This week’s action was overshadowed by an incident at Thurles on Thursday which forced the abandonment of the card after two races.
Aboard Wee Charlie, Michael O’Sullivan sustained serious head injuries after his mount fell at the last, with four other horses also exiting at that obstacle.
Stabilised and subsequently airlifted to Cork University Hospital, the Cheltenham Festival winning rider remains at that facility, fighting for his life in the intensive care unit.
Needless to say, the horse racing industry has gathered in a united show of support for O’Sullivan and his family, with everyone hoping and praying for a positive outcome.
The Week That Was
Fairyhouse – Wednesday
Without a win since her Grade 1 success over flights at Aintree in 2023, Zenta initiated a treble for Willie Mullins and JP McManus.
One of five Mullins representatives in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase, the French bred six-year-old jumped well throughout under Mark Walsh.
Sprinting to the front away from the last, she was two and a half lengths to the good at the line, with Mullins responsible for the first four home.
Mullins and McManus doubled their tally in the feature Fairyhouse Easter Festival Rated Chase, with the Paul Townend-ridden Sa Majeste coming out on top after a dramatic conclusion to this extended three-mile contest.
Leading at the time, a blunder at the last proved costly for Affordale Fury and while he tried hard to regain the lead on the run-in, he ultimately went down by three-quarters of a length.
Twice placed in the Grand National and last seen finishing second in the Irish equivalent, Any Second Now finished a satisfactory fourth on what was his first start as a 13-year-old.
Making every post a winning one, Karoline Banbou completed the Mullins/McManus three-timer in the Treo Eile Supporting Racehorse Aftercare Mares Maiden Hurdle. Providing Mark Walsh with a double, the No Risk At All five-year-old defeated a fellow Mullins-trained representative, seeing off Place De La Nation by two and a quarter lengths.
Despite being returned at 4/9, Legionnaire Forez, representing Mullins and Townend, disappointed in the Book Your Fairyhouse Hospitality Maiden Hurdle. The easy-to-back Good To Be Alive claimed this 13-runner contest on debut, with his trainer Gordon Elliott later commenting:
“He’s a horse that’s improving and he might not be the worst horse in the world.”
Naas – Saturday
Despite a disappointing turnout of just three, there was still an exciting conclusion to the feature BBA Ireland Ltd Opera Hat Mares Chase.
Second and fourth in the Mrs Paddy Power Chase at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, Dinoblue once again got the better of her stable companion Allegorie De Vassy. Kept wide apart entering the straight, the pair had a protracted tussle away from the second last, with just a neck between them at the line.
Restricted to four-year-old’s, the opening PSIL Property Supporting Kill GAA Rated Hurdle has proved a real stepping stone to Cheltenham Festival success in recent years. Since 2020, no less than four Fred Winter winners have emerged from this near two-mile heat, and it’ll come as little surprise if that trend continues next month.
Turned out again quickly after finishing sixth at the Dublin Racing Festival, the front-running Bacchanalian just held off the late surge of Murcia in this year’s renewal.
The concluding QuinnBet Hunters Chase saw Ryehill streak to an impressive success, with Cheltenham now firmly on the agenda for this Ross O’Sullivan-trained eight-year-old. Well-supported for this extended three-mile heat, the Mahler bay survived a bad mistake three fences from home, eventually easing to a 12-length win under Lee Shanahan.
Twice a runner-up in the St. James’s Place Hunters’ Chase at Cheltenham, Its On The Line could only manage a disappointing third.
Navan – Sunday
The winner of some valuable handicaps in the last few seasons, Maxxum registered his first success in graded company when taking the William Hill Top Price Guarantee Boyne Hurdle.
Reversing Galmoy Hurdle form with Thedevilscoachman, the Gordon Elliott-trained victor led for much of this Grade 2 heat, keeping on well away from the last two beat his aforementioned rival by four-lengths. Owned and bred by Pat Rabbitt, a return to handicap company is now on the cards for this admirable eight-year-old, with the Coral Cup at Cheltenham his likely next port of call.
Elliott also claimed the other Grade 2 on this seven-race programme, the William Hill Best Odds Guarantee Novice Chase. Saddling three of the five contenders, the Cullentra handler was ultimately responsible for the 1,2,3.
Narrowly beaten at the highest level over Christmas, Better Days Ahead just held off the fast-finishing Stellar Story, with just a neck between them at the line. Successful in the Martin Pipe and Albert Bartlett at last year’s Festival, the pair are now set for a rematch at Prestbury Park next month, with the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase likely for both.
Elliott left his beloved Proudstown Park with a treble, having earlier claimed the opener with Honesty Policy. His two representatives in the concluding bumper finished third and sixth respectively, with this 11-runner contest going the way of the Willie Mullins-trained debutant Copacabana.
Drawing clear of his rivals inside the final furlong, the Edward Ware-owned five-year-old came home five-lengths to the good and is now Champion Bumper bound.
TIDE TURNING FOR DE BROMHEAD
By his own admission, Henry de Bromhead had a frustrating January, saddling just two winners from nearly 60 runners.
The last week has been more positive though, with his Special Cadeau springing a 66/1 surprise in the opening Horse & Jockey Beginners Chase at Thurles on Thursday.
The Knockeen handler enjoyed further success at Navan on Sunday, when again combining with Darragh O’Keeffe to take the Ryan’s Cleaning Apple’s Jade Mares Novice Hurdle.
Second when last seen at Punchestown in December, Tareze easily accounted for five rivals in this Listed contest and could now be Cheltenham bound.
OUT OF HIS DEPTH ARCTIC STILL PAYING HIS WAY
Kudos to the connections of Arctic Skua, who have picked up €6,375 in prize money in the space of eight days. While totally out of his depth, the eight-year-old collected €4,500 for coming in last of five finishers in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Novice Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival.
Turned out again quickly at Navan on Sunday, the Vincent Halley-trained bay was again outclassed in the William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Novice Chase.
Last of four finishers in this Grade 2 heat, he picked up another €1,875, with his recent earnings equating to more than what the weekend bumper winners collected.
WHAT’S COMING UP
Just three National Hunt fixtures are pencilled in for the coming week, with the Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle taking centre stage at Clonmel on Thursday.
Some top-class performers have claimed this Grade 3 prize since its inception, with Gold Cup winner Don Poli and the brilliant Allaho successful in 2014 and 2019 respectively.
With sponsors Red Mills covering the gate, a large crowd is sure to ascend on Gowran this Saturday, where two graded races highlight the programme.
Worth €60,000 to the winner, the QuinnBet Grand National Trial Handicap Chase is the most valuable prize on offer at Punchestown on Sunday.
Gordon Elliott has dominated this stamina sapping heat in recent years and will be bidding for his fourth straight win.
ONE TO WATCH
Murcia (Willie Mullins): A Listed winner over flights in her native France, this Doctor Dino bay finished second at Naas on Saturday in a race that has produced four of the last five winners of the Boodles at Cheltenham. Fitted with a tongue-strap for the first time, she appeared to be struggling in fifth entering the straight, but really finished with a flourish under Paul Townend, eventually going down by just a neck.
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