WILLIE Mullins made a near perfect start to the defence of his champion trainer title as his three runners at this fixture yielded a double which featured an impressive victory for Fire In Soul in the Mulholland Bookmakers Rated Hurdle.
The Gigginstown House Stud-owned Fire In Soul looked a nice type when he made a winning debut in a Clonmel maiden three months ago but he struggled at Grade 2 level over Easter.
This extended two miles contest represented a sharp drop in class for the five-year-old while it also illustrated that he is quite a smart sort in his own right.
Bryan Cooper sent the son of Robin Des Champs into the lead coming away from the second last and the pair turned this race into an utterly one-sided affair, eventually coming home 21 lengths ahead of Coffee.
“I liked him when I won a maiden hurdle on him and I don’t know what happened the last day but he would make a very nice summer chaser. He jumps and he stays and he’ll be better over further,” said Cooper.
Earlier the long absent Mullins inmate Livelovelaugh produced a commanding display in the Tipperary Water Maiden Hurdle.
The 8/13 favourite hadn’t run for 12 months but contested championship bumpers at Cheltenham and Punchestown last term as well as finishing second to Anibale Fly in a smart contest at Fairyhouse. The Beneficial gelding returned with a proficient display under Paul Townend as he took control of the race some way from home for an easy eight lengths triumph.
“That was very straightforward. He did what you’d expect him to do and it’s nice to get him back. He’s a nice horse and I’d image he could stay going,” reflected Townend of the Susannah Ricci-owned six-year-old.
A resurgent Liberty’s Gift came back to his best to spring a 20/1 surprise in the featured Treacy’s Pharmacies Handicap Chase.
Paul Flynn’s charge came here off four unplaced runs but was altogether better on his first chase outing since July. Eamon Corbett settled the eight-year-old in second before then sending him to the front before two out.
Liberty’s Gift didn’t take long to deal with the effort of King Blue who went down by seven lengths. Sadly the race was marred by Drumlee taking a fatal fall early.
“I did fancy him. He’d been working well and his form over fences isn’t bad,” reflected Paul Flynn who trains the gelding for the Have Another Syndicate.
“His form tailed off at the end of last year but in fairness he’d run quite a bit. We’ll look at Killarney and he’ll be back here at the end of the month for another handicap.”
J.P. McManus and Mark Walsh registered a double which was completed by Peoples Park in the Audi Ballina (7/2) Beginners Chase.
The 122-rated gelding had shown up well in some reasonable contests during the winter and came back to that form to win readily. The seven-year-old brushed aside the favourite Pistol Park in between the last two fences to finish six lengths ahead of Bringerofthedawn.
“His experience stood to him and he jumped well and he was entitled to do that with his rating. If it starts to dry up he could well go on his holidays,” reported Tom Taaffe.
The McManus colours were also carried to victory by the Tom Mullins-trained Spider Web in the John Madden & Son Handicap Hurdle.
The 12/1 shot finished unplaced in three maiden hurdle outings during the winter but a switch to better ground in this 80-95 rated contest saw him turn in a much better effort. Spider Web missed the last when challenging the hat-trick chasing Bye Bye O Bye and then he had to switch out for a renewed effort on the run-in but he still got up in the last few strides. After just four career starts this Presenting gelding looks like one that will progress further from here.
“He’s been very weak but in the last while he’s started to strengthen up and he’s a nice horse,” remarked Tom Mullins. “He wouldn’t be one to run on summer ground, he needs it safe like it was tonight.”
A trip to the Goffs Uk Spring Sale beckons for Middelbrow (12/1) who made his first racecourse venture a successful one in the Harrington Concrete Quarries Flat Race.
The Oscar five-year-old travelled very nicely through the race for Barry O’Neill and, having taken over the lead inside the last quarter of a mile, he responded well to pressure to contain the persistent Dounikos by half a length.
“Both days he ran in his points he looked the winner three out and even two out but he just wasn’t getting home,” stated Liz Doyle. “I asked the owner, Dr John O’Connor, if I could run him in a bumper so here we are. He’s a horse with plenty of class and pace and he’s always worked well. The plan is for him to go to the Spring Sale next.”
She hadn’t shown much in three previous runs for Gordon Elliott but Isabella Liberty (20/1) turned in a revelatory display in the Sheridan Electric Handicap Hurdle.
The daughter of Soldier Of Fortune, who is owned by the Twenty Syndicate, was given a superbly judged ride by Luke Dempsey. She came from well off the pace to collar the always prominent Courty Conduct after the last to win by two and a quarter lengths.
“That was a nice surprise but the better ground was a big help to her,” remarked Elliott’s assistant Ollie Murphy.
“She’s not been straightforward to train but Luke gave her a lovely ride and she should give her owners plenty of fun this summer. She’ll stay two and a half miles.”
ACTING STEWARDS
C. O’Flaherty, D. Pugh, D. Gavin, A. Ryan, H. Hynes
HORSE TO FOLLOW
BRINGEROFTHEDAWN (D. Broad): This former winning pointer followed his maiden hurdle win at this track last month with a creditable second to Peoples Park in the beginners’ chase and it won’t be long before he is making his mark over fences.
Easing up ban
Denis O’Regan was slapped with a five-day suspension following the beginners’ chase where his mount, Pistol Park, lost second on the line. The jockey was sanctioned under Rule 212 which governs the failure to take all reasonable and permissible measures to ensure a horse’s best possible placing.
Whip ban
Meanwhile Katie Walsh picked up a two day whip ban for her efforts on Dounikos in the bumper.