THE race of the day produced the performance of the day as Go Another One turned in a display in keeping with his best form to dominate the three-mile conditions’ hurdle on his first start since the Cheltenham Festival.
The talented John McConnell inmate has been chasing over the last year but it is as a hurdler that he has produced his best efforts.
A Grade 3 and listed winner over timber, he was also beaten less than six lengths by Minella Indo in a Punchestown Grade 1 last year and a return to anything like that form was going to make him hard to beat.
Amateur rider Ben Harvey kept things simple on 11/5 favourite who made much of the running and assumed an air of authority once the former Melbourne Cup second Max Dynamite gave way well before the straight. Paul Towned reported his that his mount whinnied and he pulled up.
Go Another One, who is owned by Caroline Ahearn, wasn’t that fluent three out but recovered quickly and went on to defeat the former Galway Hurdle winner Tigris River by 17 lengths.
“He jumps and he travels and he did everything very well today. He’s had a few issues in the past but John has done a great job to bring him back as good as ever each season,” reflected the winning rider.
“He’s got decent form as a chaser too but I think there could still be a big one in him over hurdles at some stage.”
Cailean’s Angel, who was just touched off on this card last year, made amends in the first division of the mare’s handicap hurdle where she struck for trainer Eamonn Gallagher and jockey Eoin Walsh who was notching up his third winner in eight days.
Neighbour
The front-running 5/1 favourite prevailed by a length and three quarters from Capture The Action who is trained by Gallagher’s near neighbour Jimmy Mangan. Indeed the winner’s preparations for this race included a visit to Mangan’s gallops in recent days. Cailean’s Angel is owned by Vincent Sheehan.
The second division of the mares’ handicap hurdle produced a very easy winner in Mark McNiff’s Arthur’s Baby (11/2) who was running for the first time this year and was leaving the form of her six maiden hurdle efforts a long way behind.
The Philip Enright-ridden and Dermot Kelly-owned daughter of Oscar was travelling notably well in a first time tongue strap from the entrance to the straight and she led before the final flight en route to a decidedly easy two and three quarter lengths triumph. She could easily add to her haul in the next few weeks.
A MIXED week for Gordon Elliott ended on a bright note as the trainer’s Geraldo confirmed the promise of his debut second at Kilbeggan last month to win the bumper over just short of two and a half miles.
The 8/11 favourite might well be a fair bit better than the bare result suggests as a rival weakening into his path left him with plenty of horses to pass at the entrance to the straight.
However, he quickly responded to Jamie Codd’s promptings and he got to the front with well over a furlong to run en route to a four and a half lengths triumph. This son of Jeremy is owned by Noel and Valerie Moran.
“He’s a nice horse and the one that beat him in Kilbeggan ran well in Galway this week so I’d say that form isn’t too bad,” stated Elliott.
“He is a winning point-to-pointer so I’d say we will be going jumping sooner rather than later and he’s not short of pace so he could come back to two miles.”
The day began with some adversity for punters and the favourite Presenting Meghan exited at the first in the mares’ maiden hurdle which was won by the Hilary McLoughlin-trained Pour Sioux.
The 16/1 chance was produced by Denis O’Regan to get on top after the last and defeat Floating Around by half a length. This was just a third run over hurdles for the daughter of Pour Moi who is owned by the Shushan Syndicate.
Further woe awaited favourite backers in the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle where the odds on Fest Deiz exited at the third last when holding every chance.
Victory here went to the James Nash-trained Diamond Kut (7/1) who was providing Hugh Morgan with a chance winner after he stepped in for the sidelined Gavin Brouder. The HLT Partnership-owned winner made the running to win on just his fourth start since he was picked up at the 2017 Tattersalls February Sale.
“He has had an awful lot of problems - leg trouble, kissing spines and cracked bones,” declared Nash. “He is a fabulous, big horse and he has always worked well. Hopefully he can go on.”
Brian Jordan’s Knock On Steel secured his second victory of the season in the 80-109 rated handicap hurdle over just short of two and a half miles.
Sean O’Keeffe made the running on the 7/2 favourite and to his credit, the seven-year-old produced a series of good jumps in the straight to keep Broder at bay and carry the day by a length and three parts.
Knock On Steel was bouncing back from a rare below par effort at Tramore the previous week where he lost all chance after meeting considerable trouble in running.