GORDON Elliott’s impressive start to 2019 yielded a second treble in four days, which made it 13 domestic winners for the trainer since the turn of year. His Eclair De Beaufeu looks to be progressing sufficiently well to tackle some decent prizes later in the season after notching up his second triumph in recent weeks.

The Gigginstown House Stud-owned Eclair De Beaufeu met with defeat on his first four starts since coming from France. However, a determined success at Limerick over Christmas signalled that he could be heading in the right direction.

Jack Kennedy always had his mount well placed and the 121-rated rated five-year-old quickened up smartly to take charge of this race early in the straight. The 100/30 chance soon held a commanding advantage which he maintained to defeat the front-running Oscars Den by five lengths.

“He’s improving and I like the way he quickened up in the straight,” said Elliott. “He stays well and I think he will be a better horse over further as you wouldn’t have to force him along as much. We might give him a little break and freshen him up for later in the season.”

Elliott and Kennedy then struck with Getaway John (9/4) who returned to the promise of last season in the two-mile, seven-furlong maiden hurdle. The dual bumper winner wasn’t at his best in two outings at Cork in November but a switch to better ground and a marked step up in trip worked the oracle for him.

Jack Kennedy’s mount had to work hard to get the better of Narcissistic from the second last hurdle and he took that horse’s measure as the line loomed to prevail by half a length.

“He was a bit disappointing earlier in the season but Jack said on the better ground today he felt like a different horse. He was a good horse in bumpers. The longer trip helped although I think he’d be just as happy over two and a half miles,” remarked Elliott.

bumper

The trainer then sent out a one-two in the bumper where the placed pointer Thunder Down Under (4/1) showed a nice attitude for Lisa O’Neill to get the better of Cats For Cash and he could progress into a novice of some substance next term.

This Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding looked green at various stages but knuckled down really well under pressure from the turn-in. After first dealing with Deployed it looked as though he could then lose out to Cats For Cash but he pulled out more again to score by three-quarters of a length.

“He’s a big raw horse but you’d like the way he battled and he’ll be a better horse next season,” declared Elliott. “He’s more of a staying novice type so I’m not sure he’ll run in another bumper this season, he might instead run in a good novice somewhere.”

The day began with a poignant success for Dylrow in the two-mile beginners’ chase for horses rated 116 or less over hurdles. Dylrow sports the same colours as the 2007 Champion Hurdle winner Sublimity and this was the first time that these silks have visited the winner’s enclosure since they passed from the late Bill Hennessy to his son Robert who was registering his first training success since September 2017.

This six-runner affair represented a total boil over for punters with the 6/4 favourite At Your Ease pulling up after halfway with a burst blood vessel following some ragged jumping.

The second choice in the market, Grotesque, could only manage third while the third favourite Biddy The Boss finished a remote last.

In the race itself, Andrew Lynch produced Dylrow to lead between the last two fences and the 20/1 shot went on to defeat the 33/1 chance My Manekineko by a length and three-quarters.

LICENCE

“I was half thinking of not running but Andrew said to take our chance and when the rain comes it’s going to be difficult to win in this country. It’s a bit of a surprise but he has his good days,” commented Hennessy.

“I’ve just a couple in and my licence is up for renewal in February and I’m not interested in training for anyone else so I may not renew it. I could keep it for the couple I have or else Dermot McLoughlin is local to me and he could take over.”

The Willie Mullins-trained Ifyoucatchmenow, who filled the runner-up spot on his hurdling debut at Limerick over Christmas, duly got off the mark in the two-and-a-half-mile mares’ maiden hurdle. The 7/4 favourite steadily got the better of the front-running Roney in the straight and Paul Townend’s mount then produced a quicker jump than the chasing Whatucallher at the final flight which was probably the deciding factor in her half-length triumph.

“She’s a galloper and we got racing early enough but she’s straightforward mare and kept at it well,” declared Townend who was sporting the colours of Coldunell Limited.

An industrious few weeks for Robert Tyner continued with the success of Gotaway in the 0-102 rated two-mile, five-furlong handicap chase. The Philip Enright-ridden winner finished a neck in front of the favourite Ticket To Ride when they met at Tramore on New Year’s Day and was able to confirm that form in cosy fashion.

The 3/1 chance headed Ticket To Ride after the last and never came under strong pressure to carry the day by one and three-quarter lengths. Gotaway is owned and bred by the trainer’s wife, Mary and this was a fourth winner for the yard in the last fortnight.

“He jumped well and the ground was better than it was at Tramore which helped. He had the form to win and was only a pound worse off with Ticket To Ride so we were hopeful that he’d uphold that form on the better ground,” reported the rider.

FORTUNE

Jockey Tommy Brett enjoyed a welcome change in fortune in the 80-95 rated handicap hurdle where he teamed up with John Ryan’s Father Jed to spring a 25/1 surprise.

Father Jedd, who returned from an absence of two years in November, was providing Brett with his first winner since April as he came with a sweeping effort on the outer to lead before the final flight.

At the line the Patrick Morrisey-owned son of Kutub had one and three-quarter lengths to spare over the staying-on Ask David.

“He had an injury and it took a few runs to get him back but he’ll be a lovely horse over fences as he’s a very good jumper.

“I’m delighted for Tommy who is with me most mornings and is a great lad,” remarked Ryan.

ACTING STEWARDS

P. Caffrey, Mrs T.K. Cooper, S. Barry, J. Rearden, P.D. Matthews

HORSE TO FOLLOW

CATS FOR CASH (G. Elliott): After his debut second at Down Royal in June, he again showed up well to chase home Thunder Down Under in the bumper. A victory in this sphere is possible.