BLOOD Destiny made an impressive start over fences when making all in the 2m4f Bar One Racing ‘Bet 10 Euro Get 50 Euro Sign Up Offer’ Beginners Chase to initiate a short-priced double for Paul Townend and Willie Mullins. Trained by Mullins for the Roaringwater Syndicate, the four-year-old gelding won twice over hurdles last season and looks to have an even brighter future over fences judged on this performance.
The evens favourite had chief market rival Heart Wood under pressure after two out and was just pushed out on the run-in by Townend to score by a convincing nine lengths. “He was dynamite everywhere and always looking for the next fence. He’s a real chaser,” said Townend. “They tried to push me and get him lit up but I wasn’t interfering with him and he was getting a length everywhere with his jumping.
“He’ll come on from it as most of Willie’s do - he has a lovely attitude for it. He jumps so fast that he could come back in trip, but he’d have no problem staying at that trip either.” Paddy Power and Betfair cut him into 14/1 (from 33/1) for the Turners Novice Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Quite raw
Quai De Bourbon completed the double when making a successful Irish debut in the 2m3f Alto Equine Building Solutions Maiden Hurdle. The Gigginstown-owned gelding drew clear from Fenway Park on the run-in to score by four and a half lengths and Townend commented of the 11/10 favourite: “He’s still quite raw for a lad that had two runs in France. I’d say it was lack of concentration, and when I let him on it (the last) was the best hurdle he jumped. He’s a staying type and one you would associate with these colours.”
GAVIN Cromwell and Keith Donoghue were another trainer and jockey combination to record a double on the day with Money Heist and Only By Night. The latter received quotes of 14/1 for the Mares’ Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham after justifying strong support (5/4 in the morning, returned 2/5) in the Care At Home Services Mares Maiden Hurdle. She was left clear after nearest rival Magic Dawn unseated her rider at the last and went to beat Mi Lucky Cailin by an easy 10 lengths.
“She’s a nice mare and when she won a listed bumper you would hope she could come on and do that. She jumped well and was very straight forward,” said Cromwell who trains the Affinisea mare for Colin and Jackie Russell.
“She used to be a bit keen but she’s grown up now and you can even see it in her work at home. Hopefully she could be good enough to aim at the mares’ novice hurdle at Cheltenham. We might as well dream here as in bed!”
Money Heist added to a hurdle win at Galway last year when also well-backed (7/2 overnight and sent off the 7/4 favourite) in the two-mile Sign Up To Gavinlynchracing.com Handicap Chase. Donoghue’s mount did well to overcome a mistake at the last, staying on well under pressure to get the better of Kates Hill by a length and a quarter.
“He was gutsy to get back up and loves that ground. He travelled well with the cheekpieces on and we’ll find something similar,” said Cromwell of the Cathal O’Loan-owned gelding.
Jordan Gainford was attended to for some time after being unseated from Derridae four out and was later brought to Tallaght Hospital for further examination. He was conscious at all times.
ROBBIE Jackson (22) partnered his first winner under Rules when Tuckmill just held off the late surge of Cramers Valley by a neck in division one of the John Thomas McNamara Series (QR) Handicap Hurdle.
“About six or seven years ago I rode in a pony club exhibition race here and I dead-heated in it. I didn’t think it would take as long to get a winner on the track but it’s lovely to get it done,” said Jackson after his breakthrough on the Peter Fahey-trained 9/1 winner. “I could hear the other horse coming to me and I was just hoping he’d stay to the line. He was a willing partner.
“I have four winners point-to-pointing and was based in Wexford up to this year. I decided to base myself with Peter to try and get a winner on the track. I struggle with my weight a bit and don’t know how long I will have at this game. I’m great friends with a nephew of Tom (McParland, owner).”
James Murray and Phidelma Elvin both picked up five-day suspensions for using their whip with excessive frequency, while Luke Burke-Ott was given a four-day ban for the same offence.
Patient ride
Philip Rothwell, who just lost out with 50/1 shot Cramers Valley, landed division two with another 50/1 chance as Cristiano Marealdo benefitted from a patient ride by Joey Dunne, leading after the last to beat Poppy Rose by a length and a half.
“She was very weak last year and stopped very quickly on bottomless ground at Gowran the last day. We said we’d go back to two miles and drop her in and Joey was excellent on her,” said the Tinahely trainer who is having a great season with 29 winners already on the board. “Peter Byrne is an owner/breeder who has had horses with me for years. His health wasn’t very good last year, and he’s got a huge kick out of this today. I got this filly out of the Derby Sale for five grand, and he’s been very patient with her.”
BRENNUS Lescribaa was backed as if defeat was out of the question in the Bar One Racing ‘Guaranteed Odds All Channels’ Maiden Hurdle but the 1/2 favourite dropped away tamely after two out with Iron Allen finishing best to score under Eoin Walsh. “He was gutsy, travelled away and jumped well. He found plenty to the line. Ciaran (Murphy) has done a good job with him and sweetened him up lovely,” said Walsh of the Go For Porter Syndicate’s 9/1 winner.
Brennus Lescribaa’s trainer Gordon Elliott didn’t leave empty-handed as Wingmen justified odds of 8/11 in the Bar One Racing ‘Guaranteed Overnight Prices’ Flat Race.
Bective Stud’s Kayf Tara gelding raced keenly throughout in front but still shrugged off his rivals from over a furlong out under Harry Swan to beat Typhoon Flyer by eight lengths.
“He’s a nice horse, a next year horse. I think he’ll be better with a jump in front of him and we might give him a run over hurdles later on in the season,” said Elliott.
“There is a massive engine there but he’s a bit hard on himself, a bit too keen.”