SMART bumper performer Sortudo (8/15 favourite) made a pleasing start over jumps in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle at Cork.
The Cheltenham Champion Bumper seventh went to the front before the second last and soon asserted to beat Jalon D’oudairies by eight and a half lengths.
Willie Mullins, who sent out four winners at Punchestown over the weekend, trains the Authorized gelding for Michael Feeley.
“He had schooled well at home,” said rider Danny Mullins. “I rode him at Cheltenham when he gave me a great feel. His introduction today was over two miles and he didn’t lack speed.
“He has matured well and going further wouldn’t be out of the question for him either.”
Kala collects
The Mullins duo were widely expected to complete a double in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase, but 2/7 favourite Jade De Grugy could only finish a lacklustre third as Gordon Elliott’s Kala Conti (7/2) made a good start over fences in the hands of Jack Kennedy.
Elliott, who had five winners at Punchestown’s two-day fixture as well as sending Wodhooh across the water to score at Ascot, trains the French-bred for Robcour and she stretched clear after the last to beat Farfromnowhere by nine and half lengths.
“It took her a little while to get into top gear but she jumped the last three fences very slickly,” said Kennedy.
“She was a consistent mare over hurdles and I think there could be more to come from her over fences.”
LOCAL jockey Daniel King enjoyed a double in the first two races on the card and joined forces with his older brother Connor to win the Join Racing TV Now With A Free Trial Maiden Hurdle with Grey Jude (5/2).
The Capri gelding, owned by the Mak King Racing Syndicate, confirmed previous course and distance form with market leader Master Haku by making all and just holding on to beat that rival by a head.
The four-year-old’s victory rounded off a great weekend for the King family after the victory of Oscars Brother in the Grade 2 Florida Pearl Novice Chase at Punchestown the previous day.
“He is an exciting horse and we’re a good bit ahead of where we thought we’d be with him,” said trainer Connor King.
“I only have two horses, so had a good weekend, although I’ll be quiet next week! I’m off to Newmarket tomorrow looking to buy a yearling. I’ll do the best I can with the two horses and see where I go after that.”
Academy in the Academy
King had earlier won the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Academy Hurdle for owner/trainer John Nallen on the aptly-named Minella Academy (4/5 favourite).
The son of Sea The Moon made most of the running and came home eight lengths in front of Wispit Twobob.
It was a second winner in the new series of academy hurdles for Nallen, whose Minella Yoga scored at Fairyhouse earlier in the month.
“He has plenty of class and plenty of gears,” said the winning trainer. “We bought him for the flat for my nephew Seanie Bowen to ride, but he went to England so this horse tipped away with the point-to-pointers.
“We decided to go this way instead of the flat, as I get more buzz seeing mine jumping than coming out of stalls.”
Veteran
Trainer Jimmy Barcoe registered a first success with the famous Bowe family silks as veteran Halsafari (16/1) rolled back the years to win the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle under Harry Sexton.
Halsafari’s previous success came at Limerick’s Christmas festival of 2019 and, on his third start for Gowran-based Barcoe, the 12-year-old readily accounted for odds-on favourite Bannow Blaze by five and a half lengths.
Owned by John and Michael Bowe, Halsafari is out of top racemare Solerina and Barcoe revealed: “I have been one of the lads’ biggest fans over the years with what they’ve done with all those good horses, so I was delighted when Michael asked me to take this horse.”
LOCALLY-trained veteran West Cork Wildway (18/1) recorded his fifth career win, and his first in four years, in the Brenda Sheedy Memorial Handicap Hurdle.
Prominent throughout under Eoin Staples, the 11-year-old went away behind the final two flights to account for Midnight Our Fred by four and a half lengths.
Paul O’Flynn, who trains the winner for his father Thomas, commented: “Although age has caught up with him, the handicapper dropped him a few pounds and Eoin’s claim was very valuable.”
On his first start since winning a beginners’ chase on quick ground at Limerick in May, Iceberg Theory (11/2 favourite) handled contrasting underfoot conditions when taking the Kevin McManus Bookmaker Handicap Chase.
The Flemensfirth gelding improved to lead after the second last before staying on well to beat O’Toole by six and a half lengths.
The John Brennan-owned six-year-old was completing an across-the-cards double for trainer Paul Nolan after Feet Of A Dancer’s listed race win at Punchestown.
Jockey Conor Stone-Walsh commented: “I thought I was going to run on to finish a nice fourth or fifth, but he really got rolling down the straight. I think three miles is his trip and he could be a nice staying horse.”
Easy beginning
Ridden by Liam Quinlan, Nowwhatdoyouthink (8/1) was an easy winner of the William Hill Each Way Extra Challenge Series Irish EBF Beginners Chase over two miles and five furlongs.
Previously successful in a point-to-point, bumper and maiden hurdle, the Mount Nelson gelding hit the front travelling well after the third last and, from there, coasted home on the run-in to beat Supreme Jet by six and a half lengths.
Owner/trainer Ray Hackett said: “Although he is only a novice, I am thinking about the Tim Duggan Memorial Chase at Limerick, as he has a load of experience.”