THE relentless improver Colms Dream again advertised the talents of Karl Thornton as he gave the Skerries-based trainer the biggest victory of his career in the TRI Equestrian Handicap Chase.
During the autumn this seven-year-old reeled off three wins on the bounce which meant that he lined up here off a 30lb higher mark. On his last two outings Colms Dream’s striking progress had been halted by two falls but he was back to the best here.
Donagh Meyler, who has struck up an excellent rapport with the Beneficial gelding, was on board Colms Dream who initially jumped off at the rear of the field.
A succession of good jumps from early on the second circuit gradually carried the 12/1 chance to the forefront of the field and Colms Dream then picked off the front-running The Mooch as the last fence loomed.
On the run-in Meyler’s mount kept on well to pull six and a half lengths clear of the pacesetter with Kylecrue securing third.
“He did it well and he’s improving all the time,” said a delighted Thornton. “His biggest asset is his jumping. He’s not one to carry big weights so we’ll look at the likes of Fairyhouse and Punchestown where he might sneak into a better class of race with a light weight.”
The flamboyant Alisier D’Irlande brought a touch a flair to the day’s proceedings in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Chase. After his utterly dominant victory from the front at Naas three weeks previously, the 4/7 favourite produced a more polished and contained display which sets him up for a crack at Grade 1 level at Aintree next month.
At Naas Andrew Lynch’s mount showed a tendency to go left but that wasn’t in evidence here as he produced a smooth round of jumping after holding a commanding lead for much of the race.
None of his rivals could challenge and the Roger Brookhouse-owned gelding sauntered home by nine lengths from the subsequently disqualified I’m All You Need.
The latter’s trainer Paul Nolan had two runners in the race and inadvertently put the lead cloth on the wrong horse having become distracted when saddling the fractious Fine Article. Nolan was fined €500 while Dysios was promoted to second.
“I was hoping he’d improve for the slightly better ground and he’s jumping improved today. I’m hoping there’s more to come on better ground,” commented winning trainer Henry de Bromhead. “Sizing Granite won this race and then the Maghull Novices Chase at Aintree last season and this horse will go down the same route.”
DISPLAY
Great Field, who holds several handicap entries at Cheltenham, produced a taking display on his Irish debut in the two and a quarter miles Foxrock Cup Hurdle.
On his first outing since he won the second of three starts in France in November 2014, the J.P. McManus-owned was quite keen and was soon showing in front for Barry Geraghty. The five-year-old jumped nicely in general and he had plenty left in reserve for the closing stages.
Great Field (5/2) needed just a shake of the reins nearing the last to draw away from Draco whom he defeated by four and a half lengths.
“He looks a nice recruit and we’ll see what he gets into at Cheltenham,” reported Willie Mullins. “He’s a fine, big, strong chasing type of horse.”
The McManus colours were also carried to victory by Aidan O’Brien’s Aspen Colorado who justified 2/7 favouritism in the TRM Excellence In Equine Nutrition (Pro/Am) Flat Race.
As he looked to follow up his winning debut here in January the Sarah O’Brien-ridden son of Galileo eased into the lead inside the last quarter of a mile. The newcomer Brelade stayed on well to press the winner late on but his effort came up half a length short.
Aspen Colorado remains among the market leaders for the Cheltenham bumper but much more improvement is needed.
“He won nicely and just idling in front. J.P. and Frank (Berry) will decide next week about Cheltenham but he’ll get an entry for it. I’d be happy to go but I’d be happy to wait for something else too,” declared Joseph O’Brien.
POWER DOUBLE
The card began with 169/1 double for Robbie Power and he completed his brace on Solita (16/1) in the Coral.ie Handicap Hurdle where the 2/1 favourite Anibale Fly was a huge eyecatcher in fourth.
Following a respectable run behind Blazer last time, the patiently ridden Solita cruised upsides the front-running Lilshane at the last. Although she wasn’t as fluent as the leader at the final flight, Solita finished out her race well to edge the bobbing finish by a short head.
In a race where the first eight were covered by less than three lengths Anibale Fly stormed home for fourth having been 10th off the last bend.
“She just lost her confidence over fences which is why we came back to hurdles but I’d say she might go back over fences for a mares’ Grade 3 at Fairyhouse,” reflected Paul Nolan of the Robert Hennelly-owned mare.
Power struck first on Jezki’s younger half-brother brother Jett who was having his first run over timber in the TRI Equestrian Superstore & Cafe Maiden Hurdle. The Gerard McGrath-owned and bred gelding, who numbers the Grade 1 scorers Jered and Jetson amongst his other siblings, had previously finished second in two of his four bumper outings but he was still the 9/1 fourth choice in the market.
Jett didn’t look to be going as well as Potters Point turning for home but when he got alongside the last-named on the approach to the last flight the Jessica Harrington inmate soon got on top.
After clearing the last safely Jett held on by a length and a half from the staying on Space Cadet who was consigned to his fifth runner-up finish of the season.
BLACKMORE WINNER
Rachel Blackmore rode her first winner at Leopardstown as a back to form Mr Goodenough struck at 25/1 in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase.
The John Robinson-owned and trained 12-year-old had his rivals hard at work two out and a good jump at the last put the seal on a five and a half lengths triumph over Crowded Room.
“He goes well for Rachel and the ground drying a bit helped, as he’s gotten older he doesn’t handle the very soft ground as well as he used to,” remarked Robinson. “The bigger tracks seem to suit him better and he could back to Fairyhouse on Easter Tuesday for the handicap chase he won last year.”
Acting Stewards
M.P. O’Donnell, P. Caffrey, R. Hall, C. Magnier, P.D. Matthews
HORSE TO FOLLOW
HOME FARM (H. de Bromhead): This Grand National hopeful shaped up quite nicely when sixth to Great Field over an inadequate two and a quarter miles. On decent ground at Liverpool he could run well.
Beau Mone lame
BEAU Mome was found to be lame after pulling up in the handicap won by Solita.
Barry Geraghty later reported that Dressedtothenines was struggling from halfway before eventually pulling up in the featured handicap chase for which she started favourite.