HIS season may have started on an off-key note but Our Duke looks to be nearing concert-pitch at the ideal time for legitimate Gold Cup aspirations with a fine victory over Presenting Percy in a vintage Grade 2 Red Mills Chase.
Following his abortive reappearance at Down Royal in November, Jessica Harrington’s charge ran quite nicely in the Irish Gold Cup at the start of the month where a mistake at the second last cost him dearly.
Here Our Duke coped with a drop back to two and a half miles, less than ideal ground and conceding 7lb to the crack novice Presenting Percy.
The latter more than played his part in a gripping finale and he did his RSA Chase claims no harm at all.
The day belonged to the Cooper Family Syndicate-owned Our Duke though and, along with last year’s champion Sizing John, Jessica Harrington will have a tremendous hand to play in next month’s Gold Cup.
Over the course of the Red Mills Chase the five-runner field went a sensible pace on the testing ground and all were still in contention at the fourth last where Our Duke made a bad blunder.
To his credit the Robbie Power-ridden 5/2 shot got back on an even-keel almost immediately and, turning for home, the stage was set as he and Presenting Percy went toe-to-toe.
The front pair were locked in combat over the last three fences, which they jumped impeccably, but from the last to the line Our Duke was too strong for his year-younger rival. Our Duke finished out his race in determined fashion to score by a length with Ballycasey 16 lengths back in third.
“He wouldn’t have liked the ground and I thought it was a good performance giving weight to Presenting Percy,” said Mrs Harrington. “He wasn’t really concentrating out in front as they weren’t going that quick but when the gun was put to his head over the last three fences he was very good. Going a stride quicker will suit him and I’m delighted to see him do that, he needed to do that to run in a Gold Cup. I think that he will sharpen up again from this.”
The doughty Forge Meadow capped a memorable afternoon for Mrs Harrington in the Grade 3 Red Mills Trial Hurdle. This teak-tough daughter of Beneficial has relished the switch to forcing tactics this season and produced her best effort of the campaign.
After being left alone up front, the Joseph Doyle-owned Forge Meadow (7/4) was tackled by Identity Thief turning for home and that rival jumped the second last in front. However, Robbie Power’s mount was back upsides at the final flight before finishing strongly to prevail by a length and a half.
On her first outing since November, the favourite Lagostovegas was a further three lengths back after making a mistake at the second last.
“Once she winged the last I thought that she would win as she wasn’t going to be for passing,” observed Mrs Harrington “She doesn’t travel so she won’t be going to Cheltenham but hopefully she will go to Fairyhouse for a two and a half-mile Grade 2 and then there is the Grade 1 mares’ race at Punchestown.”
Willie Mullins took the wraps off a juvenile hurdler of some substance as Saldier (4/9) ran out an utterly dominant winner of the Sea Moon & Shantou At Burgage Stud Maiden Hurdle. This Susannah Ricci-owned son of Soldier Hollow was a useful sort on the flat in France.
After jumping well and travelling powerfully, the David Mullins-ridden gelding was already firmly in control when he was left well clear by the last flight fall of Galtymore. Saldier was unextended to come home 10 lengths clear of the 40/1 shot Big Ego.
“He got rammed by a loose horse and he had every excuse to run off the track or be set alight but it didn’t faze him at all,” remarked the trainer. “He just had a setback around Christmas which is why he didn’t run then but he’s always shown he was decent. He’s in the Triumph and would look good enough to take up his entry.”
STABLEMATE SURPRISE
Earlier Mullins landed the two and a half-mile beginners’ chase but not in the order expected as Some Neck (3/1) turned over his odds-on stablemate Up For Review. On his return from almost two years off, the last-named set a brisk pace in company with Burgas and this pair raced some way in advance of the David Mullins-ridden Some Neck.
Up For Review had seen off Burgas by the time he reached the third last but his exertions and his absence then told against him as he had no answer to Some Neck in the closing stages. The Ricci-owned grey then moved ahead at the last fence for a six-length triumph.
“The was a good effort on his first run for 13 months. He was careful early on but warmed into the race,” reflected the winning rider. “On that ground he got away with two and a half miles but the further he goes the better he will be.”
Danny Mullins, who was sidelined with a wrist injury for the first six weeks of the year, was amongst the winners on his second day back in the saddle as the bottom weight Tongie bagged the Book Direct At Talbotcarlow.ie Careys Cottage Cup Handicap Chase. The eight-year-old appreciated coming back to two miles at Fairyhouse last time and confirmed that impression by making all the running. In the straight he first dealt with Knockraha Pylon before coming home four and a quarter lengths clear of the top weight Scoir Mear.
“The light weight helped him and maybe I was running him over the wrong trip. He’ll certainly get an entry in the Shamrock Handicap Chase back here next month,” commented Pat Fahy who trains the gelding for Greg Coleman.
Sheila Lavery’s versatile performer Laid Back Luke (12/1) notched up the fifth success of his career in the two and a half-mile handicap hurdle. A winner over fences, in bumpers, on the flat and previously a maiden hurdle, the 10-year-old turned out in fine heart for his first outing since early December.
Robbie Colgan made all the running on the son of Quws who fought on valiantly from the second last to contain the well-backed Call The Taxie by one and three-quarter lengths.
“I was worried the ground might be too gluey but he battled very well and Robbie deserves all the credit as he does everything with this horse,” observed the trainer whose brother, John, owns the gelding. “I do think that there could be a good flat handicap in him at some stage.”
For the second weekend in succession Charles Byrnes sent out a well-backed newcomer to win a bumper as Mary B (9/4-5/4) took the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Ronan Lawlor Memorial Mares (Pro/Am) Flat Race for the Byrnsey Boys Syndicate. This daughter of Vinnie Roe, who was bred by her trainer, was going notably well for Richie Deegan nearing the straight and she then got to the front with over a furlong to run. She asserted over the course of the last furlong to defeat Ifyoucatchmenow by four and a half lengths.
“My mother passed away before Christmas and that’s who this mare is called after so there was a bit of pressure on,” stated Byrnes. “She worked well in Thurles one day and has had plenty of days away, so she knew her job well. She loves soft ground and the first three foals out of her dam are all winners now.”
Weighed in heavy
AMATEUR rider Conor Fahy was banned for two days for weighing in at 1.5lb overweight on Tens Or Better who finished sixth in the mares’ bumper.
ACTING STEWARDS
N.P. Lambert, N.B. Wachman, Mrs J.O. Onions, P. Coveney, P.D. Matthews
Horse To Follow
ABBYSSIAL (W.P. Mullins): This former Grade 1 winner was running for the first time in nearly three years when finishing a respectable fourth in the Red Mills Hurdle. He retains plenty of his ability and he can win soon.