ALMOST a year to the day after she was scratched from her intended Irish debut in a Leopardstown Grade 1, the Willie Mullins-trained Lamarckise got her career with the champion trainer off to a winning start in the first division of the two-mile, five-furlong mares’ maiden hurdle.
In the Klassical Dream colours of Joanne Coleman, the five-year-old daughter of Martaline was returned at 2/5 as she limbered up for an outing at Cheltenham next month.
For much of the race, the Martaline mare looked as though she would produce a performance in keeping with her odds but ultimately the exacting ground and the trip made it an demanding test for Paul Townend’s mount.
Lamarckise turned for home travelling well but between the last two flights she began to labour somewhat. She wasn’t that fluent at the last either and needed the line late on to hold the rallying Miss Pernickity.
One thing that could not be faulted though was her attitude and she dug deep to carry the day by half a length on her first run since she was placed at Auteuil in April 2018.
Townend dismounted the mare before returning to the parade ring but the trainer explained: “Paul said she was just very tired, that was it. He said she blew up a few times. If I can keep her right I think she is a very good mare and she will go straight for the mares’ novice at Cheltenham.”
Mullins and Townend struck again in the two-mile maiden hurdle where Five O’clock atoned for his defeat at odds of 1/4 at Tramore prior to Christmas.
The Susannah Ricci-owned gelding was somewhat untidy at the final flight, which gave Email Rose another chance, but he pulled out more on the run-in to score by a length. The victorious 4/7 chance will progress further as he moves up in trip.
Barry Browne’s mount returned from a year and a half off to win a Clonmel handicap hurdle last month and defied a 9lb rise in willing fashion in this two-mile, five-furlong affair. The Keep The Faith Syndicate-owned seven-year-old picked up best of the leading quartet to move clear on the run to the last flight and he finished with four and a quarter lengths to spare over the favourite, Frere Fontaine.
Paul Nolan and Bryan Cooper warmed up for Latest Exhibition’s Grade 1 assault at Leopardstown this afternoon by taking the second division of the two-mile, five furlong mares’ maiden hurdle with La Feline.
After reaching the frame in a maiden confined to unplaced horses at this track at Christmas, the daughter of Martaline was altogether too strong for these rivals as she scored by 17 lengths. The 5/2 favourite is owned by the Kilcommon Or Bust Partnership.
Charleville-based Denis Leahy sent out his first winner since August 2016 as Currig’s Girl (7/1) revelled in the stamina test that was the 80-95 rated three-mile handicap hurdle. The eight-year-old ran creditably in a handicap over this course and distance two months ago and emphatically delivered on that promise to record a 27-length success under Kevin Brouder after going to the front with a circuit to run.
The winner is owned by her breeder Betty Moore, the trainer’s aunt, for whom Leahy sent out Zita Hall to win a Kilbeggan maiden hurdle in 2008.
Horses for courses
In the space of just a few months Bajan Excell has developed into quite a Limerick specialist, and he made it three wins from as many starts at this track in the four-year-old handicap hurdle.
The 7/4 favourite, who won on the flat here in October before taking a maiden at the Christmas Festival, was partnered by Jonathan Moore. He poached a useful lead before two out which he maintained to defeat Nobel Joshua by four and a half lengths.
The tough and reliable winner is owned by Brendan Keogh and was reverting to his own age group after being placed in an open handicap hurdle at Thurles last time.
After winning the first claiming hurdle run in Ireland this season, Gordon Elliott added the second one to his haul courtesy of Three Is Company (9/4).
The Vincent and Maneerat Caldwell-owned gelding made most of the running to defeat the 13-year-old Toushan by seven lengths and give Jack Kennedy his first winner back as he returned from just over two weeks out of the saddle. Three Is Company was subsequently claimed by James McAuley for €8,000 and he will be trained by Denis Hogan.
Byrnes’ day to savour
IT was a day to live long in the memory for local trainer Charles Byrnes who provided his son, Philip, with his first success as a rider when Vinnie Is Busy bolted up in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Auction (Pro/Am) Bumper.
The €20,000 three-year-old purchase was backed from as big as 9/2 earlier in the day into 7/4 joint favourite and he routed his rivals in the style of a classy type.
The victorious five-year-old carries the colours of Anna Rowney and was giving his jockey his eighth ride on the track.
The 16-year-old Byrnes, who had partnered his father’s Light Brigade into second at Gowran seven days previously, enjoyed a successful career on the pony racing circuit which featured a victory in the 2018 Dingle Derby.