THE Closutton domination continued in the Tote Racing Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse last Saturday as Nick Rockett gave Willie Mullins his ninth victory in the last 10 runnings of the Grade 3 contest.

Paul Townend switched to the Thyestes winner after the withdrawal of stablemate I Am Maximus and the Walk In The Park gelding went to post a 5/6 shot in the extended three-mile, one-furlong contest. He was prominent throughout and came to lead before the second last fence.

Intense Raffles, who had made the running, rallied from the last fence but could only get within three-quarters of a length of the Stewart and Sadie Andrew-owned winner at the line.

“I thought it was a nice performance, beating an Irish National winner in the process, and it was a nice trial for Aintree. I’m very pleased with him,” said Mullins.

“It was tough coming back from the Thyestes only four and a bit weeks before. That should leave him spot on for Aintree. I was very impressed with how slick he jumped, his jumping was excellent.

“He’s a horse I think has the potential to run well around Aintree. Bobbyjo winners have been lucky around there. We just need to get there and have a bit of luck in running.”

Stylish Spindleberry

It proved another profitable day for the champion trainer and Spindleberry really impressed with a stylish victory in the Irish EBF Colreevy Mares Novice Hurdle.

The Policy Maker mare, owned by Fearghal and Bronagh Eastwood, was well supported in the listed event and went to post 8/11 favourite.

Townend produced his mount to lead before the last in the two-mile-five contest and she quickened away on the run-in to beat Bioluminescence by six and a half lengths.

“She was very impressive for only her second run over fences, taking on an experienced mare like Bioluminescence,” said Mullins.

“I loved the turn of foot she showed between the last two to put the race to bed and then under pressure to throw in a good jump at the last. We’ll look at the WillowWarm Gold Cup, the Grade 1 for novices, here at Easter. She seems to like this track.

“She’s entered at Cheltenham but that might just come a bit soon after today.”

Hat-trick

Mullins completed a treble in the concluding Ian Smith Memorial bumper when Kaiser Ball made an impressive winning debut.

Marie Costello’s gelding led over two furlongs out, under the owner’s son Thomas, and pulled clear in the closing stages to record a seven-and-a-half-length win at odds of 11/2.

There was drama after the line with the Nom De D’la gelding unseating his rider and Mullins said: “He just ducked at a gate and the saddle slipped. Luckily horse and rider are fine.

“He’s always shown he’s a nice horse at home. Ferny Hollow won this race and won at Cheltenham so he could go but we’ll have a word with connections.”

Thomas Costello added: “The last day he was due to run was in Thurles. We were going out to the gallop that day and Michael O’Sullivan was beside me. He said to me ‘do you know what is the only thing that can get that horse beat today?’.

“I said ‘what’s that Michael’ and he said ‘yourself!’. That was the last conversation I had with him and it was a meaningful one. He gave me a hand today.”

THERE was a buzz around the racecourse after the victory of the Tom Cleary-trained Great Attitude in the opening Red Mills EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle.

The German-bred had traded as big as 200/1 in some places ahead of the race and eventually went to post an 8/1 shot in the two-miler.

He led on the bridle turning for home and was pushed clear after the second last, by Tiernan Power Roche, to record a cosy five-and-a-half-length win over Kish Bank.

Tom Cleary said: “(My son) Rory was doing a good bit of schooling on him and was happy with the way he was going. I have to hand it to him, I told him to keep an eye out for a good horse and fair enough he did. I only got him there before Christmas.”

When asked if he knew that he had been 200/1 Cleary added: “Was he 200? Jeez I missed that! I was told that he was down to 8s before the off. It’s a happy day for me but my thoughts are with the O’Sullivan family.”

When asked if he had fancied riding him himself, Rory Cleary added: “The weight put me off today! He’s good over fences as well so hopefully in time to come I’d love to ride him over fences.”

Quick double

Power Roche went on to complete a quick double on Maxios Prime (9/1) , for Philip Rothwell, in the following Tote Handicap Hurdle.

Lakota Blue hared off into the lead in the two-miler but was claimed by Maxios Prime before the second last. She went on to post a two-length win over Janes Harbour.

“I’d say we just got away with it, she’s a filly that probably struggled on that ground but I think all of the juveniles did,” said Rothwell.

“We had a lovely racing weight, Tiernan’s 5lb claim was invaluable and thank-God we had it there today as we needed everything that we had. I think she’ll appreciate it a little bit better and I think she’ll get a little bit further on better ground.”

Improvement

Dermot McLoughlin also feels better ground could bring improvement from Barry Lyndon (9/1) after his victory in the Tote.ie Tommy Carberry Handicap Hurdle.

The Imperial Monarch gelding came with a strong run to lead at the last, under Liam McKenna, and post a two-and-a-half-length win over Beckett Rock.

“He took his time on him today. We put a tongue-tie on him, as I didn’t think he was finishing out his races, and maybe that helped,” said McLoughlin, who trains the gelding for Fidelma O’Toole.

“He had run some good races and he’s been consistent. We’ve always thought he prefers nicer ground but he went through that today and kept galloping. I think he’ll be a nicer horse on better ground.”

NEY made it two-from-two for Edward Buckley when striking again over fences in the Tote Rated Novice Chase.

The trainer’s son Kieren was in the plate again on the 13/8 favourite and produced his mount to dispute two from home.

Ney was pushed along to lead after the last and kept on well, under ‘hands and heels’, to record a length win over Meyo.

“I was a little bit nervous about the trip as before we got him we’d never ran over further than two miles but now he’s won over three-miles-one in heavy ground,” said Buckley.

“He could be a horse next year for one of those nice staying chases like an Irish National, let’s dream.

“He’s a grand horse to train, a lovely horse to have anything to do with, and we’re very lucky to have him.”

Fencing future

James Fahey is looking forward to a campaign over fences with Westernersunrise after her breakthrough win in the 0-110 handicap hurdle.

The Westerner mare attracted late support into 15/2 and knuckled down well in the straight, for Philip Donovan, to lead at the last and post a four-and-a-quarter-length win.

“It’s great, she’s a lovely mare over a trip,” said Fahey of Frank Reynolds’ home-bred.

“We’ll tip away and see what we can find for her, I can’t wait to get her going chasing.

“It looked, turning in, like she was going to finish third or fourth but she plugged on gamely.”