SHANTREUSSE booked his Cheltenham Festival ticket with a win in Clonmel’s featured Grade 3 Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle on Thursday, scoring for trainer Henry De Bromhead and jockey Rachael Blackmore.

De Bromhead had won previously renewals of the race with Monalee and Chris’s Dream, while his Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Minella Indo finished second in 2019.

Shantreusse (7/5 favourite) went clear of leader Eye Van at the final flight and stayed on well for an impressive 17-length win.

The race also saw the unfortunate death of second-favourite Mr Fred Rogers, who suffered a fatal injury having slipped up before the second last flight.

Following the race De Bromhead said: “He is obviously a real stayer, loved that ground and jumps great. Rachael was brilliant on him and he is a real chaser in the making.

“It turned into a sprint and I thought we were going to struggle, but suddenly he had loads left jumping the last.

“I’m delighted for his owner Tony (Head) and his supporters and while I haven’t spoken to Tony yet, if the boys have anything to do with it he’ll run at Cheltenham!”

He added: “We have a good record in this and it is a good prep for the Albert Bartlett. He is really exciting and as long as it’s good Festival ground, I think we’ll be OK.”

On the mark

Shantreusse’s previous trainer Sam Curling was on the mark with Enduring Love (7/1) in the Caherclough Handicap Chase, scoring under a waiting ride from jockey Denis O’Regan.

The 10-year-old had won twice previously for trainer Philip Rothwell, and following the race Curling said: “He is owned by the Clearys who have the jockeys’ valet business and a few friends (Enduring Love Syndicate), so I’m delighted as it’s their first horse.

“In fairness to Philip Rothwell he said he’d win when he got his ground, and he did. You’d never know, he might sneak another one of those races. He is a big strong horse who handles the ground well.

“He is in in Thurles next week and might go there if the ground is soft enough.”

Regarding Shantreusse, he added: “I won a bumper with him here last year so I’m delighted he went on. He’ll be a very good chaser.”

Jeremy dances home for Derek

DEREK O’Connor who partnered Shantreusse to win his bumper was also successful on the card, steering the Tom Cooper-trained Dancing Jeremy (100/30 favourite, for owner Frank Reynolds) to win the Kilmolash Handicap Hurdle.

The seven-year-old scored by a length from The Higher Road, and Cooper said: “He’s probably not a natural hurdler, he doesn’t seem to have a lot of respect for them, and I’d say that’s what cost him (over hurdles) last week.

“But he came out of it very well and we said we’d run him back again seven days later, off his mark. His future lies over fences, and I’d say he’ll go back over them now for a novice handicap off 110.”

Shantreusse could well be joined by another of the day’s winner at next month’s Cheltenham Festival, as the Willie Mullins-trained, Joe Donnelly-owned Hors Piste won the opening Surehaul Race Day Mares Maiden Hurdle impressively under jockey Paul Townend.

Routed

Beaten a short-head Tramore on New Year’s day, Hors Piste routed her rivals here and scored by 16 lengths.

Townend reported: “She raced more efficiently today as she was a shade keen in Tramore. The stronger gallop today suited her and I think she improved for her Tramore run as well.

“She jumps really well and she is smart. If she was to run in the Mares’ Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham, you’d imagine she would have to go straight there at this stage.

“It is heavy out there today so we’ll see what it takes out of her, but she did it nicely.”

The other Derrygrath Maiden Hurdle was won by 13/8 favourite Gracchus De Balme who rallied well on the run-in for a half-length win over Plains Indian.

Winning trainer Joseph O’Brien wasn’t present for his Chanelle Pharmaceuticals Ltd-owned winner, but successful jockey JJ Slevin said: “Coming back in trip on today’s ground was definitely a help and in fairness to him, his form had been consistent.

“It was a good bit of placing by Joseph as it was for horses which had never won a race and it was nice to get his head in front.

“I hadn’t really dipped him going to the last and he didn’t get a good jump at it but he stuck out his head well and ran on well to the line.

“A better race with a stronger gallop would suit him. I think he’ll be a three-miler and a chaser in time.”

LILY Of Dromard was the 20/1 winner of the Minorstown Handicap Hurdle, as jockey Darragh O’Keeffe notched up a first winner for trainer and long-time friend Mike O’Connor.

O’Connor later commented: “This mare was my 400th point-to-point winner (May 2021) and I’ve been on a break riding since, but I want to join Enda (Bolger) on 412 winners and then call it a day.

“I bought her out of a point-to-point and she is a good mare but just tied up the first day she ran over hurdles. She got down and out after that but, thank God, she is after coming back right.

“I recommended her to the owners Greg Coleman and his dad (IRE Asset Holding Limited), from Cork.

“I know Darragh years and I helped out when he was pony racing and brought him point-to-pointing for years. He is a good kid and that’s his first winner for me.”

Krababt was the easy 11-length winner of the Monksgrange Beginners Chase, scoring for owner-trainer Michael McDonagh and jockey Cathal Landers.

Runner-up on his last two starts, the son of German-bred Aolus scored on his fifth attempt over fences. Landers stated: “It was straightforward enough and off his mark in a handicap the last day, he had a good chance.

“His experience stood to him and he handled the ground better than most. He is a big galloping horse.”