REST OF THE CARD
ROCKY Blue has Grade 1 company in his sights after the Tom Mullins inmate picked an opportune time to register his first success over flights in the Grade 2 Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle.
A well contested edition of this race drew together an interesting collection of juveniles and promised to provide a reasonably definitive guide to the three-year-old scene in Ireland. In a dramatic finale, Rocky Blue emerged to stake his claim for top honours in the division but this doesn’t tell the full story as Coeur Sublime was rallying with some purpose and was upsides the winner when he crashed out at the final flight.
The complexion of this race changed dramatically over the last half mile as the pace-setters folded off the turn-in and this left the French recruit La Sorelita to glide into the lead on the inner.
Almost immediately though she was pressed and headed with the David Mullins-ridden Rocky Blue taking command before the last. The winner looked as though he had a real fight on his hands as Coeur Sublime moved on terms but the latter’s exit left the Rory Larkin-owned gelding to come home three and a quarter lengths clear of Chief Justice.
“He made a few mistakes first time out at Punchestown when he was second and we knew that if he jumped better he’d improve a good bit from that run,” commented Tom Mullins. “He’s a horse that has always shown potential and the plan would be for him to come back here for the Grade 1 in February.”
For the third time in five years the meeting began with a winner for Willie Mullins as the French import Klassical Dream (5/2) returned from 13 months off to land the Tote Pays Dividends Maiden Hurdle. This Joanne Coleman-owned son of Dream Well showed up well at Grade 1 level on his penultimate outing in France in November 2017 and he clearly has a future at a high level.
Paul Townend’s mount moved to the front with a jump of some purpose at the second last and, even though he met the final flight wrong, he was able to gather himself again to hold the staying-on Entoucas by one and three-quarter lengths.
“I’d say he’s a fair horse and it rode like a good race. He landed a bit flat footed at the last but he then picked up well again which you’d like,” declared the jockey.
City Island, who lost his victory in a Galway maiden hurdle during the summer on a technicality, made no mistake on his return by justifying 15/8 favouritism in the Thorntons Recycling Maiden Hurdle.
City Island, who was showing commendable versatility in dropping back from two miles, five furlongs to the minimum trip, responded well to strong pressure from Mark Walsh to lead nearing the final flight and he saw off Dallas Des Pictons by three lengths.
“He’s a progressive type of horse and his ideal trip is probably further than two miles,” commented Brassil. “We’ll find out more the next day when he runs in a winners’ race. His jumping kept him in the race today.
“He was going as fast as he could down the back but when he came to the last there his stamina came into play.
“Sean and Bernardine (Mulryan) sponsor the Ballymore Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham and they would love to have a runner in it. Whether he’s good enough for that we’ll have to find out.”
The Mulryan colours were also carried to victory by the smart looking Exit Poll (10/1) who accounted for some well-touted types in the Tote-sponsored four-year-old bumper. On his first start since finishing second in a Galway Festival bumper, the son of Elusive Pimpernel was being hard ridden in third as the market leaders Allaho and Fury Road did battle nearing the straight.
He responded to Finny Maguire and got on top to carry the day by a length.
“That’s my first winner for Sean (Mulryaan) and we gave this horse a break after Galway with the plan being to come here,” reported Jessica Harrington. “He stays very well which he showed there when Finny pulled him out – he just kept galloping. He’s a lovely horse who seems to go on any ground.”
RETURN
A return to Leopardstown for the Dublin Racing Festival is the likely next port of call for Try Again (8/1) who struck for Paul Flynn and Jack Kennedy in the Sky Sports Racing Novice Handicap Hurdle. The Noel Munnelly-owned gelding found himself in front after two out and then produced a very willing effort in the straight. He first saw off the top-weight, The Holy One. and, when he needed to, he flew the last to fend off Share The Honour by three lengths.
“He ran well to finish fifth at Cheltenham last month when the travel over didn’t go to plan and under the circumstances he ran very well,” stated Flynn. “The handicapper will probably decide where we go but I think he could be back here in February for the Coral.ie Hurdle.”
A resurgent Tisamystery turned up in all his glory to win the Racing Post-sponsored two-mile handicap chase for the second year in succession. Henry de Bromhead’s charge showed signs of returning to form with a second at Cork last month which meant that he was returned a well-supported 6/1 shot under Daniel Holden. The sprightly 10-year-old led from before the penultimate fence and then maintained a useful lead to score by half a dozen lengths.
“That was super. I’m delighted to get a winner here for John (Byrne, owner) and he got a great ride from Daniel.
“I’d say we might now look at one of the handicaps at the Dublin Racing Festival,” commented the trainer.
Jockeys’ penalties
FINNY Maguire picked up a two-day whip for his efforts on Exit Poll in the bumper and in the same race Richie Deegan, who partnered the runner-up Two Shoe Tom, picked up a two-day careless riding suspension.
ACTING STEWARDS
R. Ryan, J.P. Byrne,
J. McStay, S. Barrett,
P.D. Matthews
HORSE TO FOLLOW
LA SORELITA (W.P. Mullins): She shaped up well in the Grade 2 juvenile hurdle where she had to settle for fourth having looked a likely winner turning for home. There could be improvement after this outing.