FORMER Supreme Novices Hurdle winner Appreciate It (6/1) rolled back the years with a feature race success at Thurles on Sunday as the Willie Mullins-trained gelding landed the Grade 2 Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase, to give jockey Sean O’Keeffe a high-profile success.
The Masterson family’s Appreciate It had been competitive in many open Grade 1 races in recent times but nonetheless today ended a two-year wait for a win, as jockey O’Keeffe chartered a wide course in the home straight as the pair defeated stablemates Classic Getaway and Blood Destiny.
Mullins was represented by his son Patrick Mullins who reported: “Appreciate It always had a very high level of form but hasn’t hit the back of the net often so that was brilliant for him. Obviously he split Galopin Des Champs and Fastorslow in last year’s John Durkan Chase so has always had a high level of form.
“He probably missed his prime when he got injured after winning the Supreme so it is great for him to win such a prestigious race as this today. I think he loved the ground and dropping back to a Grade 2 helped as well. He is 11 now and might be one for the Topham Chase maybe - he doesn’t quite stay three miles and that intermediate trip suits.”
Nara hits the jackpot
The most valuable race was the €50,000 Carey Glass Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase and it was won by the Henry de Bromhead-trained, J.P. McManus-owned Nara (6/5 favourite) who scored under jockey Mark Walsh.
Only By Night and Spindleberry were notable ground-related withdrawals from the race with the French-bred winner racing prominently throughout before staying on well to beat Broomfield Bijou by two and a quarter lengths.
Afterwards jockey Walsh reported “she is still forward-going and keen and jumped a bit better today although made a few novicey mistakes. Hopefully we can iron those out of her but she was good.
“She is only five and it was only her fourth run over fences so she is still learning. The non-runners made my job easier and it is lively ground out there.”
ANOTHER notable winner was Willitgoahead (11/10 favourite) in the concluding Racing Again February 6th Hunters Chase, which scored en-route to either the Cheltenham or Aintree Festivals.
Ridden by James Scallan, the Sean Doyle-owned and trained seven-year-old gelding scored easily and impressively from Ramillies.
Doyle later revealed: “Maybe we bumped into a very good horse in Limerick but he caught us by surprise then as he had a good blow and it was the first race he had all winter.
“He had been winning his races easily until then and we were expecting him to do that today. He came to himself this year, has really matured and is a good ride and jumps really well. I think he is now getting down to racing and can improve again. He loved the better ground.
Dreaming
“We are dreaming about this lad for a while and hopefully we will now head on to Cheltenham and take our chances. We have options though and could wait for Aintree, but we’ll see.
“I think this might be the year for him as I can’t see a top-class open horse coming back: the best one I’ve seen is Big Interest, who won a point to point for me but needs soft ground. If the ground came up good, we would be fancying our chances at Cheltenham.”
Elliott takes two
Trainer Gordon Elliott completed a double, beginning with Scalpnagoon’s (15/8 favourite) win in the opening Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle.
Jockey Danny Gilligan carried the colours of owner Michael Hanrahan on Scalpnagoon, who finished well to hold runner-up Happy Me by one and a quarter lengths.
Elliott reported: “He had a nice run the last day when he stayed going well and I was a bit worried about the ground here. He’s a big horse who will jump a fence in time.”
Elliott completed his double in the Horse & Jockey Handicap Hurdle as smart flat performer Samui (2/1 favourite, for owner Allan Snow) relished the good ground when scoring under Carl Millar.
Fairly good
Millar reported: “The ground was absolutely spot-on for him and everything was fairly good. He settled well behind the leaders, who were going good and fast, and I was able to take him back and get him into a lovely rhythm. He jumped super everywhere and I gave him squeeze at the last and he came up. He was very good today.”
PHILIP Rothwell continued his good spell as his That’s About Right (9/4 favourite, Namtab Syndicate) landed the Leugh Handicap Chase, for jockey Tiernan Power Roche.
Patiently ridden, Power Roche produced That’s About Right to lead entering the home straight, beating Potters Party by six lengths.
Rothwell reported: “Tiernan was very good on him and he jumped very well with him - I keep saying his 7lb claim is invaluable to me.
“I’m not quite sure where we go next and I’ll see if I can find a novice handicap chase somewhere - he needs good ground.”
Force to be reckoned with
Gavin Cromwell is another trainer doing very well and his Keith Donoghue-partnered Millforce (9/2) landed the W.T. O’Grady Memorial EBF Novice Hurdle, for the Orphan Girl Syndicate.
Millforce fought off three principal rivals from the second-last and in the final strides was all-out to hold on by a head from faster-finishing Mister Pink.
Cromwell reported: “Keith was very good on him as I thought he was very vulnerable racing across the top but he kept the pressure on.
“The cheekpieces helped as when he was in front he was idling but he is genuine, stays going and jumped really well. Nice ground is important for him.”
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