With racing back into top gear in Ireland last week, our resident columnist Donal Murphy looks back at a sparkling few days in the Emerald Isle and picks out those that shone brightest. Check all the latest news from the Irish National Hunt scene in the latest edition of The Irish Angle.
THE WEEK THAT WAS
Gordon Elliott registered no less than seven winners in Ireland over the last week, while Willie Mullins unleashed some exciting French recruits.
Contenders for the St James’s Place Hunters’ Chase, the Coral Cup and even the Grand National also emerged.
Below is a recap of the five days of National Hunt action.
Thurles – Sunday
Unseasonably quick ground again caused issues at Thurles on Sunday, with market principals Only By Night and Spindleberry late withdrawals from the Carey Glass Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase.
Nara, who was beaten by Only By Night when last seen at Cork, ultimately justified favouritism in this Grade 2 contest, seeing off the game effort of Broomfield Bijou by two and a quarter lengths.
With more than half of the field 10 or older, the Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase was far from a vintage renewal. Now an 11-year-old, Appreciate It rolled back the years in this Grade 2 heat, leading home fellow Willie Mullins-trained inmates Classic Getaway and Blood Destiny. Paul Townend was aboard the latter and while sent off favourite, he proved no match for the winner, with the likes of Fil D’or and French Dynamite also disappointing.
While Mullins saddled two of the five for the W.T. O’Grady Memorial EBF Novice Hurdle, it was Gavin Cromwell’s Millforce who came out on top. Making most of the running, the 125-rated six-year-old battled gamely in the closing stages to hold off the fast-finishing Mullins representative Mister Pink.
Sent off favourite, the Gordon Elliott-trained Sporting Glory finished a close-up third, with the Co Meath handler still registering a double courtesy of Scalpnagoon and Samui.
Introducing himself into the picture for the St James’s Place Hunters’ Chase at Cheltenham, Willitgoahead was a taking winner of the last, as he easily accounted for five rivals.
Navan – Saturday
As he so often does, Gordon Elliott dominated at Navan on Saturday, registering a 1,576/1 four-timer.
Making her debut for the master of Cullentra, Music Of Tara claimed the feature Navan Handicap Hurdle. A dual winner when in the care of Henry de Bromhead, the Kayf Tara eight-year-old stayed on strongly in the closing stages to beat Blaze The Way by a length and a quarter, with race favourite Thecompanysergeant another half-a-length away in third.
Elliott also claimed the two and a half mile maiden hurdle with Jacob’s Ladder, while he mooted the Grand National as a long term target for Three Card Brag after his beginners chase success.
His final winner of the day came in the concluding bumper, with point-to-point recruit Spinningayarn just getting the better of well-fancied rivals Eachtotheirown and Sine Qua Non.
The opening two-mile novice hurdle went the way of James’s Gate, with this Martin Brassil-trained eight-year-old following up on his breakthrough success over hurdles at Punchestown last month. Brassil later indicated that the Coral Cup could be a potential target for this talented Sean and Bernadine Mulryan-owned bay.
Cork – Friday
Point-to-point winner Pure Steel justified strong market support in the opener at Cork on Friday and looks an exciting prospect for Jimmy Mangan.
An encouraging fourth on his debut over flights last month, the JP McManus-owned bay made all to see off Luker’s Tipple by a length and three-quarters.
The runner-up, who also finished second on his debut over flights, is reportedly now Fred Winter bound.
Fairyhouse – Thursday
Kiss Will was the most impressive winner on this seven-race programme, with this French import the first leg of a double for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. A €280,000 Arqana purchase, the H O S Syndicate-owned five-year-old made all and despite a mistake at the last, he eased to a 13-length win.
Mullins and Townend later completed their brace with Champion Bumper fifth Fishery Lane, with this one taking the two-and-a-half-mile maiden hurdle.
Philip Rothwell and conditional Tiernan Power Roche also combined for a double, striking with Workinonadream and Duffys Hodey respectively.
Just four lined-up in the feature Easter Festival Rated Novice Hurdle and it was Found A Fortune, the apparent Gordon Elliott second string, who came out on top.
Clonmel – Wednesday
Funiculi Funicula (4/7f) lit up a lowkey fixture at Clonmel on Wednesday, with this Willie Mullins-trained French recruit coming home 17-lengths to the good. In front from flag fall under Paul Townend, the Storm The Stars five-year-old had matters under control when nearest pursuer Addragoole crashed out at the last.
“Everything is very natural and very easy to him. We like him a lot and hopefully he has a bright future,” Townend enthused in the aftermath.
Despite saddling two of five for the feature Munster Hurdle, Mullins was out of luck in this extended two-mile heat.
While travelling strongly at the time, his Got Glory crashed out at the penultimate obstacle, with Henry de Bromhead’s Beckett Rock ultimately getting the better of Bunting, the other Mullins representative, by three-quarters of a length.
Elsewhere on this seven-race card, conditional John Shinnick came away with a double, while Hillsdale and Falcon Park registered easy follow-up wins.
WHAT’S COMING UP
A low-key meeting takes place at Down Royal this afternoon, before the prestigious Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase takes centre stage at Gowran on Thursday.
The Galmoy Hurdle precedes the main event at the Co Kilkenny venue, with Stayers’ Hurdle hero Teahupoo successful in this Grade 2 contest in 2023.
The Grade 3 Solerina Mares Novice Hurdle is the feature at Fairyhouse on Saturday, with a further pair of Grade 3s are down for decision at Naas on Sunday.
Punchestown is also scheduled for next Monday.
ONE TO WATCH
Wine And Dine (Gordon Elliott): While not one of the leading lights at Cullentra, this eight-year-old showed enough on his handicap debut at Fairyhouse on Thursday to suggest a breakthrough track success is imminent. Finishing strongly over two miles and five furlongs at the Co Meath venue, he should have little difficulty in picking up a similar contest over further.
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