REST OF THE CARD
AT the conclusion of the country’s longest race there was just a neck separating the first two as Auvergnat (11/4) edged out his Enda Bolger-trained stablemate Josies Orders in the Friends First Cross-sponsored La Touche Cup which gave J.P. McManus his first success of the week.
Bolger, who has now won the race 14 times, launched a four strong assault on this four and a quarter-mile contest and his My Hometown gave an exhibition up front only to fall at the sixth last.
His exit left the first two home doing battle with the Grand National third Bless The Wings but the latter was shaken off from the second last and the McManus pair served up a terrific tussle. They hit the line almost as one but the verdict went to Auvergnat who moved the season’s champion claiming rider Donie McInerney on to the 34 winner mark.
Sadly Cantlow, a former runner-up in this race, collapsed and died after finishing fifth.
“It’s hard luck on Nina (Carberry, who rode the second) but the winner got a great ride from Donie who is an exciting up and coming jockey,” reflected Bolger after welcoming back his McManus-owned one-two. “This horse is a young up and coming horse at this game and he’ll hopefully be around for a few more years.”
A Great View (7/1) provided McManus with a double as Denis Cullen’s charge bounced back from an unlucky defeat in the Pertemps Final with a last gasp triumph in the Alanna Homes Handicap Hurdle.
The seven-year-old finished very well for sixth at Cheltenham after making a costly mistake at the second last and was a deserving winner of this Grade B prize following a season in which he has run with notable credit.
The Mark Walsh-ridden arrived with a strong challenge after the last to join Ainsi Va La Vie but when the latter pulled out more as the line loomed it seemed certain that she had done enough. To his considerable credit, A Great View somehow pulled out more in the last few strides to shade the bobbing finish by a short-head.
“He is workmanlike but the more you ask the more he gives you. It’s great to get some compensation as we were just chinned at Leopardstown over Christmas and unlucky at Cheltenham,” commented Cullen. “We look after him as he’s a star in our yard and if we got a few more we wouldn’t be complaining. He’s not badly handicapped over fences but we’ll see what J.P. would like to do.”
RAN RIOT
Willie Mullins’ Cadmium belied his relative lack of experience in some style as he ran riot in the valuable two miles Pigsback.com Handicap Chase.
The Supreme Horse Racing and Kenneth Sharp-owned gelding took on 23 rivals for his handicap debut and this was just his fourth outing over fences but he coped admirably well with this test.
Danny Mullins had him in a forward position from the outset and, in a race where very few got involved, Cadmium produced an impressive finishing effort.
Stablemate Bon Papa and Sunsetstorise were both poised to challenge at the second last but Cadmium stormed clear to score by eight lengths in the manner of one who could well hold his own at a higher level.
“Danny got a great tune out of him and it’s good for him to get off the mark for the week and I’m very pleased for the owners too,” declared Mullins.
“He’s clearly learnt a bit from his first few runs over fences and we’ll keep him going at this sort of trip on good ground.”
Dot Love’s talented mare Dawn Shadow (10/1) picked up the good prize that her efforts over the course of the season have merited as she bagged the Listed Close Brothers Mares Novice Hurdle.
The daughter of King’s Theatre had the misfortune to come up against Laurina on her last three outings but she took full advantage of this drop in class under Rachael Blackmore.
Dawn Shadow, who is owned and bred by Sean Reilly, was always prominent in a strongly run affair and found any amount for pressure after moving to the front turning for home.
A bold jump at the last allowed her to maintain a useful lead over 25/1 shot Creation and she kept on determinedly to the line to score by a length.
“She deserved that and we’re over the moon. She’s been unlucky on her last two runs but today was her day and a really strongly run two miles is ideal for her,” stated the trainer’s assistant Ciaran Murphy. “She’s a really super jumper and we are looking forward to going chasing with her but that’s not to say that she might line up in a good handicap hurdle before then.”
After witnessing six unanswered Willie Mullins winners the previous day, Gordon Elliott enjoyed some respite in the opener as Park Paddocks (6/1) continued his recent upswing in the JLT Handicap Hurdle over two miles.
The Gigginstown-owned four-year-old hadn’t convinced with his initial efforts over hurdles but he was a wide margin winner of a Cork maiden over Easter and did even better here.
Jack Kennedy’s mount had to fight his way to the front rounding the final bend and he showed a good attitude to cling on to his lead in the straight. Flaviana, her stablemate Neverushacon and Call A Cab all threatened but Park Paddocks dug in well. He crossed the line two and a quarter lengths ahead of Neverushacon.
“He got a good ride from Jack and he’s improving,” remarked Elliott. “He might be one to go down the chasing route during the summer as we could use his four-year-old allowance.
“We’d a rough day yesterday but to be in this battle (trainer’s championship) is brilliant. Willie is an amazing man though and we are going to struggle.”
Pat Fahy sent out his second bumper winner of the week as the smart Dunvegan, ridden by the trainer’s son Conor, saw off a trio of Wille Mullins challengers for the Kildare Post (C&G) Flat Race.
The grey, who chased home Pallasator over hurdles last time, won a Fairyhouse bumper in in early January but produced his best effort to date in accounting for seven previous winners.
Dunvegan (4/1) improved past the front running Voix Des Tiep to lead with over a furlong to run and he kept on nicely to defeat that rival by a length and three parts.
“At one stage he got an infection in his leg and he nearly died so he became a real pet. Natalie (the trainer’s wife) spent hours putting bags of fluid into him,” declared Fahy.
“The lads (owners George Turner and Clipper Logistics) bought him about a week before he was due to run in a point-to-point and they really deserve this.”
ACTING STEWARDS
J. Weld, Mrs J.O. Onions, C.P. Magnier, J. Murphy ,P.D. Matthews
HORSE TO FOLLOW
ORION D’AUBRELLE (W.P. Mullins): This gelding produced his best effort in four starts for Willie Mullins when finishing a close fourth in the handicap hurdle won by A Great View. He travelled notably well over this longer trip and should enough to indicate that a decent handicap success could be within his reach.
Whip ban
JONATHAN Burke picked up a two-day whip suspension for his efforts on My Murphy in the La Touche.