HE might have initially struggled to deliver on the promise of his debut success in France but Pure Genius showed more than a glimpse of his true potential as he ran riot in the Ladbrokes Watch Racing Online For Free Maiden Hurdle over three miles.
The J.P. McManus-owned six-year-old had run to quite a reasonable level on a number of occasions since starting out in Ireland 14 months ago but a dramatic step up in trip from two miles enabled him to show that he is ready to realise his potential.
The Authorized gelding set a pace to suit himself under Mark Walsh and from some way out he had the 30/100 favourite, Fantasio d’Alene, toiling in vain. Indeed the latter (found to have blood in his trachea post-race) cast a weary figure from the second last as a relentless Pure Genius (4/1) kept up a good gallop to score by some 52 lengths.
“He’s been disappointing up to today and that’s the first time he shown what I think he is capable of. He came from France with a good reputation but he’s just been disappointing. Maybe three miles on testing ground is what he wants,” said Walsh. “He’s a fine, big horse and could make a nice chaser next year.”
Curious Bride moved Noel Meade on to the 41-winner mark for the season with a likeable display in the Ladbrokes-sponsored four-year-old maiden hurdle.
A runner-up on her jumping debut at Cork a couple of months ago, this daughter of Excelebration made most of the running for Sean Flanagan. The 6/1 shot was joined and headed by Palm Beach nearing the last flight but a good jump there set her up for a strong rally and she was soon back in front for a one-and-three-quarter-length success.
“She got into a lovely rhythm today and the experience of the run the last day stood to her,” said Flanagan.
“I thought Mark (Walsh) was coming to pip me at the last, but her jumping has won her the race. The farther she goes in the future the better, I’d say.”
EASILY the shortest-priced winner of the day was Lady Breffni who justified her position as the 1/8 favourite in the Ladbrokes Odds Boost Mares Maiden Hurdle although the Willie Mullins representative did have to work a bit harder than her odds suggested.
Danny Mullins struck for home after three out on the Mark Dobbin-owned mare who was looking to build on an excellent fourth to Flooring Porter in a quality handicap at Navan last month.
However, Humble Glory threw down a persistent challenge in the straight which ensured the favourite had to dig deep. Lady Breffni wasn’t found wanting though and she reached the line with a length and a quarter to spare.
“Some of her jumping was lackadaisical but when Danny needed a good jump at the last she produced it,” declared Mullins. “She might move back into handicaps now and possibly she might be one for the mares’ handicap at the Dublin Racing Festival.”
Amateur Joey Dunne bagged his second winner on the track as You Say Nothing dominated the John Thomas McNamara Series (Q.R.) Handicap Hurdle from start to finish to shrug aside an 11lb hike for scoring at Down Royal last month.
The Hard To Know Syndicate-owned son of Epaulette stole into a commanding early advantage and his rivals could never get close enough to land a telling blow. Spare Brakes ended up leading the chase but still finished some 15 lengths adrift of the 7/2 favourite.
At the end of the day it emerged, albeit in the briefest of terms, that the stewards reviewed the video and voice recording of the start of this race in conjunction with the starter Pat Malone and they were satisfied that a fair start had been effected. The winning trainer, Gavin Cromwell, declared: “It was a great ride. He got a freebie out the gate, robbed a nice lead and got his fractions right. He’s a strong horse that gallops through that ground and we’ll try for something similar again.”
Another horse to follow up a recent success was Low Lie The Fields who added the Ladbrokes-sponsored 80-109 rated handicap hurdle to his win at Limerick last month.
Rachael Blackmore’s mount got the better of fellow Limerick winner Itsnotinit after the final flight to carry the day by three and a half lengths. The victorious 2/1 favourite is owned by the Lonely Fields Syndicate.
“He seems to be improving and looking at that I think we could try him over farther than two and a half miles. I hope he will make a nice chaser so he could be better again next year,” reported de Bromhead.
OWNER, breeder and trainer John O’Callaghan has a useful mare on his hands in Feddans who won the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Flat Race in willing style.
After showing promise on her first two runs, the six-year-old daughter of Dansant was returned a well-supported 3/1 favourite under Tom Feeney.
Feddans improved to lead before the straight and kept on gamely to hold off the effort of Mi Lighthouse by three and a half lengths. The winning rider picked up a five-day whip ban as a result of his efforts.
“She was probably a bit green on her first run and the race didn’t go to plan at Cork the last day, although she wouldn’t have beaten the winner. I’d say she might go for a winner’s bumper now,” reported O’Callaghan.
Oliver McKiernan and Barry Browne made it two winners in as many days as Glenabo Bridge (11/1) ended a lengthy barren spell in the Ladbrokes-sponsored 80-102 rated handicap hurdle over three miles.
The Keep The Faith Syndicate-owned 10-year-old, who was fourth to Low Lie The Fields at Limerick last time, crossed the line just under five lengths ahead of the 100/1 shot Queen Of Fame to record his first win since December 2017.