JUST as the dust was settling on the victory of Abacadabras at Leopardstown, Gordon Elliott and Gigginstown House Stud struck with another emerging star as Fury Road made it three wins from as many starts over timber in the Grade 2 Lyons Of Limerick Jaguar Novice Hurdle.
After two bloodless victories at Down Royal and Navan, this imposing son of Stowaway looked to face a more meaningful test of his mettle as he tried a trip just short of three miles.
The Davy Russell-ridden Fury Road only had a length to spare at the finish but there was much to like about this performance and he has realistic pretentions to joining the likes of Martello Tower and Penhill who both took this race en route to Albert Bartlett Hurdle glory at Cheltenham.
The evens favourite did everything at his leisure in second and it was all starting to look ominous for his opponents as he began to ease clear on the approach to the last two flights. There was a moment of high drama when Fury Road stepped at the last and did well not to come down but he righted himself quickly and Russell didn’t have to get too animated for the five-year-old to defeat the Grade 3-winning Well Set Up by a length.
“He is a good horse and he’s done that nicely apart from the last but I’d like the way he picked up again after that mistake,” reflected Elliott.
“We thought a lot of him last season but it’s only now that we are starting to see the best of him. I’ll speak to Michael and Eddie (O’Leary) but the obvious place to go now would be the two-and-three-quarter-mile novice hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival. He’ll then have the option of the two longer novice hurdles at Cheltenham.”
Earlier, Russell and Gigginstown House Stud struck with Argumental in the Keith Lynch Memorial Maiden Hurdle where Joseph O’Brien’s charge floored the 1/4 favourite Ciel De Neige (Donie McInerney).
The latter went for a run through on the inner before two out but as a result of going for that narrow opening he was nearly forced off the track.
This incident and a resulting error cost the favourite momentum and hard as he tried thereafter he couldn’t peg back Argumental (4/1) whose trouble-free run enabled him open up a useful lead which saw him withstand the favourite’s late charge by a head.
A superb day for the Gigginstown team concluded with an impressive debut from Noel Meade’s Lieutenant Command (5/1) in the Fitzgerald - Take It Easee INH Flat Race.
This son of Kendargent was travelling supremely well for Finny Maguire turning for home and when he was asked to shrug aside the effort of the favourite Getabay he did so with minimal effort to score by nine lengths.
This five-year-old, who made just one appearance in a point-to-point in May 2018, looks quite a prospect.
OVER the first two days of the meeting punters had to contend with some character building results but there were various points of respite as well and Colreevy justified 2/5 favouritism in style in the Roches Feeds Mares Maiden Hurdle.
A Grade 1 winner in bumpers, this Willie Mullins inmate looked a class apart on her best form and she showed her quality when it mattered. From two out Danny Mullins asked the front running favourite to assert and she pulled away to defeat Lady Breffni by eight and a half lengths.
This daughter of Flemensfirth, who carries the colours of Mrs Niall Flynn, will be a notable contender for some quality mares’ novice hurdles through the second half of the season.
Earlier, the well-supported Cappacurry Zak (9/2) landed the Goggin Buckley Veterans Handicap Chase.
Ruby Walsh was on board Lesley Young’s charge when he notched up the first victory of his career but the gelding’s four other victories came under Ryan Treacy and that jockey was again on board the Tom Treacy and Sean O’Connell-owned 11-year-old.
Fresh from a couple of runner-up efforts in point-to-points, Cappacurry Zak took charge from two out en route to a four-length victory over Flemenstorm.
TRAINER Caroline McCaldin made the trek from her Co Down base a worthwhile one as Samurai Cracker won the Earl Of Harrington Memorial Maiden Hunters Chase.
A point-to-point winner a year ago and one of 12 horses under the care of his trainer whose focus is mainly on points, Samurai Cracker (12/1) was giving jockey Johnny Barry a third win in the last four renewals of this race.
The six-year-old son of Mr Dinos had this race under control from before two out and he finished four and a quarter lengths clear of the David Christie-trained favourite Winged Leader. This was a first winner in Ireland for the trainer whose husband, Alan, owns Samurai Cracker.
Our Roxane (7/2) notched up the first success of her career with a dominant effort in the 80-102 rated ConverMax Handicap Hurdle.
The now nine-year-old daughter of Flemensfirth was a 14-race maiden coming into this race but Kevin Brouder’s mount set the record straight with a 10-length triumph from the front. Terence O’Brien trains the winner for the Woodstock Partnership.