Morgiana Hurdle (Grade 1)

HE may have met with defeat on his return to action last month but Abacadabras got back to the big time by edging out the odds-on Saint Roi in a decidedly tactical edition of the Grade 1 Unibet Morgiana Hurdle.

Last season’s Supreme Novices Hurdle second could only manage second behind Aspire Tower on his return at Down Royal but a better effort was expected from Gordon Elliott’s charge and he delivered.

Nonetheless definitive judgements regarding the prospects of the winner and Saint Roi making their presence felt against the best two milers around will have to wait for another day after an inconclusive edition of this race.

Saint Roi was a 10/11 chance to give Willie Mullins a 10th straight win in this race whereas the winner was only Elliott’s third Morgiana runner. The pair looked on from third and fourth places and the winner made a few errors but he produced a better jump at the second last than Saint Roi.

The latter also made a few mistakes and didn’t help his cause by racing keenly and that error at the penultimate flight was costly as it left him on the back foot turning in as the sprint for home began in earnest.

At this point Jack Kennedy had brought the winner between horses to deliver his challenge and he subdued the strong travelling Coeur Sublime on the run to the last. As is his wont, Abacadabras did idle on the run-in, drifting somewhat left and the challengers were closing in as the line loomed

However, he held on by a neck from a rallying Saint Roi who lost little in defeat given how the race unfolded. Jason The Militant was just a short-head away in third while there was half a dozen lengths back to Coeur Sublime.

“I was happy most of the way around although he did throw in a couple of clumsy jumps. I actually ended up getting there way too soon but I wanted to make use of his run and get Coeur Sublime off the bridle as he hadn’t had a run,” stated Kennedy. “He idled in front which he can do when you get there too soon on him but it was a good performance and he will be better in a stronger run race on better ground.”

Meanwhile the trainer added: “That was a good performance. I thought he had stepped forward from Down Royal and I think he can progress again. Whether he is up to winning a Champion Hurdle time will tell but we’ll continue down that route and we’ll freshen him up for the Grade 1 over two miles at Leopardstown over Christmas.”

Of the runner-up Willie Mullins said: “A few things didn’t go his way. He was keen, he made a few mistakes and he was the wrong side of a couple of things here and there but I think there are a lot of positives to take from this and hopefully what we’ve learnt today will stand to him next time or later in the season. I would imagine he will go to Leopardstown at Christmas.”

Pencil full of potential on great weekend for Elliott

AFTER shaping as though he could be a much better chaser than a hurdler when winning a beginners’ event at Galway a month ago Pencilfulloflead (11/2) took the notable scalp of Latest Exhibition in the Grade 2 Liam & Valerie Brennan Florida Pearl Novice Chase.

The Robcour-owned son of Shantou once again showed an excellent aptitude for this discipline and he also coped very well with the testing ground. Rachael Blackmore’s mount turned for home in company with Latest Exhibition and the front-running Brace Yourself and he asserted in fine style after two out. Another assured leap at the last put the seal on a seven-length success.

“He’s a horse we’ve always thought a bit of and I’d say the softer the ground the better he’ll be,” commented Elliott. “He’s a strong stayer too so there could be more to come from him over three miles. The three mile Grade 1 at Leopardstown over Christmas or the Grade 1 at Limerick is where you’ll see him next.”

Elliott then made it four Grade 2 wins over the course of the weekend when Fury Road took advantage of a simple task for his return in the Grade 2 Unibet 1000th Race Celebration Hurdle.

On his first outing since his close third in a terrific finish to the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham, the Gigginstown House Stud-owned six-year-old made all the running for Jack Kennedy.

After jumping fluently throughout the 4/11 favourite was awkward at the last which gave Dewcup a chance to close in but Fury Road quickly righted himself to score by three and a half lengths in a race run over just short of two and three quarter miles. The trainer reported that his charge would more than likely head to Leopardstown at Christmas for the Grade 1 Festival Hurdle over three miles.

