BoyleSports Faugheen Novice Chase (Grade 1)
IN what will unquestionably go down as one of the stories of the season, Villierstown-based trainer Paddy Corkery bagged a fairytale success at the top level when Master McShee lowered the colours of the favourite Farouk D’Alene.
A first Grade 1 success for both Corkery - who has run just three horses this season and trains the winner for his wife Deirdre - and jockey Ian Power, Master McShee was making his second appearance over fences.
His first start over the larger obstacles yielded a fine third to Bob Olinger at Gowran last month but he was taking a marked rise in class for this assignment.
However, Master McShee had showed graded race potential when winning a handicap hurdle at Leopardstown last Christmas.
That success was one of the stories of the 2020 festive period but an even more fantastic tale was in the offing here as the seven-year-old was turned out in the form of his life.
Moved through
In an exacting affair on testing ground Farouk D’Alene steadily warmed to his task and he moved through to head the field on the descent to the straight.
At this stage most of the runners were toiling badly but travelling very smoothy in the favourite’s slipstream was Master McShee.
To their credit the front pair pinged the last two fences and Farouk D’Alene touched down with a useful lead on the run-in.
Master McShee was bearing down ominously as the line loomed though and in a tremendous finish the 10/1 shot bagged a famous win, the nature of which represents the very foundations upon which National Hunt racing is built.
“It is a fantastic result and I’m thrilled. He burst a blood vessel in a Grade 1 hurdle last February but we knew he was a Grade 1 horse and today we were confident we had a right chance,” reflected Corkery.
“This is my enjoyment and my wife and kids will tell you it is a passion. I get up in the morning and ride him out every day. I bought this horse from John and Morgan Sheehan and I bought another horse from them recently and would be very disappointed if he’s not as good as this fellow.
“I haven’t been in horses for that long, I didn’t start hunting until about the age of 40, but I enjoy it so much. It’s Ian’s first Grade 1 winner and I’m delighted to have given it to him.
“We get on very well and he has been perfect on the horse the whole time. The horse is an absolute gentleman to his fingertips and is beautiful horse to have anything to do with,” added the trainer who has the Dublin Racing Festival and Punchestown as possible targets for his charge.
This was a first Grade 1 victory for 40-year-old Power who declared: “I made a few wrong choices along the way and I dropped out of racing for a while, but that is brilliant.
“I live in Dungarvan and ride out for local trainers and they are very good to support me. I also do the odd day schooling here and there and I had only ever ridden in one or two Grade 1s.”
DALY Tiger made his first appearance over hurdles for three years a winning one in the O’Kelly Brothers Demolition Hurdle over two and a half miles.
Following a thoroughly respectable second to Energumene in the Hilly Way at Cork, the Gigginstown House Stud-owned and Noel Meade-trained gelding took advantage of the less exalted surrounds of this test.
The 100/30 chance came under pressure before the straight but he responded to Eoin Walsh’s promptings and he got past Choice Of Words to lead before the last.
The latter didn’t go down without a fight but a willing Daly Tiger, who is rated 157 as a chaser, got home by two and three-quarter lengths.
One-sided
Rebel Ivy turned the Mr Binman Mares Handicap Hurdle into a distinctly one-sided affair for James Motherway and Donie McInerney.
This six-year-old went off quite a well-backed 17/2 shot and revelled in the testing conditions as nothing was going remotely as well as her as she faced up to the last two flights.
She soon drew away from a discouraged field and could afford the luxury of a final-obstacle error and still defeat Optional Mix by 13 lengths.
“She wants proper soft ground and I thought the ground today would be a massive help. We own her ourselves and if we could nick a bit of blacktype down the line it would be great,” remarked the trainer.
There was a welcome change of luck in the offing for jockey Jordan Canavan who got back amongst the winners when Earths Furies pounced late in the BRC McMahon Reinforcements Andrew McNamara Handicap Chase.
The recent Naas winner Brandy Harbour gave this an excellent go from the front and looked to in control for much of the final mile but he was run down after the last by Earths Furies (9/2) who prevailed by a length and a quarter.
Eugene O’Sullivan’s charge, who is owned by Allurie O’Sullivan, could turn out again at Tramore this weekend.
Gainford is
in the groove
JUST like Sean Flanagan in the opener at Leopardstown, Jordan Gainford enjoyed the perfect return from injury as he teamed up with Doctor Churchill to land the Eden Capital 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle.
Gainford, who fractured his wrist in a fall last month, produced the Pierce Molony-owned gelding with a determined effort from the turn in and Doctor Churchill raised his effort in splendid style to go clear coming to two out.
He was soon being chased down by the 5/4 favourite Champion Green but the latter couldn’t reel in Gordon Elliott’s charge who got home by two and a half lengths.
“He had a couple of decent runs to his name and his previous experience stood to him and he enjoyed the ground too. He’ll head for a winner’s race or a handicap hurdle next,” declared the trainer.
Willie Mullins opened his account for the meeting with his first runner as Henn See recorded a hard-fought success in the Signsplus Maiden Hurdle.
The Bruton Street Partnership-owned winner, who was placed at Auteuil on his second outing last March, produced a brave effort from the front under Sean O’Keeffe. The 11/8 favourite looked to be in trouble when he was joined and headed by Itwasfate early in the straight.
He answered his rider’s every call though to remain in with every chance and he got back on top after the last before going on to prevail by half a length, with Cratloe Hill catching the eye with a debut third, finishing just a length and three-quarters off the front pair.
The day concluded with a 16/1 winner as Monteip turned over the odds-on Cnoc Na Si in the Woodlands House Mares INH Flat Race.
On her third career start and her first since May, the Barry Fitzgerald-trained mare was backed in from 33/1 on track and she established a commanding early lead under Jack Hendrick.
The winner produced a controlled effort from the front and when the market leader loomed up with her challenge she was readily contained as Monteip kept on doggedly under tough conditions to carry the day by four and a quarter lengths.
The Grade 2 mares’ bumper at the Dublin Racing Festival in February could be next for the Michael Foley-owned winner.