IT has been a great start to the year for owner Brian Acheson whose Robcour colours have been carried to victory in recent weeks by a number of quality types and Magic Daze added her name to that list with a smooth success in the mares’ maiden hurdle.
At the end of a seven-day swing which featured a first Grade 1 success for the owner courtesy of Bob Olinger and a Fairyhouse double supplied by the exciting Teahupoo and Gerri Colombe, the Henry de Bromhead-trained Magic Daze was returned at 4/9.
The winning pointer began her career on the track with a pleasing third to Gaillard Du Mesnil at Leopardstown last month and she built on that with a commanding display from the front under Rachael Blackmore. The five-year-old daughter of Doyen never came under strong pressure to defeat No Fame No Game by nine lengths.
“She is a lovely mare and did it very nicely on ground that probably isn’t ideal for her,” said de Bromhead. “She’s a superb jumper and is a real chaser in the making.”
There was another useful novice on show in the other maiden hurdle where the Willie Mullins-trained Capodanno atoned for a defeat at this track last month.
The 10/11 favourite cut out the running for Mark Walsh with chief rival Dunboyne in close attendance throughout. This pair were still locked in combat with two to jump but the J.P. McManus-owned gelding was going appreciably better at this stage and eased clear under hands and heels to score by seven lengths.
More to offer
The winner seemed to appreciate coming back to two miles and was also wearing a tongue tie for the first time. He appeals as one with plenty more to offer over the coming months.
A fine season on the track for Sam Curling continued when Templebredin and Pa King bravely clung on to claim the maiden hunters’ chase.
A sixth racecourse winner for Curling this term, this prolific winning pointer was making his second hunter chase appearance of the season having been placed at Fairyhouse a couple of months ago.
The front-running 5/4 favourite wasn’t too quick over the last, which gave the chasing Saint Benedict another chance, but Templebredin gamely and grimly held on to prevail by a head. The son of Stowaway is owned by Jeremiah O’Brien and will head to Thurles next month for another hunters’ chase.
THERE was a welcome tonic in the offing for trainer Paul O’Flynn whose Quarry Lil (5/1) recorded the third success of her career in the 80-95 handicap hurdle over two miles.
Just a week after suffering a nasty fall at home, O’Flynn produced this Jeremy mare, owned by his father Tom, in good shape and she made most of the running under Gary Noonan to defeat Just Another Lady by two and a half lengths.
“Paul had a bad fall last week so this is a good tonic. It will take time to recover but he’ll be fine. I’d just like to thank everyone in the yard with the boss being out. They got us here today because it was a rough week,” reported the trainer’s father, Tom.
It was a day to remember for John Flavin who made his first runner a winner when Street Value picked up the 80-102 rated handicap hurdle.
This Well Chosen gelding was trained by Flavin’s father Pat when he belied odds of 250/1 to reach the frame in a maiden hurdle at Limerick over Christmas and he duly built on that, although there were times during the race where he looked to be labouring somewhat. However, the Miracle Cure Syndicate-owned Street Value turned this race into a one-sided affair in the straight.
He readily responded to Hugh Morgan’s promptings to move to the head of the field before two out and he kept on strongly to pull eight and a half lengths clear.
“I wasn’t really planning until getting the licence in March but I worked this lad and a couple of other horses last week and they worked okay so I said I’d get out the licence in case any of them happened to win,” stated Flavin who rode around 20 winners as a conditional jockey in England and now has 15 horses under his care.
“I thought first time in a handicap for him around here that it could be tough going and he’s only a baby still.”
Broomfields sweeps aside rivals
PHILIP Dempsey could have lots to look forward to with Broomfields Jeremy who turned the rated novice hurdle into a procession and shaped like one who might challenge for an appreciably bigger pot before the end of the season.
The well-backed 7/2 chance, whose previous win came at Kilbeggan in September, took his time off the pace but when Robbie Power produced him with his effort at the second last the race was as good as over.
The Raymond Fitzgerald-owned gelding shot clear of a toiling field and ended up handing out a 13-length beating to the American raider, French Light.
“He’s learning to settle having previously been a bit free and he seems to be improving with racing,” remarked the trainer. “He did everything nicely today and I’d say we will look at another novice handicap next and then possibly think about something better in the spring.”
Over two and a half years since he last won the veteran Damut (11/2) rolled back the years to defy top-weight in the 0-109 rated handicap chase over two miles. The Edmond Cogan-owned and bred 13-year-old had shown signs of coming back to form when chasing home Chalky White at Limerick last month and he progressed again to make it six career wins.
Darragh O’Keeffe sent him to the front before two out and the Michael Winters inmate kept on well to defeat Carnet De Stage by three parts of a length.