Rest of the card

THE best bumper performance of the season without exception was in the Grade 2 Goffs Future Stars (C&G) I.N.H. Flat Race as Facile Vega (8/11) annihilated his opponents.

This Hammer & Trowel Syndicate-owned and bred son of Walk In The Park looked potentially top drawer when winning here at Christmas and there is now no doubt as to his Grade 1 pretensions.

The son of Quevega cruised through this race for Patrick Mullins and was still hard on the bridle as he eased past Sandor Clegane early in the straight. Even as he stretched further and further clear of his vanquished opponents, Facile Vega looked to be full of running and hit the line with real purpose to score by a dozen lengths.

He showed me one day last year he was good but then he got sore after it so I put him away for this season and I’d say that’s the fastest he has gone all season,” commented Mullins. “He’s even better than I thought he was and he looks the real deal.”

Martin’s upswing

Further evidence of the upswing in fortunes for the Tony Martin yard was in evidence as Good Time Jonny bagged the €100,000 Paddy Power I’d Love A Can But Pints Are Cheaper Handicap Hurdle over three miles.

Over the past few years Tony Martin has endured a fallow time but this horse signalled that he could propel his trainer back into the back time with a taking success in a novice handicap hurdle here at Christmas.

The seven-year-old son of Shirocco stepped forward to continue a bright run for his yard and the victory was made all the sweeter by the 17/2 chance sporting the colours of the ever enthusiastic Aidan Shiels, Donal Gavigan and Niall Reilly who have enjoyed some great times in the past with Martin-trained stars such as Benefficient and Heartbreak City.

Just as he did at Christmas, Kevin Sexton timed things to perfection as he produced his mount, on his first try at this trip, to challenge at the last before getting on top on the run-in. At the line Good Time Jonny saw off the heavily backed 7/2 favourite Rightplacerightime by one and three-quarter lengths, with the 80/1 shot The Little Yank running a huge race in third.

“Days like this are what it’s all about. The horses are coming right. This horse had a few hiccups on the past but he’s come good since the autumn and he’s showing his worth now and we always felt this would be his job,” remarked the winning trainer. “He won’t go to Cheltenham. He was there in November and didn’t seem to like it so I’d say we will look at maybe Liverpool or Fairyhouse.”

For the second year in succession, A Wave Of The Sea (9/2) landed the Paddy Power ‘I’m Never Going Back To The Office’ Handicap Chase over two miles. Joseph O’Brien’s charge hadn’t won since this race last year but he was good enough to fill the runner-up spot in the Munster National over three miles.

Another big handicap success for Shane Fitzgerald, A Wave Of The Sea was travelling notably well in a share of the lead turning for home. It was only after the last that Fitzgerald asked the J.P. McManus-owned gelding for his effort and the six-year-old responded well to go clear of Grange Walk before fending off that rival’s renewed rally by a length and a half.

“Shane gave the horse a great ride. Sometimes the horse can make the odd mistake but he jumped brilliantly today. We felt we might have been a bit light coming here this weekend so it’s super to get another winner,” said the trainer. “He might be a horse to win a nice pot at home while others have gone to Cheltenham.”