We had a fair idea we had him right for today but still we were worried about the ground as he’d prefer it a bit better,” stated Teehan, who indicated the winner could head to Wexford next month for a novice handicap chase.
Knock Na Rea (15/2) rewarded the patience of her connections as she recorded the first success of her career in the 80-95 rated handicap hurdle over just short of three miles.
The John Joe Walsh-trained nine-year-old, who is owned by Sligo-based Gerald Gormley, was sent to the front by Ambrose McCurtin after two out and defeated The Grey Guy by a length and a quarter.