THE teak tough Effernock Fizz (33/1) gained the biggest win of her busy career with a wonderfully game effort in the featured RYBO Handicap Hurdle at Fairyhouse last Saturday.
Carl Millar took up the usual front-running role on the Cian Collins-trained mare and she had a healthy lead at halfway in the two-miler. The writing looked on the wall as she was ridden along after the third last and came back to the field.
The Tommy Sheridan-owned mare was headed after the penultimate flight but refused to go down without a fight and rallied to challenge again at the last before keeping n gamely to run out a two-and-a-half-length winner over Conyers Hill.
“That’s unbelievable, she has the heart of a lion,” said Collins. “She’s a mare that wants good to firm. On the ground I didn’t think it would happen today at all, I thought she might even pull up.
“She gave me my first two winners and that’s my 20th today.
“I thought she was gone turning in, but she just doesn’t know when to quit. It’s crazy. I think we might go for the Scottish Champion Hurdle now. That’s her 96th run today and her 10th win.”
It was a good day for four winning mares who all gained big blacktype in the listed events.
Lunging late
Mousey Brown also defied odds of 33/1 when lunging late to grab the spoils in the Listed INH Stallion Owners EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle.
The 6/4 favourite Olympic Man came to lead after the last in the two-mile-seven contest but was trumped late on by the surging run of Dermot McLoughlin’s charge. Conor Maxwell got a great tune from the Califet mare late on, as Alan Smith’s colours got on top late on for a half-length win.
“She’s hardy, Conor said it’s hard work out there but she’s game,” said McLoughlin.
“I like her, she had to do a lot of work from where she was but kept going. She’s a big strong mare.”
It proved a tough day for punters with Ardera Ru another big priced winner in the Listed BoyleSports Mares Handicap Chase earlier on the card.
Shane O’Callaghan gave Eoin Doyle’s charge a well judged hold up ride in the €45,000 contest as the 18/1 shot arrived late to lead over the last. The Fame And Glory mare kept on strongly in the closing stage to post a three-and-three-quarter length win over Instit.
O’Callaghan said: “She was brilliant. The plan was to drop in, creep around and try to sneak a bit of blacktype.
“It’s the best she’s ever jumped for me, she jumped fantastic everywhere and cruised into it very easily. It’s very sticky holding ground but she thrives in it, she loves that ground.”
BARGAIN buy Familiar Dreams bagged her bumper hat-trick with a commanding performance in the concluding listed mares’ contest.
The Postponed filly dominated from the front again under Aine O’Connor, making all in the two-miler. She was asked for an effort over a furlong from home and the 13/2 shot soon asserted to record a five-and-a-half length win over the Willie Mullins-trained Magic McColgan.
McCann had bought the winner for only €4,000 at Tattersalls as an unraced three-year-old and said afterwards: “She was very good, she loves being out in front. She doesn’t have to be out in front but she has a big stride and she just loves using it.
“I walked the track and was very afraid of the ground, I thought it was horrible tacky ground but as Oliver Brady used to say to me ‘good horses go on any ground’. She’s my first listed winner and she’s very good, she’s special. I sourced her myself, I drove to Newmarket and picked her out. I own 20% of her as well.
“I’m very surprised she’s still running in these same colours (All Four Counties Syndicate), I thought she would have been picked up the last day. We’ll see what happens now.”
The testing conditions took their toll late on in the Race Displays Hunters Chase and Boss Robin had to dig deep as he turned over short-priced favourite Ferns Lock.
Ray Barron went on after the fourth last on the John Gleeson-trained gelding and the 4/1 shot wasn’t for passing down the straight.
The 2/7 favourite Ferns Lock tried to get back on terms but cried enough before the last as Boss Robin stuck on gamely to record a seven-and-a-half length win.
Barron dismounted from the winner coming back in but Gleeson revealed all was fine and it was just a precaution after a tough race.
“Ray is a horseman and just decided to hop after racing in that ground, he’s a good lad,” the trainer said. “That’s a big win. I’ve nursed him along all the time and I’ve always said to the owner (Aidan Archdeacon) that there is a big one in him.
“I love the horse. He’s worked his way up and I haven’t been hard on him. I don’t get horses like this, usually they are sold on. If the ground is okay he’ll go to Punchestown for the champion hunters.”
CHARLOTTE Butler made it two from two on So Des Flos when giving the Gordon Elliott-trained gelding a strong drive to claim the Fred Kenny Ladies National Handicap Chase.
The 11/1 shot was prominent throughout in the two-mile-five-furlong contest and led narrowly over the second last.
David L’Estrange’s gelding had to dig deep on the run-in as Klarc Kent tried hard to peg him back, eventually getting home by a neck.
“She gave him a great ride and he jumped like a buck for her the whole way,” said Elliott.
“She won on him in December and started to come in and ride out a morning a week with me. I’m delighted for her. It’s great to win Fred Kenny’s race as well.”
Pat Foley praised his patient owners after saddling Don Chalant to win the opening Tom Quinlan Electrical Maiden Hurdle.
The Sholokhov gelding was soon in front in the two-mile-three-furlong contest and quickened clear from the last, under Michael O’Sullivan, to record a seven-length win at odds of 9/1.
Foley said: “A lot of it is down to the owners, the O’Dowds. He’s had his problems from back at Punchestown two years ago and they’ve given him all the time and patience. I’m absolutely delighted for them.
“He’ll be a lovely horse going forward. He might be put away now. The original plan was to go chasing with him next season so we didn’t mind winning a maiden this time of year with him.”