Our resident Irish expert Donal Murphy is back with The Irish Angle, as he looks back at an eventful week of National Hunt racing across the Irish Sea, while he looks at what’s coming up on the horizon, offers his thoughts on the Thurles dilemma, while ends with his usual ‘One To Watch’ section…
The Week That Was
There were some taking performances at Clonmel, Gowran and Naas over the last week, with disappointing efforts to boot.
Saint Sam added his name to an illustrious roll of honour for the Clonmel Oil Chase on Thursday, making all under Paul Townend. The returning Fil Dor and Fakir D’oudairies never really got involved in this Grade 2 contest and finished second and fourth respectively, with both likely to be sharper next time.
Second and fourth in the last two renewals of the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham, Allegorie De Vassy was widely expected to take the T.A. Morris Memorial EBF Mares Chase. Despite being returned at the prohibitive odds of 1/3, she didn’t jump with a great degree of fluency and ultimately finished a very disappointing fourth. Successful on her seasonal debut in this very contest 12-months ago, it’s difficult to envisage her besting previous efforts at Cheltenham come March.
A stable companion of the market leader, Pink In The Park claimed this Listed heat and while she won convincingly, she’ll need to improve further to be competitive at a higher grade.
Nara and Casheldale Lad were the star performers at Gowran on Saturday, with both proving far superior to their rivals. A solid seventh of 22 in the Boodles at Cheltenham, the Henry de Bromhead-trained former fell on her debut over fences at Sligo last month but made amends in fine style. A Listed winner over flights in her native France, the JP McManus-owned four-year-old jumped well throughout and getting a weight allowance on account of her age, she ultimately eased to a seven and a half-length success.
Casheldale Lad won by even further, claiming a maiden hurdle by 13-lengths on what was his belated debut for Gordon Elliott and powerful owners Bective Stud. A Triumph Hurdle entrant last season, it’ll be interesting to see how he copes with a step-up in grade.
The most valuable prize on the card went to The Big Chap, with this Paul Flynn-trained seven-year-old definitely capable of making an impact in more prestigious handicaps this season.
The return of 2023 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Marine Nationale didn’t go entirely to plan at Naas on Sunday, with Barry Connell’s stable star having to settle for second in the Barberstown Castle Chase.
Quilixios, the Triumph Hurdle hero of 2021, easily claimed this Grade 3 prize, making all and jumping well throughout under Darragh O’Keeffe. While he failed to make a significant impact at the highest-level last season, he might just have needed time to mature and could be an altogether different proposition this campaign. Connections were pleased by the effort of the runner-up, with this high-class hurdler now on course for Leopardstown at Christmas.
Farren Glory paid a handsome compliment to his Wexford conqueror Inthepocket, when making the breakthrough over fences, while Pinot Gris proved far superior to his three rivals in the Fishery Lane Novice Hurdle.
The Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle is likely to throw up plenty of future winners, with Philip Rothwell’s The Busy Fool providing rider Tiernan Power-Roche with his biggest success to date. A lightly raced son of Doyen, the six-year-old done well to win on what was his first start since April and looks an exciting prospect for connections.
Donal Murphy’s 10 To Follow For 2024/25 Jumps Season
Our new Irish columnist for the 2024/25 National Hunt season is Donal Murphy, who will be talking all things Irish Jumps throughout the campaign in ‘The Irish Angle’. Before he kicks off that weekly column, Donal has put together his 10 To Follow for the new season and there’s some eye-catching runners to etch into…
Mon 04 Nov 2024WHAT’S COMING UP
Racing takes place at Fairyhouse this afternoon and Punchestown on Friday, with the Navan Racing Festival taking centre stage at the weekend.
Surprise Albert Bartlett winner Stellar Story starts off over regulation fences at Fairyhouse, with the Shantou seven-year-old the star attraction on this seven-race programme.
The prestigious Bar One Racing Troytown Handicap Chase is the most valuable prize on offer over the two days at Navan, with many talented horses set to compete at the Co Meath circuit. Gordon Elliott is sure to send a strong team to what is his local track, while Henry de Bromhead and Willie Mullins are also likely to be well-represented.
Queen Mother winner Captain Guinness could make his return to action in the Fortria Chase, while the Lismullen Hurdle is always a quality affair, with Bob Olinger coming out on top 12-months ago.
Needless to say, there will be plenty of Irish in action at Cheltenham’s November Meeting, with action taking place at Prestbury Park from Friday to Sunday.
HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE THURLES?
Many stars of the National Hunt game have yet to be unleashed this season, with the unexpected dry spell proving a real headache for trainers and owners alike.
Racecourses have also been affected, none more so than Thurles, where no watering system is in place.
As a result, the Co Tipperary venue cancelled meetings on October 17th and 31st, with a replacement fixture scheduled for this Thursday now also off due to ground described as ‘unsuitable for jump racing’.
With no rain forecast for the coming week and with a further three fixtures pencilled in for Thurles before the end of November, a contingency plan should really be put in place.
Yielding to soft ground was presented at Knockmullen House point-to-point in Co Wexford on Sunday, with conditions surely similar at some racecourses around the country.
Traditional summer tracks, such as Roscommon, Galway, Sligo and Killarney, may need to be used if current weather trends continue.
ONE TO WATCH:
Win Some Lose Some (Padraig Roche): Out of an unraced daughter of five-time Grade 1 winner Like A Butterfly, this progressive five-year-old came from off the pace in the Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle at Naas, ultimately finishing a never nearer fourth. Already successful three-times this season, he looks capable of adding to his tally in the coming months, with a step-up in trip likely to play to his strengths.
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