A BACK to form Ivanovich Gorbatov rolled back the years to land the €100,000 RYBO Handicap Hurdle which provided Joseph O’Brien’s charge with his first victory since the 2016 Triumph Hurdle.
Although he hadn’t won in the three years since he defeated Apple’s Jade at Cheltenham, the 11/1 chance had shown notable signs of an upswing in his fortunes when he chased home Off You Go in the Ladbroke Hurdle at Leopardstown in February.
The J.P. McManus-owned gelding had been kept under wraps since then and duly rewarded the patience of his connections under a patient J.J. Slevin.
GOOD PACE
The seven-year-old took his time down the inner in a race run at a good pace and when he got an inviting opening in the straight he took full advantage. He touched down in front coming away from two out and produced a good jump at the last which allowed him to consolidate his lead before a two-and-a-half-length defeat of Tudor City.
“He loves cover, good ground and a strong pace and he got those today. When things go his way he is a good horse and when they don’t he can sulk,” said O’Brien.
“J.J. knows him well and gave him a super ride. He took his chance and went down the inner and it all worked out for him.”
Matthew Smith’s decision to part with €1,000 to secure Ronald Pump at the 2016 Tattersalls Ireland August National Hunt Sale is looking more inspired by the minute and the relentless improver reached a new high in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle Series Final. In landing this €55,000 prize, Ronald Pump took his tally to four wins from his last five starts and he has defied a 34lb rise in the weights.
Keith Donoghue took the mount on the gelding who closed up ominously as the leaders turned for home and Ronald Pump then moved to the front nearing the final flight. The 12/1 chance produced a nimble jump at that obstacle before keeping on well to score by two lengths.
The next six places were filled by representatives of Willie Mullins and Joseph O’Brien with the former supplying the runner-up Ifyoucatchmenow.
“He’s just improving. When I bought him I never thought that he’d be this good but he just wants to win,” reflected the in form Smith whose charge received a great welcome back from the Laois Limerick Syndicate. “After he won at Cork last month the plan was Aintree but we felt that was coming up quick enough so we came here instead. He handles any ground and he’s a horse we could try on the flat but he’s due a break at some stage.”
INDUSTRIOUS
Few, if any, young chasers in the country have had as industrious a novice chasing campaign as Camelia De Cotte and she took her tally over the larger obstacles to six wins from eight starts in the BoyleSports Grand National Festival John and Chich Fowler Memorial EBF Mares’ Chase. The prolific seven-year-old showed all her customary verve and enthusiasm as she set off in front for Paul Townend in this two-and-a-half-mile Grade 3.
Her stablemate Pravalaguna and Barra threatened for a period in the straight but an unfaltering Camelia De Cotte, whose season began with a victory at Roscommon in August, was not for catching. She had plenty left in reserve for the closing stages as she came home with five and a half lengths to spare.
“She’s very quick at her fences although Paul felt she was inclined to go out to her right a bit today,” commented Mullins. “Since she has gone chasing she has found her true calling. Hopefully, she will head on to Punchestown and Pravalaguna will definitely go there too.”
Henry de Bromhead inches ever closer to recording a century of victories for the season as he notched up a double which moved him on to the 97-winner mark for the campaign.
The trainer’s brace was completed by Surf Instructor (5/1) and Rachael Blackmore in the Ratoath Pharmacy Ladies National Handicap Chase. As he went in search of a first win since December 2017, the seven-year-old set sail for home before the turn in and to his credit he dug deep from the second last to hold the persistent favourite The Church Gate by a length.
Surf Instructor won for Rachael Blackmore and owner Julian Taylor (right) being presented with the trophy by Ollie, Anthony and Clodagh Ryan of Ratoath Pharmacy for the Ladies National
“It was a lovely performance from the horse and he got a super ride from Rachael. This horse doesn’t want really quick ground but while he’s in this sort of form we will keep him going,” reported de Bromhead who trains the gelding for Julian Taylor.
DOUBLE
The first leg of the double was supplied by the Blackmore-ridden Or Jaune De Somoza (7/4) in the Mongey Communications Beginners Chase. On his first start for three months, the Gigginstown-owned seven-year-old was restored to the form that saw him finish third to Jetz at Navan in November.
From the second last fence in this two-mile contest there was nothing to choose between Or Jaune De Somoza, Stowaway Forever and Global Jackpot and the former wanted it the most. At one point it looked as though he might be coming off third best in the battle for supremacy but he rallied splendidly from the last to the line to defeat Stowaway Forever by half a length.
“He was a bit disappointing in the middle of the winter and ran badly over hurdles here the last day so we decided to back off him for a while,” reported the trainer. “He looks to be back to himself and hopefully he’ll be a nice novice for the summer.”
REAL STAR
Declan Queally could have a real star on his hands in The Getaway Star who more than lived up to her name in the two-and-a-half-mile Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares’ Flat Race. This €4,500 foal purchase was as big as 33/1 in the morning before being returned at 13/2 and she travelled supremely well for Eoin O’Brien. She brushed aside the favourite Larquebuse in the straight to win by eight and a half lengths.
“She looks a real good mare and Declan, who is a fantastic trainer, had been telling me all year that she was good,” declared the owner Michael O’Callaghan.
“For a four-year-old filly to win like that is impressive and she’s been in seven or eight months so I’d say she will be left off now before coming back in the autumn maybe for some of those good mares’ bumpers, she looks that sort of mare.”
He went three seasons without winning but a switch in discipline has enabled former big handicap chase regular Ucello Conti to prosper this season and he made it three wins from his last five outings in the BoyleSports Joseph R O’Reilly Hunters Chase.
The Gordon Elliott stalwart was his usual accomplished self under Barry O’Neill but it took him the duration of the straight to subdue last year’s winner Sizing Coal. The latter was still in front at the final fence but a mistake there handed the initiative to the 7/2 favourite who went on to score by three and a half lengths.
“I thought that he was maybe just getting to the other horse when he made that mistake at the last and he does stay on very well at the end of his races,” commented Elliott.
“He’ll go on to Punchestown for the champion hunter chase and it’s great to see him winning a few races as he was unlucky not to win a good handicap chase over the last few seasons.”
After beginning his career with four honourable runner-up efforts Tony Martin’s Le Tektor notched up a well deserved success in the Eat Your Vegetables Maiden Hurdle over two and a half miles. Denis O’Regan made the running on the Seamus Ross-owned eight-year-old who showed a fine attitude in the closing stages to fend off the strong charge of Hang In There by three-quarters of a length.
“He dug deep and his previous experience stood to him. He stays well and he jumps super and should make a very nice chaser,” reflected Tony Martin. He’s got a great constitution and takes his racing very well so hopefully we might see him at Punchestown towards the end of the week.”
ACTING STEWARDS
L. Reynolds, S. Barry, M.C. Hickey, Mrs T.K. Cooper, P.D. Matthews
HORSE TO FOLLOW:
HANG IN THERE(Ms M. Mullins): On his first start since October and his debut over hurdles, this gelding produced a very encouraging effort to finish second to Le Tektor. He will soon be making his mark in this sphere.
Adjudicator not so keen
MR Adjudicator, who pulled up when favourite for the featured handicap hurdle, was reported by Ruby Walsh to have been reluctant to race.
Whip bans
BARRY O’Neill picked up a two-day whip ban for his efforts on Ucello Conti in the hunter chase and Luke McGuinness was given a one-day whip suspension after partnering Miss Cedille into third in the bumper.