FRENCH recruit Roi Mage stayed on stoutly to take the honours in the Bluegrass Stamm 30 Chase over an extended three and a quarter miles in Down Royal on St Patrick’s Day.
The 10-year-old was a serial money-spinner in his native country and made a winning start to his Irish career having switched to Patrick Griffin.
The 13/2 shot improved to dispute the lead with front-running Agusta Gold before the penultimate fence. He finished the stronger and asserted in the closing stages to beat the 11/10 favourite by one and three-quarter lengths with Mark McDonagh in the plate.
Assistant trainer James Griffin, who was on duty as racecourse commentator, said: “He came in the first week in January and David Van Der Hoeven and Gerry McGladery and Jim Beaumont, who are new owners into the yard, bought into him with Douglas Pryde.
“He was bought for the Grand National. On the old system he was a 153 horse and then the English downgraded their marks as part of their review. We stuck him in the National and next thing he got 140. He’s not going to get in this year but hopefully he will after that. He’ll go for the Topham next.
“He’s a very fresh 10-year-old. He’s just class - when you sit on him, he just has it. When you press the turbo, there is just power. This lad was third in the Grande Steeple-Chase de Paris.
“I really enjoyed that (calling the race) especially for Dad, it’s the first time calling him a winner.”
Parade ring announcer Pamela Ballantine was also on the mark when her Billable Grant sprang a 66/1 shock in the opening Bluegrasshorsefeed.com Maiden Hurdle.
The five-year-old gelding came with a run to get on terms at the last and kept on strongly on the run-in for Gavin Brouder to draw five lengths clear.
Pacy Grant
Trainer Colin McBratney said: “He got a bit of a break over Christmas and came back and won a schooling hurdle about two and a half weeks ago. He has a nice bit of pace and jumps and stays.”
Ballantine added: “Colin spotted him at the sales just over two years ago. It is the first winner in my own colours. I’ve had winners in syndicates with Colin before. I just happened to be paying my bill for Balgowlah and saw this horse and said he looked nice!”
LAWLOR’S Choice was another big-priced winner when holding on by a neck at 50/1 in the Bluegrass Fastrak Hunters Steeplechase for owner T.W. Power.
Philip Rothwell’s eight-year-old mare was the outsider of the five-runner field but turned the formbook upside down. She went on approaching two out and had enough in the tank to repel a rallying Ask D’Man by a neck.
Jockey Tiernan Power Roche said: “The plan was to finish as close as we could and she couldn’t have finished any closer! She was game, she was a little bit flat out down at the bottom so I just took my time on her for a minute and let her fill her for as long as I could. Her jumping was so good it took her into it the whole way and she was good up over the last three.”
Glenabo Bridge brought up plenty of bets when delivering under Charlie O’Dwyer in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle for trainer Oliver McKiernan.
Glenabo ploughs on
The 11-year-old gelding ploughed through the rain-sodden turf and had his rivals in trouble after the third last and kept up the gallop to prevail by 10 lengths.
After the 4/1 chance scored for the Keep The Faith Syndicate, O’Dwyer said: “It probably wasn’t ideal being in front that early but there was nothing there and he was travelling great - I just had to let him on. He has enjoyed everything and jumped great and you couldn’t have faulted him.”
Hogan’s Hunt
Trainer/jockey Denis Hogan enjoyed a fruitful trip north to partner his Wild Hunt (8/1) in the Powered By Bluegrass Novice Handicap Hurdle.
The in-form five-year-old gelding supplemented his recent Clonmel gains by surging four lengths clear of Womalko on the run-in.
“It was a tactical race, we went steady and I had to get into it sooner than ideal. When I got there, I had to send him on because I knew Phillip (Enright on Womalko) was going to be tailing me,” Hogan, sporting James McAuley’s colours, said. “I never had him down for a quick horse but he changed gear there down the hill when we were fairly winging it. I have him in Cork next week. I’m suspended there myself, but we will see what the handicapper does. He might go there for three miles.”
STAND Off (7/2) brought up his fourth career success in the Bluegrass Horse Feeds Rated Novice Steeplechase. Luke Dempsey rode him to challenge Big Debates on the run to the penultimate fence and the pair worked their way to the front on the run-in. They passed the post three and a quarter lengths clear for owner J.J. Power.
“He’s had a few problems and I suppose that is why he is lightly raced,” Fenton explained.
“Fairyhouse or Punchestown could be a possibility. He’s learning his trade and he learned a good bit today.”
Gavin Cromwell’s Yeats mare Law Ella (6/1) went into plenty of notebooks with a taking display on debut in the Bluegrass Horse Feeds Mares INH Flat Race.
She showed a good turn of foot inside the final furlong to put the race away by six and a half lengths.
Scopey Ella
Jockey Joey Dunne, in owner T.P. Ward’s silks, said: “I turned into the straight and I knew I had everything covered, she only started going turning in. As soon as I gave her a slap down the shoulder, she just changed her legs and she was gone.
“She’s really well-bred and she’s a big, scopey mare. She’ll be better again on softer ground.”