NOT for the first time in the last 12 months the talented Jett showed just what he can do when he puts it all together as the 22/1 outsider of the six-runner field upstaged some high-profile opponents in the Grade 3 Irish Daily Star Chase.
A winner of a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse last Easter, the Gerry McGrath-owned and bred Jett had it all to do on ratings and had an 8lb penalty to carry but he has never looked better. As he continued a super run for the all-conquering Jessica Harrington, the eight-year-old looked right at home under Robbie Power as he tackled an extended three miles for the first time in his career.
He jumped well and put the benefit of a recent comeback run at Gowran to good use as he dug deep in the straight to overhaul the front-running Alpha Des Obeaux in the final strides. There was a gap of seven and a half lengths back to Tout Est Permis, with the favourite Balko Des Flos having to settle for fourth.
“He loves small fields and that ground (yielding) and the trainer has finally gotten his trip right,” said Harrington. “Maybe he’s gotten stronger over the summer and he jumped much better at this trip. We’ll look for Grade 3 and Grade 2 races at this trip and we could look at England and something like the Charlie Hall at Wetherby.”
Jett was the second leg of a double for his connections with Harrington and Robbie Power having bagged the Ladbrokes-sponsored two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle with Conron (7/1) who won the two-mile handicap hurdle at this track last year. Now a three-time winner and second once from four starts at this track, the five-year-old took over in front after the last and then held the oncoming Le Vagabond by half a length. The John O’Hagan-owned gelding will now head to Cheltenham’s November meeting.
RACHAEL Blackmore made it two doubles in as many days and completed her brace in an eventful Ladbrokes-sponsored Buck House Novice Chase where Henry de Bromhead’s Jan Maat (2/1) prevailed. Just two of the four contestants completed this two-and-a-quarter-mile Grade 3 whose complexion changed utterly at the fourth fence where Swordsman fell. It became apparent at this stage that the favourite Daly Tiger’s saddle had slipped. This left the Gigginstown House Stud-owned Jan Maat with just Cool Colonnade to beat and he did so in straightforward fashion to cross the line seven and a half lengths clear.
Jack Kennedy suffered a fractured collarbone as a result of Swordsman’s fall and could be out for up to six weeks.
“He’d run into Wicklow Brave a couple of times so I’m delighted that he’s been able to pick up a good pot,” reported the winning trainer. “Hopefully he keeps progressing and I’ll speak to the lads about where we go now but he has been on the go a good while.”
Earlier, Blackmore teamed up with the Noel Meade-trained Beacon Edge, a Grade 1 third in a bumper at this track in May, who justified odds-on favouritism in the two-mile maiden hurdle. The 4/6 shot came to the last flight locked in combat with fellow Gigginstown House Stud-owned runner The Very Man and possibly held the upper hand when the latter crashed out. This left Beacon Edge to come home 10 lengths clear of Mystery Stowaway.
“I’m a little disappointed that he didn’t travel better through the race but Rachael did feel she’d have won anyway,” commented Meade. “I do think he’s a very nice horse and maybe he could be a better horse over further.”
Fantasio D’alene made it a treble for Gigginstown as the 8/15 chance built on his debut third last Easter to take the Ladbrokes Where The Nation Plays Flat Race. Lisa O’Neill had to roust her mount along inside the final half-mile to challenge for the lead and after then moving to the front the four-year-old was strongly pressed by Good Time Johnny. He wasn’t found wanting when it mattered though and showed a fine attitude to shade the verdict by a head. Gordon Elliott reported that a winner’s bumper will be next for the son of Saddler Maker.
ON what was surely a day that she will never forget, Meath-based primary school teacher Emma Sweeney (22) rode her first winner on the track aboard Allduckornodinner (4/1), bred and owned by her mother Una, in the Ladbrokes-sponsored amateur riders’ handicap chase over an extended three miles.
The Gavin Cromwell inmate and his rider gave an exhibition from the front for a thoroughly well-deserved three-length triumph to receive by far the biggest ovation of the afternoon. The disappointing favourite Court Tycoon was found to be lame post-race.
“It’s unbelievable. I have to thank mum and dad, Gavin and everyone in Gavin’s. The fact that mum bred him makes it twice as special, and while he’s not the biggest horse he’s got a huge heart and he filled me with confidence all the way,” declared Sweeney.
Fresh from their success at Fairyhouse on Saturday, Shumaker and Donie McInerney followed up in the two-mile Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle.
The 11/8 favourite, whose Antrim-based trainer Paul Traynor is a farrier by trade and was notching up a third victory since taking out a licence during the summer, scored by three parts of a length from the strong finishing Dawson’s Cottage.
Traynor’s charge is owned by his partner Karen McNeilly.