FOR the second year in succession Tom Gibney’s useful inmate The Nutcracker bagged the featured Breaffy House Resort Mares Handicap Hurdle with a career best display.
Twelve months ago the daughter of Antonius Pius was rated 106 when prevailing but she faced an altogether more demanding task off a 17lb higher mark.
However, the 9/1 shot rose to the challenge in fine style to build on a commendable second to Missy Tata at Killarney last month.
The top-weight avoided a three horse pile up at the second last, from which both horses and riders emerged relatively unscathed, and Mark Flanagan produced her to challenge nearing the last flight.
The Nutcracker then pinged that obstacle to move ahead of Wate And Sea and she held on by half a length from the hat-trick chasing Isabella Liberty.
“We really fancied her for this last year but it was going to be much tougher this time so I’m thrilled with her,” commented Gibney whose wife Heidi owns the winner. “She loves hurdling and we’ll see how far she can go over hurdles before we think about going back to the flat.”
Just 366 days after partnering his first winner over jumps the remarkable Jack Kennedy rode out his 3lb claim aboard Troublesombrothers (11/4) in the Healy Mac’s Maiden Hurdle.
This race was dominated by the initial pacesetters and Troublesombrothers, who looked on from second, took the measure of the front running Miss Benefitz inside the last quarter of a mile. On just the third racecourse outing of his career, the nine-year-old finished with six and a half lengths to spare.
“He ran well at Fairyhouse (second) but we got it wrong by running him over two and a half miles last time,” declared owner-trainer Norman Lee who was enhancing his already formidable record at this track. “He’s had his troubles but he is a nice horse and we’re very fond of him. He’ll probably go for a beginners’ chase before too long.”
Trainer James Sheehan has much to look forward to with Hurricane Ben (3/1) who made a seamless transition from hunter chases in the Events Arena @Breaffy Handicap Chase.
This Beneficial gelding was an easy winner of hunter chases on his last two starts and had no difficulty coping with an initial rating of 118.
Barry Geraghty’s mount was dropping back markedly in trip to an extended two miles but was quite at home and he settled the race in good style after the last, defeating Rebel Cry by half a dozen lengths. He looks a handicapper to follow this summer.
“He’s plenty of toe so coming back in trip wasn’t a problem and he got a super ride from Barry,” commented Sheehan who trains the gelding for Eric Callanan. “He keeps improving and we’ll look at Galway for him, be it a novice or a handicap.”
The performance of the night came from Willie Mullins’ Glens Harmony in the Weddings @ Breaffy EBF Mares Flat Race. The Fiona McStay-owned and bred sister to Glens Melody showed major potential to be placed in a listed bumper at Punchestown on her debut and she confirmed that initial promise in leisurely fashion.
Patrick Mullins allowed the 2/5 favourite to saunter into the lead a quarter of a mile out and she was unextended to win by 13 lengths.
ENOUGH SPEED
“She’s very good. Her home work wouldn’t inspire you but she’s a different mare on the track,” remarked the winning rider. “She’s enough speed to win on the flat but I’m not sure on plans, she could be left off to come back for some of the good mares’ bumpers in the autumn.”
Bryan Cooper, who will be out of action for the next few weeks having had a pin removed from his leg on Tuesday, bowed out with a winner as Tocororo justified 4/9 favouritism in the Mulberry Restaurant @ Breaffy Hurdle.
The Gigginstown House Stud-owned filly took on Apple’s Jade at Punchestown last time and found this level of competition altogether more comfortable. The Grade 3 runner-up brushed aside stablemate Buyer Beware before the last flight and, when the latter fell and caused Boom Box to unship his rider, Tocororo finished some 75 lengths clear of Satnav Sally.
“It’s nice to send Bryan off with a winner, he’s going to be about for about three or four weeks,” declared Gordon Elliott. “The plan was to go chasing with her and use her mares’ allowance and four-year-old allowance. Bryan said she felt like a completely different filly on the good ground.”
Reafadda (6/1) made the long road back from injury a worthwhile one in the Spa@Breaffy Handicap Hurdle which provided the John Ryan-owned and trained gelding with his first win in almost three years.
The nine-year-old, who was off the track from October 2013 until March of this year, produced a teak tough effort under Danny Mullins.
Reafadda looked as though he was in trouble at various stages before the last but he kept finding and fought on splendidly on the run in to hold Urtheoneiwant by a neck. The latter did look somewhat unlucky as it was only in the last furlong that she finally got into the clear to deliver her effort.
“He was off the track for 900 days with a serious tendon injury but he’s very tough and our vet, Robert Norris, has been a great help with him. I love this horse, he has a lot of guts,” reflected Ryan.
Top-weight Dixie Highway (9/4) followed up his recent Clonmel win in the 80-102 rated Leisure Club@Breaffy Handicap Hurdle.
Dixie Highway looked to be coming off second best nearing the final flight but he produced a much better jump there than Urban Vic and then finished strongly for Mark Enright to score by a neck.
“He battled well and hopefully there’s another one in him. We’ll probably freshen him up now and go back on the flat with him,” commented trainer Pat Flynn. “His owner Frank Terry lives in New York but is from my local village and we went to school together. He’s currently on holiday in Alaska.”
ACTINGS STEWARDS
R. Groarke, N. Rooney, T. McDonogh, K. Walsh, M.F. O’Donoghue
HORSE TO FOLLOW
JOSIES LADY (N.T. Slevin): This Mr Dinos filly ran creditably to take third in the bumper won by the classy Glens Harmony. She was beaten just over 17 lengths but both this run and her debut effort at Roscommon would indicate a bumper victory could be within her reach.
Starter’s orders
DANNY Mullins, Andrew Ring, John O’Neill, Ger Fox, Adrian Heskin, Dylan Robinson, David Mullins, Frank Hayes and Jack Kennedy were all suspended for a day after failing to comply with the starter’s instructions prior to the beginning of the handicap hurdle won by Dixie Highway. Mullins has appealed.
Lost action
MARK Enright, rider of Valours Minion, trained by Val O’Brien, reported that his mount lost his action having made two mistakes and was pulled-up.