SIR Gerhard successfully reverted to hurdles on this mainly Tote-sponsored card and looks set to bid for a third Cheltenham Festival victory in March with the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle now the likely target.
The Cheveley Park-owned gelding, winner of the Festival Bumper in 2021 and the Ballymore Novice Hurdle the following year, won only one of his five starts over fences and fell on his reappearance at Naas last month.
The 10/11 favourite travelled well to lead off the home turn in the two miles and three furlongs Tote Guarantee Available On Course & Tote.ie Hurdle and was pushed out from before the last by Paul Townend to beat Thedevilscoachman by two and three-quarter lengths.
“That was a nice performance and he’s got his confidence back over hurdles anyway. We’ll probably stick to hurdles now this season and he may go down the Stayers’ Hurdle route,” said trainer Willie Mullins.
“It took him a while to recover from his fall at Naas and I thought he looked big going down to the start. I’d be hoping there is more improvement.”
Double
Mullins and Townend shared a double at this well-attended (free entry) fixture as Storm Heart readily justified odds of 2/5 on his jumping debut in the 3YO Maiden Hurdle.
The Gigginstown-owned French import quickly settled the issue when sprinting clear from before the last to beat Jeaniemacaroney by all of 22 lengths and is now as short as 6/1 for the Triumph Hurdle.
“It was a very good introduction; I didn’t expect that. I was hoping he was alright but he’s more than alright looking at that performance,” said the champion trainer.
“Paul thought he was very brave too as he got blinded at one or two hurdles. He lost his confidence for one or two but got it back. He loves jumping and is probably good enough to go wherever we want.”
MONTY’S Star (9/4), trained by Henry de Bromhead for Barry Maloney, comprehensively reversed previous Fairyhouse placings with Three Card Brag to land the two miles and seven-furlongs beginners’ chase.
The latter was sent off the 4/11 favourite but didn’t jump as well as his chief rival and Monty’s Star took control after two out to score by five and a half lengths under Rachael Blackmore who said: “Jumping is his biggest asset, and it was a good performance on tough ground. He’s improved from the last day.”
Carlow trainer Willie Murphy has his horses back in good form after a quiet spell and he sent out a second winner in the space of 48 hours as Clonmeen (4/1) finished strongly under Simon Torrens to just peg back the front-running Kings Halo on the line in the two miles and seven furlongs handicap chase.
“The horses were all sick for about six weeks and it’s great to see them back in form. We might think about something like the National Trial back here,” said Murphy of the Stowaway gelding, who is owned and bred by Stephen Campion.
Major gamble
Catch The Beast was the subject of a major gamble in the two miles and three furlongs Tote Fantasy Handicap Hurdle and the five-year-old gelding, available at 20/1 in the morning and sent off the 5/2 favourite, justified the strong support in some style.
Phillip Enright’s mount asserted approaching the final flight and kept on really well to beat Dancing Jeremy by an easy 10 lengths.
“The longer trip probably helped him today, although Phillip said there’s no need to go up any further in trip. His jumping is brilliant and he quickened up well,” said winning owner/trainer/breeder Eddie Cawley before adding: “He was born the night of the famous storm, the ‘Beast From The East’, and we nearly lost him.
“I was watching the mare on camera and next thing a wind ripped through the place and we lost all our power and I couldn’t get the generator working. The foal was half out and was on his last breath when we got to him. Luckily, he survived and that’s how he got his name.”
PHILIP Rothwell is enjoying a tremendous season and has already surpassed his best seasonal tally with Billy Lee Swagger making it 33 winners for the current campaign in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.
The 15/2 chance overcame a mistake at the last when battling back to touch off Verbal Sparring by half-a-length to give rider Conor Owens his second winner.
“It’s been a mighty year altogether and our best season for winners. I’ve great owners, great staff and supporters and we’re working very hard at it,” said the Tinahely trainer.
“The Blind Squirrels have horses in Ireland and England and are a really well-run syndicate. Prince Zaltar was my first horse for the lads, and this is the second one.”
First winner
Eoghan Finegan (20) partnered his first winner under rules in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Flat Race when Lady Bluebird led a furlong out and kept on well to beat Instant Tendance by two lengths. Glendaars Fortune was the same distance back in third, but her rider Ray Barron was given an eight-day whip ban.
The 6/1 shot is owned and trained by the rider’s uncle Hugh Finegan who said: “That’s Eoghan’s first winner on the track but he’s had a few winners in point-to-points. I got it all wrong with this mare and ran her on good ground the last day at Thurles. She needs heavy ground and a trip but is as hardy as you’ll get.
“It’s after taking her six runs to win but I think that’s trainer error! She’s won her bumper, and we’ll go hurdling with her now. She’s a serious jumper.”