Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

WILLIE Mullins made it three wins in a row and nine wins altogether in the rescheduled Grade 1 Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle but not with his stable first string Ile Atlantique, who just got outstayed by 16/1 shot Readin Tommy Wrong (16/1) and Daryl Jacob on the run in, the pair of them coming seven and a half lengths clear of Lecky Watson to give the champion trainer a one-two-three.

This looked like a strongly run contest thanks to Ile Atlantique, who Paul Townend allowed to stride on from the early stages. He sat in front of Croke Park and Firefox for most of the journey, the latter seemingly travelling into the race smoothly but failing to pick up once asked by Jack Kennedy in the straight.

Ile Atlantique had everything in trouble, but Readin Tommy Wrong emerged as a big threat coming to the last, and hard as the favourite tried, he couldn’t repel the challenge of the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned horse.

It’s fair to say that Readin Tommy Wrong came in under the radar here, much of that due to him only just landing an odds-on price on his hurdles debut in November, but he emerges as a top quality operator now, as the form for this two-and-a-half-mile contest looks very strong. He was introduced at a general 7/1 for the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle.

“Daryl was very good on Readin Tommy Wrong,” said Mullins. “He gave him a a very cute ride by letting the main protagonists fight it out and came and took it off them in the end. The horse is improving all the time. He is very brave.

“He was under the radar coming in and maybe that was because his stablemate (Lisnagar Fortune) finished so close to him at Cork. He’s a good solid horse and that puts him right in the picture for the big races in the spring.”

On the runner-up, Mullins said: “I thought he was very brave. Paul was very happy with him. He did all the donkey work. Daryl was very cute, he got a tow the whole way and just outstayed him in the last 50 yards. The two of them went right away from the third horse. They stretched out all the way to the line. They’re two good horses. The third horsewas unlucky. He ran too free the whole way, shown too much daylight.

“I said before the race that this is the top novice hurdle run anywhere over the Christmas/New Year period and I’m very pleased my horses have come through to run so well.

Mullins doubled up in the Matt Britton Irish EBF Maiden Hurdle with the Cheveley Park-owned Tullyhill (2/9 favourite) who got his season back on track following a disappointing first effort at Punchestown.

The son of Martaline jumped poorly on that occasion and may have been found out by the two-mile-six-furlong trip but he looked much more comfortable jumping at pace back over the two miles here, Paul Townend dictating the pace and always looking happy. The pair won by a handy seven lengths from Gordon Elliott’s newcomer Lightkeeper.

“He just needs to practice his jumping, he’s just very sticky,” Mullins said. “I think the best jump he had was at the second last when they came up around him so he probably just likes being competitive. I’m happy that his jumping will improve as the season goes on. Better ground will probably help him in that regard.

“He will run again before Cheltenham, maybe even twice because he needs all the practice he can and we’ll probably keep him to this sort of trip now.”

THE BetVictor Irish EBF Novice Chase often produces a smart two-mile novice and the race revolved around odds-on favourite Mister Policeman, but he fluffed his lines here, and it was Henry de Bromhead’s 2021 Triumph Hurdle winner Quilixios (5/1) who took the headlines with an excellent jumping performance from the front.

The writing was on the wall for the favourite turning in as Rachael Blackmore allowed Quilixios to stride on and they always looked to be holding the challenge of Sa Fureur in second. The Cheveley Park Stud-owned horse had disappointed when taking on three miles last time but looked much more comfortable here. He was introduced at 20/1 for the Arkle after this performance, and he may well go straight to that contest now.

“He was really good,” said de Bromhead. “He travelled really well and jumped brilliant. He jumped a bit right at Limerick (when winning a beginners’ chase) and we were concerned about that, but there was no sign of it here. He was like a bunny there at the second last and brilliant at the last.

“It was the trip the last day, we got that wrong to be fair. He wouldn’t blow you away with speed at home but those good two-milers, they’ve such a high cruising speed I suppose - Sizing Europe and Special Tiara were the same.

