THERE can’t be too many horses that have come from the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle to have their next start at Kilbeggan but that was the case with Berkshire Royal who landed the Mullingar Novice Hurdle in good style, albeit after a lay-off of 430 days.
The son of Sir Percy has been very lightly-raced since winning three times on the flat for Andrew Balding in 2018, and Willie Mullins made the bold move of a first start over hurdles at Cheltenham in March last year when soundly beaten behind Shishkin.
The now six-year-old, owned in partnership by Andy Bell and Fergus Lyons, made most of the running in this two-mile, three-furlong event taking command on the long run between the final two flights under Danny Mullins to beat the odds-on Homme D’Un Soir by a convincing ten lengths.
“He has a lot of ability and it’s coming together now. He was keen off a slow pace and he’ll jump better when we go faster,” said Danny Mullins of the 5/2 chance. “He’s a novice for the season and could go back on the flat if they want to do that. He seems to have an engine and there will be plenty of options for him.”
Bonnie’s treble
Mullins was partnering a double on the evening having also taken the opening Kilbegganraces.com Maiden Hurdle aboard Presenting Bonnie. The well-backed 4/1 shot led away from the last to score by nearly four lengths from Say Goodbye, who jumped right at the final flight hampering Tisadream.
This victory completed a notable treble in the space of just 10 days for the dam Bonnie Theatre, who also recorded wins with Ferdia and Bonarc – all three trained near Templemore by John Ryan.
“My cousin Tom Meagher bought a half-brother by Mount Nelson as a foal that is going to the Goffs Land Rover Sale (on June 9th) so he’ll be happy now,” said Ryan before adding, “she fell on her first chase start at Killarney last time but has schooled very well over fences and I think she can be a blacktype mare over fences. The (Mules & Tools Racing) Syndicate is made of 17 members of An Garda Síochána.”
THE Follow Kilbeggan On Facebook Handicap Chase was the most valuable event on the eight-race card and it proved a memorable one for Rathdrum-based John Kinsella who saddled his first winner with 28/1 chance Definite Soldier.
The John Mythen-owned veteran was prominent throughout the two-mile, four-furlong test and kept on gamely under Adam Short on the run-in to hold off Ask Nile by half a length.
Short said: “John doesn’t have many in but he does a great job with them. He trains just five minutes up the road from me and I know him a long time. In fairness he told me this horse was in the best form he’s had him in a long time and he should take a bit of beating.”
The other race over fences was the Follow Kilbeggan On Twitter Beginners Chase and victory here went to Burlesque Queen (7/2), trained by Liz Doyle for the P & J Syndicate.
Doyle’s Queen
The three-time winner over hurdles made a promising start over fences here last month and put that experience to good use leading before the last to score by half a length under James O’Sullivan who said: “Throughout the race I thought the ground was plenty quick enough for her. I was squeezing her from the fourth last and her jumping kept her in it. She was good and long at the last and answered every question for me.”
DOLLAR Value (7/1) showed the benefit of a recent outing at the Punchestown Festival when taking the Follow Kilbeggan On Instagram Handicap Hurdle.
Darragh O’Keeffe’s mount led off the home bend and appeared to be just getting the better of Union Park when that rival unseated Sean O’Keeffe at the last, leaving Tom McCourt’s charge to beat General Moriviere by two and a half lengths.
“He is a horse with a lot of ability. Darragh thinks there is a proper handicap in him either over fences or over hurdles. I’d like to target a nice pot somewhere along the line for him. He wouldn’t want it too quick,” said McCourt, who trains the six-year-old for Peter Jordan.
Beach gets there
The second division of the Irish Farmers Journal Maiden Hurdle certainly seemed the stronger of the two and Palm Beach, successful in a Listowel maiden on the flat for Aidan O’Brien and runner-up on all three previous hurdle outings last winter for his son Joseph, made most of the running to beat the fast-finishing Miss Tempo by half a length at odds of 15/8.
“We didn’t go much of a gallop and I let him on after the third hurdle. I codded him along and luckily enough the line came in time for me. He has a rating of 119 so hopefully he’ll improve from it,” said rider Mark Walsh, sporting the colours of J.P. McManus on the brother of Derby favourite Bolshoi Ballet.
Imperial Sachin’s justified 11/8 favouritism in division one, although he needed a strong drive from Bryan Cooper to just get the better of Voice Of Hope by a neck.
“He should progress during the summer and they (Imperial Racing Syndicate) should have some fun with him. He had to be a man about it at the finish and will have learned a lot. Bryan gave him a great ride,” said trainer Denise Foster.
Newcomers dominated the finish to the Racing Again June 6th (Pro/Am) Flat Race with Chosen Thyme benefitting from a fine ride by Eoin O’Brien. The 16/1 chance hugged the inside rail to lead inside the final furlong and beat the odds-on Sonny Dont Go Away by three-quarters of a length.
“He’s owned by Lily Lawlor who was part-owner of Dunguib. He’s a late foal so we will rough him off now for the summer. Eoin gave him a great ride.”