ROBBIE Power made a spectacular return to the saddle following back surgery when partnering Gin On Lime to an impressive victory in the Grade 3 O’Dwyer Steel Dundrum Novice Chase at Tipperary on Sunday.
The Grand National and Gold Cup-winning jockey was having his first ride in over four months and the script could hardly have been more perfect as the Robcour-owned mare ran her five rivals ragged.
The Henry de Bromhead-trained 7/4 favourite was soon in front and made virtually all in this near two-and-a-half-mile event. She asserted approaching the final fence and stretched right away on the run-in to beat Fan De Blues by an impressive 12 lengths, with Busselton a further three and three-quarter lengths adrift in third.
Power was beaming from ear to ear afterwards and said: “That’s what I’ve been fighting to get fit for – ones like that. I’ve been riding out for three weeks and I’ve been working hard on my fitness. I don’t think I’ve ever put as much effort into being fit to come back and I feel great.
“I thought on her run in Galway and getting 7lb she would reverse places with Fan De Blues but I didn’t for one minute think it would be that easy. She is probably a shade better going left-handed.
“She’s a brilliant jumper and so quick through the air as well. She puts a lot of novices under pressure with the way that she jumps. That’s probably her best performance so far and there is a lot to look forward with her.”
De Bromhead said: “She was brilliant and I’m delighted for Robbie on his first ride back. She seemed to like the return to two and a half miles – I think that’s more her trip. Coming here I was hoping that, if we ran well here, we might look at the two-and-a-half-mile at Cheltenham in November, and then I’d say we’ll put her away.”
Quick double
She Tops The Lot made it a quick double for de Bromhead in the following Tipperary Handicap Chase. The two-mile–one-furlong event was run in a real downpour and Mikey O’Connor did well to keep the partnership intact after a bad mistake at halfway.
The 4/1 joint favourite stayed on gamely to lead close home for a length victory over Tesseract, and a rain-soaked de Bromhead said: “That was a tough performance by both horse and rider, and I’m delighted for the lads (Foleys Bar Syndicate) who are quite local to here in Cashel. I’m sure whatever celebrating you are allowed to do in Covid times it will be done tonight! We’ve had a frustrating summer with her but the lads have been very patient.”
THE other two Grade 3 events on the card both went the way of champion trainer Willie Mullins, highlighted by an all-the-way win for Saldier in the featured Horse & Jockey Hotel Hurdle.
The Susannah Ricci-owned gelding was following up his valuable success in the Guinness Galway Hurdle and those who supported the 4/7 favourite had their only anxious moment when he met the second last wrong.
However, Danny Mullins’ mount settled the issue with a fine jump at the last and soon drew clear to beat Darasso by a comfortable three lengths, with Jason The Militant a length further back in third.
“It was a good performance and I suppose he was entitled to do that. It was always going to be a competitive race but the fitness edge was a help to him,” said Danny Mullins. “He was a bit fiddly at the second last but three strides later he picked up again. He’s shown a good spark and hopefully he can go on.”
The Annette Mee-owned Purple Mountain had fortune on her side in the other Grade 3 race on the card, the Joe Mac Novice Hurdle. San Salvador held about a length advantage when falling at the last leaving Purple Mountain (12/1 to 17/2) clear to beat the staying on Bonarc by six lengths.
The going was changed to soft following heavy rain before the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Flat Race but that proved no problem for Copper Nation, owned and trained by Donal Coffey, who made all under Darragh Allen and proved strong in the closing stages to beat Saylavee by three and three-quarter lengths.
“What you see is what you get. She’s tough, she goes a gallop and I’d say she’ll stay three miles in time. The day she won her point-to-point she jumped electric and she wants soft ground,” said Allen of the 5/2 favourite.
GAVIN Cromwell was left ruing what might have been at Listowel last month after Brides Hill (11/2) quickly asserted after two out under Luke Dempsey to beat Hallowed Star by seven lengths in the Tipperary Handicap Hurdle.
“She was third reserve in the Lartigue and I was gutted she didn’t get in. Looking at the way she did that today she might have been a player in it,” said the Danestown trainer. “She’s only a four-year-old and whether she’s able for real winter ground I’m not sure but she’ll certainly handle a bit more ease than there was there today. It was too quick for her the last day.”
Rambling Rose was every bit as impressive in the three-mile Follow Tipperary Races On Twitter Handicap Hurdle giving JJ Slevin compensation for his earlier last-flight fall on San Salvador. After the 9/1 chance cruised clear before the last to beat Game Catch by an effortless six and a half lengths, her Thurles-based trainer Stephen Ryan said: “She seems to stay forever and I’m delighted for Dave O’Sullivan who is with me a good while. He’s a great owner to have and leaves it to me.
“It depends on the ground what we do with her now and we might get to Cork with her in a fortnight. JJ said that ground was her limit and she wouldn’t want it any softer.”
It was much closer in the other three-mile handicap hurdle sponsored by McGrath Oil Emly where Glenquin Castle, a three-time winner over fences in recent months, completed a four-timer when reverting to the smaller obstacles.
However, the 13/8 favourite gave supporters a huge fright when finding little when hitting the front on the run-in for Mark Walsh and just holding on by a nose from She’s Made It.
The first two are both owned by J.P. McManus, whose racing manager Frank Berry said: “He was mad to give it away there and it’s lovely to get another win out of him. He jumps fences great and can’t use his jumping as well over hurdles. It was a good opportunity off his mark over hurdles.
“Martin (Brassil, trainer) has done a great job with him and he’s in great form at the moment. I’d imagine he’ll mix it between hurdles and fences. The mare also ran really well.”