GORDON Elliott is amassing quite a team of juvenile hurdlers and after the likes of Fil Dor and Pied Piper won over the Christmas period the trainer unveiled another very nice type in Ebasari who made a winning start over timber in the two-mile maiden hurdle.

A €48,000 purchase at the Goffs Horses-In-Training Sale two months previously, the Royal’s & Blue Syndicate-owned son of Lope De Vega was set an interesting task as he was taking on his elders. Among them was last season’s Land Rover Bumper winner and the 1/4 favourite Adamantly Chosen and that one and the Davy Russell-ridden Ebasari battled for supremacy in the straight.

Tussle

A cracking tussle between this pair carried them well clear of the remainder and despite lacking previous experience over timber Ebasari produced good jumps when needed them at the last couple of flights to score by three-quarters of a length. There was a gap of 27 lengths back to the remainder.

“I thought he’d need the run to be honest, but he looked like a nice horse at home and he’s shown it there,” said Elliott. “Now that he’s won first time out our options are a little limited so he might have to head for the four-year-old Grade 1 at the Dublin Racing Festival. He’s probably entitled to on what he showed there and he will improve from this.

Odds-on punters enjoyed better luck in the other maiden hurdle as Shantreusse struck for Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore. The Shantou six-year-old was the 4/6 favourite for the three-mile maiden hurdle where he was looking to build on a second to Mr Fred Rogers in a Punchestown maiden two months ago.

Shantreusse strikes

In the straight, the outcome boiled down to the Anthony Head-owned market leader and Mahler Allstar and Shantreusse held the upper hand when his aforementioned rival got the last all wrong and parted company with Sean O’Keeffe to leave the favourite to come home 17 lengths clear. “He jumps really well and he seemed to love the three miles today,” commented the rider.

A tremendous run for Danny Mullins continued aboard John Flavin’s Street Value in the two-and-a-half-mile Gain Handicap Chase.

This gelding didn’t show much on his first two chase outings but it was all change on his handicap debut as the well-backed 9/4 chance led before a six-length victory over the favourite Carrolls Cottage.

The Miracle Cure Syndicate-owned gelding hit form on heavy ground this time last year when he won two handicap hurdles in the space of 10 days.

“The owners haven’t been at the races in two years and weren’t allowed in for his two wins last January so I’m delighted to be able to pay them back with a lovely win.

“They have been with me since I started,” stated Flavin.

Jerry Nolan remembered

A POIGNANT success ensued in the two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle where Rebel Early scored in the colours of the Simply The Best Syndicate whose mainstay, Jerry Nolan, passed away just over a month ago. Nolan and Rebel Early’s trainer Liam Burke enjoyed a near 40-year association headed by the Grade 1 success of Thyne Again in the Irish Arkle in 2008.

On this occasion Rebel Early, who was fitted with cheekpieces for the second time, recaptured her best form under Darragh O’Keeffe as she defeated Carrigeen Lotus by half a dozen lengths. This was the winner’s fourth victory and her most lucrative one to date.

“It is a shame Jerry isn’t around but that’s it, unfortunately, and his brother James will carry on at the moment. Jerry was with me since 1986 and was my backbone all the time,” reflected Burke, who indicated his charge could head to Gowran Park later in the month.

Victory could have gone a host of different ways as a well grouped field turned for home in the AIB Merchant Services Beginners Chase over two and a half miles but ultimately Dancing Jeremy (7/1) enjoyed a smooth success on his return from almost 14 months off.

The Frank Reynolds-owned gelding was produced in fine shape by Tom Cooper and eased to the front for the trainer’s son, Bryan, with two to jump before sauntering home with almost four lengths to spare over Thedancingfarrier.

This was a first career success for the winner who appeals as one that can add to his tally in the coming weeks.

THE day kicked off with quite a gamble as Charles Byrnes produced All Those Years in great shape for his first outing since November 2020 to land the rated novice hurdle over two miles.

The J.P. McManus-owned gelding was as big as 7/1 on track before being punted into 9/4 favourite and he achieved this success in more comfortable fashion than the winning margin of half a length would suggest.

From early in the straight it looked as though Mark Walsh was poised to deliver a telling challenge on the winner and, while De Lady In Red was a tenacious and game rival, All Those Years was too strong as he gained the upper hand in the closing strides.

A trip to Thurles later in the month could be on the cards for the eight-year-old who has run just five times.

Vivus triumphs

Cork-based trainer Padraig Butler and jockey Darragh Allen combined for their second racecourse success of the season as Fons Vivus (9/1) landed the Irish EBF-sponsored mares’ bumper.

A €6,200 store purchase and a winner of a Boulta point-to-point last month, the Butler-owned mare made all the running and maintained an unfaltering gallop in the straight to defeat the newcomer Henning by just under five lengths.

She appeals as the type to progress again when she’s switched to jumping.