NORMAN Lee’s stable star Sole Pretender gave his trainer an evening to cherish as he bagged a big-race success in the Grade 3 Kevin McManus Bookmaker Grimes Hurdle.
A brave fifth in the 2019 Galway Hurdle, Sole Pretender returned from close to two years off with a conditions race success at Cork over Easter and then he performed with credit in fifth when upped to three miles and Grade 1 company at the Punchestown Festival.
On his first start since then, the Michael Hogan-owned gelding looked as good as ever as gave champion jockey Paul Townend a dream comeback on his first evening back in the saddle since Punchestown.
In trademark style, Sole Pretender, who was among a number of winners throughout the evening to go wide in search of the best ground, was always in the front rank and then held the outright lead from around four out.
From this point on, the 5/4 favourite began to turn the screw on his rivals and he kept on bravely for the duration of the straight to finish two lengths ahead of Darasso, with this pair pulling 18 lengths clear of the remainder. The runner-up was among half a dozen J.P. McManus-owned representatives.
“We will have a think about the Galway Hurdle now,” said Lee. “We have a dozen horses in at the moment and he is our stable star.
“It’s our first graded win and he’s the first horse we have had who has been good enough to contest one.”
Steps makes it
Norman Lee came close to a double but his game front-runner Not So Simple was nailed in the last stride or so by Steps Match in the 80-95 rated handicap hurdle over three miles.
Philip Enright was on board the victorious 15/2 shot who was making just his fifth appearance on the track and was delivering on a promising third at Kilbeggan last time. Steps Match is trained by Michael Butler for Nicholas Duggan.
Lass in shape
Tom Gibney’s Elegant Lass, who enjoyed a good time of things last summer, turned out an excellent shape on her first outing of the year in the 80-109 rated handicap hurdle over two miles.
The Leonard Kinsella-owned and Darragh O’Keeffe-ridden front-runner dominated this race at all stages to come home 10 lengths clear of Karawaan. This was her third win over hurdles.
Danny Mullins pulls off a treble
IT was a memorable evening for Danny Mullins as he bagged a treble which he completed for long-time ally John Ryan as Fairyhill Run (5/2) won the conditions hurdle over three miles.
This Thomas Meagher-owned and -bred mare, who won over fences at Limerick in mid-May, made all the running and kept on bravely in the straight to contain Macgiloney.
At the line there was three and three-quarter lengths separating the front pair as Fairyhill Run moved Ryan on the 11-winner mark for the season. The trainer needs just four more winners to equal last season’s tally which was the joint best of his career.
Mullins also combined with his uncle Tom to land the second division of the two-and-a-half-mile maiden hurdle with Tucson Train. This Shay Byrne and Joseph Walshe-owned gelding was returned the 4/7 favourite to build on a second to Pipers Meadow at Punchestown a month previously. He led some way out and maintained a decent advantage in the closing stages to finish with half a dozen lengths to spare. This relatively lightly raced winner should progress further.
Bacall back
The Mullins treble began when Smitty Bacall gave Shay Barry his first winner of the year in the handicap hurdle over two and a half miles. The sparingly campaigned 10-year-old, who hadn’t won for three years, recorded a two-length success over Blackstair Rocco who was bidding to defy a 22lb rise in the ratings for landing a gamble at Down Royal last month.
Smitty Bacall is owned by the Circle Of Six Syndicate.
This was preceded by two false starts and a stewards’ enquiry resulted in nine of the jockeys being cautioned. Brian Hayes, Danny Mullins and Jonathan Moore were all suspended for a day whereas Kevin Brouder was suspended for two days.
Sherodan a star in the making
THE card concluded with a stylish display from the Peter Fahey newcomer Sherodan (2/1) in the four-year-old bumper.
Patrick Mullins took the mount on the Peter McCarthy-owned gelding, who hails from the first crop of Hillstar, and there was a lot to like about the manner in which this patiently ridden sort brushed aside his rivals over the last furlong.
He quickened like a class act to win by five and a half lengths.
“He is a nice horse but he is only four so we won’t be rushing him.
“Patrick said he has loads of speed so he could try the flat but we’ll enjoy today and hopefully he keeps improving,” said Fahey.
Cathal Byrnes and Kevin Brouder combined for a winner when Summer Tide (5/2) came good in the first division of the two-and-a-half-mile maiden hurdle.
In the colours of the trainer’s aunt, Patricia McCarthy, the Fame And Glory six-year-old struck for home before the turn-in and ran out a convincing four-and-a-half-length winner over Chicago Time.
The winner hadn’t been at his best on his last couple of runs but had shown up well to be placed in a bumper and a maiden hurdle last autumn.