“He’s exciting. He hacked around and was just dossing in front when he made that mistake at the last. He’ll improve plenty from this,” observed Kennedy.

Hollow Games made it a four-timer on the day for Elliott in the Love Food At Rathsallagh Golf Club (Pro/Am) Flat Race. This Noel and Valerie Moran-owned four-year-old was sent off at 4/7 on the back of his impressive point-to-point win last March and he won nicely under Jamie Codd.

Over the course of the last furlong and a half, he quickened away from The Banger Doyle, who set a good standard on his placed runs behind Sir Gerhard and Ballyadam, to win by seven lengths.

“He’s a good horse. Our better winter horses are coming out now and he’s right up there with them. He’s a proper winter horse and looks very exciting for Noel and Valerie,” remarked the winning rider.

Mullins brace

After enduring more than her fair share of near misses in top handicaps over the last year Buildmeupbuttercup has enjoyed an upswing in fortunes lately and she made it three listed wins from her last three outings over timber in the Frontline Security Grabel Mares Hurdle.

A masterfully patient Paul Townend bided his time for as long as he could before sending the John Turner-owned mare in pursuit of her stablemate Elimay on the run to the last. Buildmeupbuttercup edged ahead on the run in but Elimay rallied gamely as the line loomed and forced a desperately tight photo-finish. The only certainty ahead of the result of the photo was that this prize was going to Willie Mullins for the fifth time in six years and after a wait of several minutes it emerged that Townend’s mount was given the verdict by a nose.

“Her fitness probably carried the day. Paul waited as long as he could but he would probably prefer to have waited longer,” reflected Mullins.

“She was brave and it was good to see her stay that two and a quarter miles on this ground. It’s already been a very busy season for her so I’m going to have a think about where she goes now.”

Willie Mullins and Paul Townend also struck with Envoi Allen’s younger half-brother Fighter Allen in the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle. On just his second start in Ireland, the five-year-old looked to have the front-running Idas Boy covered from the turn-in and the well backed 11/10 favourite moved on approaching the final flight.

Lifetime Ambition was bearing down as the line loomed but the Chris Jones-owned winner got home by three parts of a length and posted a nice effort on his first outing since February.

“He’s a nice recruit. He looks more of a chaser than a hurdler and we’ll keep him to this sort of trip for the rest of the season,” commented Mullins.

Fantastic day for Foley

IT was a day to live long in the memory for Jack Foley (21) as his third and fourth mounts as a professional jockey yielded a high profile double for Tom Mullins.

Foley looked the part on both occasions and he was having his first ride over fences when scoring aboard Chavi Artist (7/1) in the Ryans Cleaning Handicap Chase over an extended two and three quarter miles.

Foley made most of the running on the Rory Larkin-owned gelding and got a great tune out of him at all stages. Cusp Of Carabelli loomed up as a big danger coming to the last but he was readily repelled by Chavi Artist who got home by four lengths.

“He’s been threatening to do that and for a small horse he jumps very well. He’s a strong horse who takes his racing well and he’ll go for the Porterstown Chase at Fairyhouse at the end of the month,” declared Mullins who has his team in fine shape at the moment.

The trainer’s stalwart Grand Partner, whose first success came all the way back in January 2014, rounded off a great day for the rider by springing a 33/1 surprise in the Guinness Handicap Hurdle over two miles.

The 12-year-old, who is owned by the trainer’s wife, finished off his race with a great flourish to defeat Halsafari by a length and a half and notch up the 10th win of his career.

“There wasn’t much for him going left handed (last win going right handed was six and a half years ago) so we let him take his chance here and he had been working well since he ran on the flat at Leopardstown last month,” reported Mullins.

“Jack came back to me this summer and he said he’d do anything to give this a real go. He’s put in a lot of work, I’ve given him his opportunity and it’s working out for him.”