“He is in the Irish Arkle but we’ve had three runs already so we’ll speak to everyone at Cheveley and take it from there. I think we’d have to be looking at the Arkle for him now.”

Over half of the 12-runner field were still in contention for the Race And Stay Handicap Chase in between the final two fences, and it was Gordon Elliott’s Pat’s Choice (16/1) who produced a gritty performance to see off the challenges of Itwasfate and Union Park in a three-way go to the line.

The Pat Sloan-owned seven-year-old had been running well in defeat three times since a win at Galway and his trainer felt forceful tactics was the key today. He was headed a couple of times in the straight but showed a really good attitude to fight back.

“He had been running well all season but I think the key was Jack getting a hold of him and getting out in front there early,” said Elliott. “He fought back really well when they challenged him in the straight. I’d say any of those two-mile chases will be on his radar.”

THE Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle went to American Money (6/1) who survived a late rattle from Circus Act to score for Eddie and Patrick Harty.

Conor Stone-Walsh presented his mount to challenge from a prominent position early in the straight but although he held a decent lead after the last, he looked set to be caught by the very late challenge of Circus Act and Gavin Brouder, only to pick up again close to the line and hold on to score by a short head.

“He’s probably good value there,” said Eddie Harty of the Iona A Winning Syndicate-owned gelding. “Conor said he pricked his ears when he went two lengths up and he nearly got nabbed.

“He is qualified for the final of the Red Mills series at the Punchestown Festival and that is worth a good few quid. That will be his target and where he goes before that, I don’t know yet, but he’s a lovely solid horse and he’s won two now. The owners are all in the veterinary business and they include my wife. They’re getting a great kick out of him.”

The Naas Racecourse Handicap Hurdle was a new addition to this card and featured another tough front-running performance, this time by Anthony McCann’s Simply Shabra (11/1), who won for owner Rita Shah.

Conor Brassil allowed his mount to stride on towards the end of the back straight, and though the pair looked to have a host of challengers at the second last, the nine-year-old kicked on again and had the measure of favourite Quornofamonday after the last.

“We’re delighted with that,” said McCann. “Conor said the last day at Down Royal that he took a blow on him three out and he said give me one more crack on him and we’ll get him across the line. We put a set of blinkers on and it worked out well today. Conor gave him a great ride.”

The closing Fifty Stars ‘What About Those First Foals’ Flat Race for four-year-olds went to Shuttle Diplomacy (10/3 favourite) for Patrick Mullins and Tom Cooper.

The son of German sire Dishingis Secret travelled well into the straight where he was brought over to the stands’ side. He looked to have the lead a furlong out and fought on well to hold off Wartime Leader and Colcannon.

“It was a decent race and they went a good gallop,” said Cooper of the Ciaran Mooney-owned winner. “He’d been away a couple of times but it’s different when they come here. He had a look at the road crossing and didn’t know what to do. If he didn’t hang he would have won very easily and it was only greeness that caused him to hang.

“I’d say it was a good race and Paddy was masterful on him.”

THIS fixture was, of course, meant to be staged last Sunday but fog caused the meeting to be postponed after just one race.

The track survived two morning inspections but conditions appeared to worsen as the start time of 12.30pm approached. The four runners for the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase were held at the start until the two-and-a-half-mile event finally got underway 12 minutes late.

Most of the race went unseen with racegoers getting a brief glimpse of the quartet from a camera position entering the home straight and again passing the winning line.

The 1/4 favourite Brandy Love held a two-length advantage approaching the penultimate fence but, when they emerged from the fog, it was the Willie Mullins-trained stablemate Night And Day (9/1) who was striding clear in the closing stages under Daryl Jacob to beat her much better-fancied rival by 10 lengths.

“She settled and jumped well and got into the race nicely,” Jacob said. “I just got her to relax and breathe properly before getting her into the race. Brandy Love was in front and I took it up from the second last going to the last. She galloped right through the line.”

Following a meeting between the stewards, jockeys and racing officials, the rest of the card was called off shortly after 1pm. Racegoers who had paid in were refunded and there was free admission for yesterday’s rescheduled meeting.