There were some intriguing performances in Ireland over the past week, and our Irish expert Donal Murphy comments on domination from Gordon Elliott, the week ahead of us, and one to watch out for…
THE WEEK THAT WAS
From 30 National Hunt races run in Ireland over the last week, Gordon Elliott claimed a third of them, with the Cullentra handler dominating at Navan’s Racing Festival.
Sending a strong team to Proudstown Park, Elliott managed to win eight of the 16 races down for decision, scooping many of the top prizes on offer at this two day weekend fixture.
With nine representatives in the Troytown Chase, it was his Stuzzikini who came out on top under conditional Gavin Brouder, who was deputising for the injured Danny Gilligan.
Earlier on Sunday’s card, Elliott struck with The Yellow Clay in the Grade 3 Monksfield Novice Hurdle, with this Bective Stud-owned bay impressively dismissing some quality rivals. While he briefly looked vulnerable after a slight mistake two out, the Yeats five-year-old quickly regained his composure and eased to the front before the last, stretching clear on the run-in to win by 10-lengths. Now two from two over flights, he already looks a leading contender for the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham, with the Turners Novices’ Hurdle another option for this talented bay.
Two winners from this year’s Festival clashed in the beginners chase over two and a half miles, with Martin Pipe victor Better Days Ahead surprisingly getting the better of Supreme Novices’ hero Slade Steel. The latter wasn’t given a hard time of it when coming off second best in the closing stages and he is sure to come on plenty for the run.
Better Days Ahead on the other hand done well to recover from a mistake at the fourth, while also jumping left at the last three obstacles. While a talented performer over flights, the Bective Stud-owned six-year-old looks destined for even greater things over fences.
A pair of Grade 2s highlighted Saturday’s card, with the Lismullen Hurdle and Fortria Chase taking centre stage. Familiar names dominated in the Lismullen, with Home By The Lee regaining his crown, beating last year’s winner Bob Olinger into second.
Third in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and the Punchestown equivalent, the Joseph O’Brien-trained victor showed his undoubted grit to beat his aforementioned rival by three and a half lengths.
With three Grade 1 winners from last season in the line-up, the Fortria promised a lot but failed to deliver. Both Banbridge and Champion Chase winner Captain Guinness ran well below par, with the latter found to be clinically abnormal post-race. While Elliott’s Found A Fifty justified favouritism, he was all out to do so, just holding off Solness by a neck, with 200/1 outsider Senecia right on their heels in third.
Two of Elliott’s five winners on Saturday introduced themselves into the picture for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. Jumping well throughout, Bleu De Vassy readily accounted for six rivals in the Grade 3 For Auction Novice Hurdle, while dual bumper winner Wingmen also jumped with fluency when delivering on his first try over flights.
At Punchestown on Friday, Irancy was the stand out performer, effortlessly accounting for some smart opponents on his return from a near year long absence. Making all and jumping well throughout, the Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old came home nine-lengths to the good and on this evidence, he could go right to the top.
It was a similar story for Coul Dreamer, as he too made every post a winning one, impressively dismissing his three-year-old rivals on what was his first try over flights. A rare runner under National Hunt rules for Willie McCreery, it’ll be interesting to see how this well-regarded bay copes with a step up in class.
Elsewhere on this seven-race programme, Jasko Des Dames put in a smart performance to make it two from two over fences, while Cheltenham Bumper fourth Sounds Victorius had no excuses when beaten into second by 40/1 chance Rockymountainbleu.
WHAT’S COMING UP
Horse Racing Ireland last week announced an additional meeting for Tipperary this coming Friday, November 22nd. This is to make up for some of the fixtures lost at Thurles and coincidentally, the meeting scheduled for there this coming Thursday is set to go ahead as scheduled.
The unseasonably dry weather has finally come to an end in recent days, a welcome development for trainers all over the country.
With a Grade 1 on both days, Punchestown at the weekend is the focal point of this week’s action. The Morgiana Hurdle takes centre stage on Saturday, with Cheltenham Festival winners State Man, Lossiemouth and Ballyburn among 12 entries.
Dual Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs could return to action in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase, with his old adversary Fastorslow a possible opponent. This prestigious contest has attracted 20 entries in total, with Brown Advisory winner Fact To File and Arkle victor Gaelic Warrior also engaged.
A run of the mill fixture takes place at Limerick this afternoon, with race conditions giving a chance for some younger riders to shine. Racing also takes place at Cork on Sunday.
BRODERICK INTERVIEW GOES VIRAL
A low-key fixture at Fairyhouse on Tuesday, was lit up by Eleanor Broderick’s post-race interview with Gary O’Brien on Racing TV.
Just a few weeks shy of her 71st birthday, Broderick registered her first track success when Lisleigh Lad claimed the Hunters Chase.
The interview, which epitomises all that is good about National Hunt racing in Ireland, is still available to view on the social media platform X, and it’s well worth a watch.
ONE TO WATCH
D Art D Art (Tom Cooper): A beaten favourite three times last season, this French bred chestnut seems to have turned a corner since returning from a summer break. Successful at Punchestown in October, he ran a huge race when upped in trip for the Tara Handicap Hurdle at Navan on Sunday. Settled towards rear by Ricky Doyle, the five-year-old didn’t get the clearest of runs in the straight, eventually finishing strongly to take third after a mistake at the last. Upped 2lb for this effort, he might still be ahead of the handicapper on a mark of 126.
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