MOUNT Colah has proved a great servant to Banbridge trainer Jerry Cosgrave and regular partner Noel McParlan. The Beneficial gelding provided connections with a first Listed success, and eighth win under rules, when landing the Thurles Racecourse Supporters Club Chase.
The Thomas Walsh-owned gelding was left clear after Arnaud, who was upsides at the time, fell two out but, in something of a repeat of his beginners’ chase win here 12 months ago, there was further drama to come at the last.
Amateur McParlan, unable to use his 5lb claim in this €26,000 event, did well to keep the partnership intact after meeting the last fence all wrong. However, the 9/10 favourite soon recovered and kept on well on the run-in to beat Letter Of Credit by a length and three quarters.
“He idled when he was left in front and just put down at the last. That’s our first listed race win and, if he comes out of this okay, he could come back here for the Kinloch Brae Chase (January 15th)” said Cosgrave. “If they could just take the last fence out here as it gives us a scare!”
John Joe Walsh maintained his good record at the Limerick Christmas meeting with two winners including Page Turner in the featured Tim Duggan Handicap Chase, and the Doneraile trainer kept up the good work with a 30.5/1 double via Glen Ode and Hard Bought.
Glen Ode made a number of mistakes when fourth here last month and, despite a blunder at the fourth last, had plenty in hand under Philip Enright to take the three-mile handicap chase. Well-backed in the morning from 10/1 down to 5/1 and further supported on track into 7/2 joint-favourite, the eight-year-old gelding beat West Ship Master by a facile length and three quarters.
“He made mistakes here the last day. I thought he wanted better ground but maybe that’s what he wants. He was in good order today,” said Walsh. “The owner Patrick O’Donoghue is a farmer from Araglin (Co Cork). This horse won a point-to-point (at Lemonfield) and that’s his first winner on the track.”
Hard Bought, sporting the two-tone blue colours of Mullingar owner/breeder Tommy Tynan, completed the Walsh double in contrasting fashion in the two-mile handicap hurdle, just getting up in the final stride under Brian O’Connell to deny Fort Carson by a head.
“He was left at the start at Limerick the last day but still ran a good race and stayed on well to be third,” explained Walsh afterwards.
DOUBLES FOR MULLINS
Doubles for Willie Mullins are a lot more commonplace and the champion trainer was again on the mark with Roi Des Francs in the two-mile, six-furlong maiden hurdle and Honeys Joy in the mares’ bumper. Roi Des Francs (6/4), a bumper winner for Willie’s brother Tony and snapped up by Gigginstown after finishing second over hurdles here in November, led between the final two flights to beat the 10/11 favourite Venitien De Mai by a convincing five and a half lengths.
“He’s a big horse and is going to be a three-mile chaser down the line. He could come back here (on February 26th) for the Purcell Novice Hurdle and I’d imagine he’ll get an entry in the Albert Bartlett and maybe the Neptune. He was bought not too long after his last run and I would see him improving into the spring,” said the Closutton maestro.
Mullins’ son Patrick was seen to great effect aboard Honeys Joy, keeping extremely wide throughout for better ground, and the 8/1 chance cruised home in the final furlong to beat Kala Brandy by a very easy eight lengths.
“Patrick took a chance going wide and it paid off spectacularly,” said a proud father. “We were worried about the ground and he would have got lost on the inside. I’d say he’ll go jumping now.” The successful CCR (Cistercian College Roscrea) Racing Syndicate has been in operation for 25 years, and Patrick Mullins made special mention afterwards of the role his cousin Emmet has played in the preparation of the winner.
EXCELLENT RIDE
Another rider to excel was Ricky Doyle aboard Zipporah in the two-mile, six-furlong handicap hurdle. The combination won from the front at Clonmel last month, and she repeated the dose here for owner/breeder Michael Mee. A mistake at the last made no difference as the George Webb-trained 7/1 chance was eased down on the run-in to beat Bloomsday by 14 lengths.
Triple bumper winner MacBride was very weak in the market for his jumping debut in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle eventually finishing fifth, and the one to take advantage was the Paul Nolan-trained I’m All You Need.
The 7/2 shot (5/1 in the morning) asserted on the run-in for Mikey Fogarty in this two-mile event to beat Hes Our Robin by four lengths, and Nolan commented: “Her form with Keppols Queen has held up well as she went on to finish second to Carrigmoorna Rock (in a Grade 3) at Leopardstown. I thought she battled on well the last day at Clonmel for second place.
“I think she’ll improve and it would be great to get her some blacktype. She handled the ground well.” Owner Philip Byrne is the proprietor of Seans Bar in Athlone which claims to be the oldest pub in Ireland.
Acting stewards
T. Rudd, S. McDonogh, J. Reardon, S Quinn
HORSES TO FOLLOW
VENITIEN DE MAI (J.T. R Dreaper): Multiple point-to-point winner, he ran into a progressive sort when runner-up behind Roi Des Francs. Well clear of the remainder, he should have little difficulty landing a staying maiden before going on to better things over fences.