THE talented mare Scarlet And Dove headed a one-two for Joseph O’Brien in the day’s feature as the Gigginstown House Stud-owned mare bagged a precious blacktype triumph in the Grade 3 Flyingbolt Novice Chase.
The seven-year-old was returned the 6/5 favourite to bounce back from a fall at Thurles in January when she was disputing the lead with Colreevy in a Grade 2 contest only to exit at the second last.
A drop back to two miles wasn’t a concern for Donagh Meyler’s mount and this race rested between her and fellow Gigginstown-owned runner Epson Du Houx coming to two out. Scarlet And Dove held a narrow enough lead jumping that fence but the outcome was decided when Epson Du Houx stumbled and came down on the flat several strides after the penultimate obstacle. This left Scarlet And Dove to finish seven lengths clear of stablemate Sempo.
“Who knows what would have happened if the other horse had stayed up? She got done for a bit of toe turning in and got close to the third last but she’s picked up again and she’s galloped,” said the trainer’s representative Brendan Powell. “She could be one for Fairyhouse and Punchestown.”
At the end of a hugely difficult week Gordon Elliott was still able to produce the 14-year-old Kruzhlinin (12/1) in great shape to land the three-mile veterans’ handicap chase.
A winner of 13 of his 17 point-to-point outings since he was last in action in a handicap chase, the Sholokhov gelding produced a display full of enthusiasm under the promising Jordan Gainford. After racing on the pace he eased clear of the field over the course of the straight to win by eight and a half lengths in the colours of the trainer’s travelling head girl, Camilla Sharples.
“He means the world to me. He’s just an absolute superstar and owes me nothing,” commented the winning owner. “I looked after him as a five-year-old when I worked for Donald McCain, and when I left I wrote Paul and Clare Rooney a letter and said if they ever wanted a home for life for him that I’d take him. I just can’t thank Gordon enough training him and we’ve had a really tough week so I’m just delighted for the whole team.”
Good timing
Fiveaftermidnight sprang a 22/1 surprise for Philip Rothwell and Paddy O’Hanlon in the mares’ handicap chase. As she went in search of her first win since November 2019, the daughter of Getaway was badly hampered by a couple of errant rivals at the second last but she recovered to get into a challenging position at the final fence before edging out Reine Fee by half a length.
The winner is owned by the trainer’s stalwart patron John Leckey.
A MEMORABLE quarter of an hour for trainer Emmet Mullins and owner Paul Byrne concluded with an ultra-smooth triumph for Noble Yeats in the two-and-three-quarter-mile maiden hurdle.
Hot on the heels of the same connections landing the valuable Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso with The Shunter, Noble Yeats (4/11) took charge of this race early in the straight for Brian Hayes and he finished with a dozen lengths to spare of Mr Josie Wales, with the pair having dominated this race to the exclusion of everything else.
Mullins is already eyeing a chasing campaign for his charge next season when Noble Yeats should make a lovely stayer over the larger obstacles.
The card began with a nice effort from last month’s Dundalk maiden winner Palace Rock who made a winning start over timber in the four-year-old maiden hurdle. Denis O’Regan was on board this Francis Casey inmate who was going nicely when he improved to head the field after two out.
The well-supported Palace Rock (11/4) made a mistake at the last which gave the newcomer Boothen Boy a chance to close in but he recovered well to pull away again on the run in and carry the day by three and a half lengths. “He needs to brush up on his jumping but he’ll learn and he’s a horse that will hopefully go places,” reported Casey. “He’ll probably go to Fairyhouse for a graded race over Easter which his mother (Fingal Rock) won 10 years ago.”
THE classy mare Santa Rossa, who was a top-notch bumper performer a couple of seasons ago, returned from almost 14 months off the track to bolt up in the mares’ maiden hurdle in a manner which suggested she will be a force at graded level before the end of the season.
The Tilly Conway-owned mare made most of the running for Robbie Power and in the straight brushed aside chief market rival Manitopark with some ease. The seven-year-old powered clear on the bridle from two out to finish with 10 lengths to spare.
“She’s a good mare. It wasn’t the plan to make the running but Robbie said she didn’t settle,” declared McLoughlin. “He said she gave him a good feel, travelled and quickened at the back of the last. I’d imagine we will be looking for blacktype with her now.”
Rebel’s success
The Liam Burke-trained Rebel Early (14/1) notched up the third success of her career as she pounced late in the two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle. Forrard Away gave this race a good go from the front and seemed sure to prevail when he sailed over the last with a useful lead.
The Darragh O’Keeffe-ridden mare was far from done with though and finished powerfully to score by three-quarters of a length.
The Simply The Best Syndicate-owned winning mare is likely to head chasing before too long.