Raya’s Time to shine

AFTER running some decent races in defeat last season, notably when finishing third to City Island at Leopardstown at Christmas, the 127-rated Raya Time finally got his turn in the two-mile maiden hurdle. Rachael Blackmore was on board this Roger Brookhouse-owned grey and the pair had this race to themselves by the time they turned for home. The evens favourite could afford the luxury of somewhat untidy jumps at the last two flights as he still had a dozen lengths to spare at the line. Henry de Bromhead reported that Raya Time, who was bred by Simon Munir, will go chasing and it is in that sphere that he may ultimately realise his potential.

The card concluded with a nice display as Suvretta (5/2) struck for Willie and Patrick Mullins in the bumper. The Supreme Horse Club-owned daughter of Yeats, who is out of a half-sister to Sesenta, was beaten at odds-on in quite a reasonable Ballinrobe bumper on her debut in late August but was altogether better for that run. For the duration of the straight she was travelling much stronger than Lady Of Elysium and then brushed aside that one over the last furlong to score by four lengths. The diminutive filly could stick to bumpers for this season.

The reliable Eddie Harty inmate Whatucallher (11/8) deservedly got her turn in the mares’ maiden hurdle over just short of two and a half miles. This five-year-old had been placed on eight of her nine previous outings and showed the benefit of recent comeback run at Listowel. Whatucallher didn’t look to be going as well as My Midnight entering the straight but she responded well to Donagh Meyler’s promptings to chase that one down, and she got on top after the last to pull three and a quarter lengths clear.