CASTLEGRACE Paddy was the centrepiece of a stunning four-timer for local jockey Paul Townend at Cork last Sunday when slamming the former Champion Chase winner Special Tiara by 16 lengths in the Grade 2 Kerry Group Hilly Way Chase.
Steve Parkin’s York-based company Clipper Logistics Group Ltd owns the 13/2 chance who raced in second place until heading Special Tiara four out and drawing clear from the last to make it three wins from four starts over fences for the Pat Fahy stable.
The favourite Great Field only got as far as the second when slipping after jumping the fence.
Castlegrace Paddy, who was bought by bloodstock agent Gerry Hogan, was plagued by allergies last season and his trainer is keen to avoid a repetition, commenting: “He struggled all last year and wasn’t jumping fluently and ran flat in Punchestown (behind Footpad) but he’s a different horse this year and I’m delighted with him.”
A trip to Cheltenham in March could be on the cards for the seven-year-old Flemensfirth gelding, with Fahy saying: “It’s a pity Andrew Lynch, who did all the work on him, is injured but I was delighted to get Paul to fill in for him.
“We’ll probably go to Leopardstown now for the Dial-A-Bet Chase at Christmas and see where that brings us. Depending on how he performs, we’ll maybe then start thinking about Cheltenham – we’re good at dreaming!
“Paul said he’d be better going left-handed and we’ll aim to have him at his peak in March because when the growth starts, it’s then that the pollen starts to rise.”
BATTLE
Townend, who is having a ding-dong battle with Rachael Blackmore at the head of the jockeys’ table, had two winners for his boss Willie Mullins on the board at that stage courtesy of Maze Runner in the Galtee 3-Y-0 Maiden Hurdle and Charleville Cheese Maiden Hurdle scorer Come To Me.
Both horses look to be going in the right direction and the trainer’s assistant David Casey remarked after the former had justified 13/8 favouritism by three-quarters of a length from Union Gap in the colours of the trainer’s wife Jackie: “He jumped indifferently but Paul said those hurdles felt a bit big in the testing ground and he did it well.
“He ran a couple of times on the flat and won well the last day (in Galway), so it’s a good starting point. Hopefully he can build on it.”
Punchestown bumper winner Come To Me, is owned by Margaret Masterson from Dublin and went to the front in his contest at the third from home. Opening up from the final flight, the 11/4 chance extended his lead over Lighthouse Warrier to 17 lengths at the line, with the favourite Getaway John only third.
“Paul said he was a little bit green during the race but he thinks he can go on to better things,” was the post race report from Casey. “It was his first run since the end of the season and he was fresh, so hopefully he can improve.”
COMFORTABLE
Last month’s Listed Clonmel heroine Camelia De Cotte (11/4) upped her game in the Grade 3 Kerry Group Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase when making all for a comfortable six-length win over Moyhenna to complete a memorable afternoon for her owner Susannah Ricci. Market leader Forge Meadow was a spent force from two out and had to settle for fourth place.
Casey remarked: “She enjoys fences and wears her heart on her sleeve but she’s sensible jumping wise. Fences have settled her down and she enjoys getting on with it.
“We were worried about her today with her penalty but she carried it well and we’ll just carry on trying to win a few more nice races with her.”
Townend’s hopes of completing an historic five-timer via Eight And Bob in the Kerrymaid 80-102 Novice Handicap Hurdle came unstuck when Matthew Smith’s 11/1 shot Ronald Pump flashed past him under Robbie Power in the closing stages for a neck win. It was a further four and a half lengths back to the favourite Youcantcallherthat in third.
Kilmessan-based Smith trains the winner, who cost just €1,000 at Tattersalls as a three-year-old, for the Laois Limerick Syndicate and commented: “Robbie said, once he got the gap, he knew he was going to win it jumping the last because he needs to be produced that late. He gave him some ride.”
The trainer admitted: “I was panicking, watching it down at the winning post when he hadn’t been mentioned but the plan was to get him settled early on. I’ll probably run him at Christmas but I just wanted to get that out of the way first.”
STARRING
Luke Dempsey took the starring role in the remaining two races with a brace of winners, initiated by a bitter-sweet success aboard the front-running 16/1 shot Derrinross for his late grandfather Desmond in the Grade 3 Kerry Group Stayers Novice Hurdle.
The jockey’s father Philip has care of the strapping seven-year-old and also has a share in him with Mary Furlong. He is tempted to re-think his strategy after the Scorpion gelding lost his maiden tag in such good style by four lengths at Sams Profile’s expense. Favourite Pleasure Dome was third.
The emotional trainer observed: “My father died a couple of weeks ago and he was his horse. He was very hard to keep sound last year but he’s just a different horse now and Luke told Dad a week before he died, he’d win on him.
“He wasn’t doing a stroke in front but he loved that ground and had his ears pricked. He won a good point-to-point and we were going to send him chasing but, now on that performance, you’d have to think about keeping him over hurdles for something like the Doran’s Pride Stayers Hurdle in Limerick at Christmas.”
The 9/4 favourite Chatham Street Lad brought up Luke Dempsey’s double with a decisive six-length win for the Mick Winters yard in the Low Low Handicap Hurdle. The favourite races for the Healymacs Pubs Syndicate whose members own six pubs in Bellmullet, Co Mayo.
The popular Kanturk handler enthused: “He loves Mallow and a flat track. That’s two wins for him in Cork and maybe there’s something for back here for him in January.”
Whip ban
DONAGH Meyler was banned for two days for excessive use of the whip on the fifth-placed Tell Me Annie in the Grade 3 mares’ novice chase.
Acting Stewards
P. McLernon, Ms K. Horgan, M.J. Doyle, Ms J. Farrell, L. Walsh.
HORSE TO FOLLOW
BAND OF OUTLAWS (J.P. O’Brien) A three-time winner on the flat, he ran well on his first start for two months when staying on late in third behind Maze Runner.