THE impressive Diamond Cauchois headed yet another tremendous afternoon at Navan for Gordon Elliott in the Grade 2 Ladbrokes Boyne Hurdle to take centre stage in a four-timer for the trainer.
The 4/6 favourite won a valuable handicap hurdle at this track before Christmas and was at home in graded company with a good third to Presenting Percy at Gowran Park last month. Here he was a well-backed 4/6 favourite to see off last season’s Grade 1 scorer Bapaume for the Danny & Eamon Partnership.
That runner and the Davy Russell-ridden Diamond Cauchois did battle from the turn-in and the outcome still hung in the balance as they cleared the second last. However, Diamond Cauchois powered away as Bapaume wilted and the odds-on favourite maintained a relentless tempo to finish nine lengths ahead of stablemate Lieutenant Colonel.
“He has done very well for us this season and his part-owner Danny (Charlesworth) also sponsors Davy, so it’s great he’s gone and done that,” said Elliott. “Soft ground is important and hopefully he’ll get his conditions at Fairyhouse and Punchestown.”
Elliott sent out another one-two in the other Grade 2 event on the card as the Thyestes Chase hero Monbeg Notorious (5/4) outpointed fellow Gigginstown-owned runner Mossback in the Ten Up Novice Chase. As was the case with the Boyne Hurdle, this race attracted a disappointing four-runner turnout and when the front-running Moulin A Vent gave way from the third last it was left to the Elliott representatives to do battle.
DOUR STAYER
Monbeg Notorious gave the impression of labouring somewhat nearing two out but he raised his game for Jack Kennedy to sweep to the front before the last. A ponderous jump there gave Mossback another chance but the winner is a dour stayer and saw out the three-mile trip well to get home by half a length.
“They are two grand, honest staying chasers and I’d say we might look to the BoyleSports Irish Grand National with both of them,” reported the trainer. “They just wouldn’t want the ground too quick.”
The Elliott-trained Lackaneen Leader then struck in the P.S. Supplies Doors & Floors Mares Handicap Hurdle. The Oscar mare was turning out relatively quickly after winning her maiden at Fairyhouse the previous week and coped well with an initial mark of 116 to win with something to spare.
The 5/4 favourite, who carries the colours of Caren Walsh, was produced by Davy Russell to take control after the second last and a good jump at the final flight made sure of a three and a half-length triumph over Allez Kal.
“She has a good page so she’s done her job. I’d say she’ll be going chasing next season and a longer trip shouldn’t be any trouble to her if we do decide to go further,” remarked Elliott.
BUMPER WIN
Master Of Tara (5/2) brought up the four-timer in the bumper to leave the form of his Christmas debut at Leopardstown a long way behind. The Gigginstown-owned and Lisa O’Neill-ridden son of Kayf Tara was the only danger to the front-running All For Joy from early in the straight and, as he was still quite green, it did take him some time to subdue that rival. Master Of Tara got on top in the closing stages though to score by two and a quarter lengths. The winning jockey picked up a three-day whip ban for her efforts.
“He’s still very raw and he’s really a horse for next season,” commented the trainer.
Dis Donc (4/1), who had filled the runner-up spot on his last three outings, enjoyed a deserved change in fortune when he scrambled home neck in the two-mile maiden hurdle. The Gigginstown-owned gelding appeared to be in control for much of the straight and pinged the last few flights but Sean Flanagan had to get vigorous on the run-in for his mount to contain the persistent Antey.
Dis Donc was all out at the line but he held on by a neck and, while the first two did make contact on the run-in, a resulting stewards’ enquiry was never going to change the placings.
“He looked like he wasn’t going to win for a minute but maybe he’s a horse that doesn’t want to be in front too long and he may want better ground too,” declared Noel Meade.
ADVANTAGE
The ageless De Benno (3/1) took advantage of a hurdles rating which is some 21lb lower than the one he holds over fences to continue a good season for Tipperary-based owner-trainer James Grace. The 13-year-old was reverting to the smaller obstacles following a spell over fences which yielded a Grade B success at Limerick over Christmas and a second in another valuable pot at Fairyhouse in early December and he produced an accomplished display from the front.
The grey looked most assured at all stages for jockey Trevor Ryan and had this race in safe keeping from well before the last flight. He finished with five lengths to spare over Fruits Of Glory.
“He’s done that well and he pings his hurdles. He’ll probably go back over fences for the Grade B Shamrock Handicap Chase at Gowran in a few weeks’ time,” reported Grace.
SLICK JUMPING
The well-supported Drumconnor Lad (4/6) had Adrian Keatley looking forward to the remainder of the season as he saw off Robin Des Mana in the four-runner rated novice chase over an extended two miles.
Robin Des Mana produced a slicker round of jumping but he could never quite shake off the Mark Walsh-ridden Drumconnor Lad and the latter made his superior stamina count on the run-in to succeed by three-quarters of a length.
“The trip is a bit short for him but it looked a good opportunity. It was just his third run over fences and he didn’t have a mark before today,” stated Keatley, who trains the gelding for David Keys.
“I’d be looking forward to getting him on better ground and I’d hope that there will be a nice pot in him in the spring.”
ACTING STEWARDS
R. Dore, T. Hunt, D. McCorkell, P. McCartan, M.F. O’Donoghue
Horse To Follow
AVELLINO (D.A. McLoughlin): This mare, who was a very smart sort in bumpers a couple of seasons ago, returned from a year off to finish a good third to Dis Donc and it won’t be long before she is adding to her tally.