GIGGINSTOWN’s Shattered Love gave her trainer Gordon Elliott his fifth across-the-board winner of the afternoon with a possibly fortuitous success in the Listed Horse & Jockey Hotel EBF Boreen Belle Mares Novice Hurdle at Thurles last Sunday.
Racing in second under Jack Kennedy, the 5/2 chance was disputing the lead with the odds-on favourite Asthuria when the hot-pot took a heavy fall at the third last. Left in splendid isolation from that point on, Shattered Love had her task further eased by the final fence departure of Catcheragain to come home in her own time, 37-lengths clear of the only other finisher Kalopsia.
Kennedy said: “She jumped and travelled and was still going alright when Paul (Townend on Asthuria) fell, but I’m not sure how it would have worked out if the favourite had stood up. She’s a nice progressive mare and she’ll stay further.”
Asthuria’s trainer and jockey had earlier enjoyed better luck with her stablemate Royal Caviar in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase. The eight-year-old proved largely frustrating to follow over hurdles, but never put a foot wrong here in making a successful debut over the larger obstacles in the colours of Susannah Ricci.
In front from the start, the 4/7 favourite ran out an easy five and a half-length winner from Keppols Queen at the line. “He was very good and is a natural over fences,” said Townend. “I was very impressed with his jumping and hopefully he can build on it.”
Willie Mullins was also responsible for the market leader Sharps Choice in the Curaheen (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race, but the ‘good thing’ found little once headed by the eventual 10/1 scorer One First Cut over a furlong out and kept on one-paced in third behind Liz Doyle’s charge.
The Finny Maguire-ridden Beneficial filly drew well clear of her rivals to strike at the first time of asking by a convincing six and a half lengths from Mind’s Eye.
Owned by the Hannah And Her Sisters Syndicate from Co Wexford, made up of daughters of the local vet John Bowler, who was involved in breeding One First Cut, the winner “has a beautiful pedigree and is a beautiful filly,” according to her trainer.
Doyle related: “She’s a half-sister to Top Of The Rock and always went well. I just had to get her fit and, usually, when you get a filly like that to the track, the pedigree kicks in. Finny gave her a beautiful ride and she’ll go for those mares’ winners races.”
Back Before Dawn gave her Curragh handler Sandra Hughes a welcome boost when capturing the Molony Cup for her Listowel owner Brian Mulvihill. The mount of Conor Brassil, the 10/1 shot took over from Capture The Drama before the final fence and kept up the gallop to win in good style by a seven and a half-length margin from joint-favourite Garrai Phaidhin. The other joint-favourite, Mick The Jiver, stayed on again in the closing stages to be a further length adrift in third.
A relieved Hughes commented: “That was badly needed! She’s been jumping very well, but is very ground dependent – she can’t go on good ground and she can’t go on heavy. She just needs it soft. She has a great jump in her for a small mare.
“She went wrong on us, but she’s really well now and loves a bit of a trip. We’ll step her up for something at Christmas.”
SECOND SUCCESS
The Conker Club came good for her local trainer Billy Harney in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase and only had to be kept up to her work from the last to hold Courtncatcher by three and a quarter lengths. Harney’s explanation concerning her apparent improvement in form was noted.
The 16/1 outsider was giving her rider Eamonn Corbett his second success in as many days. Harney, who trains the 10-year-old mare for the Old Port Syndicate from Killeanaule and Thurles, said: “She’s been knocking at the door, but has been a nightmare to train - anything unusual upsets her. If she gets another one, she’ll be lucky, but we won’t be in a panic with her.
“The lads who own her enjoy their day’s racing, and never complain.”
Athlone native Corbett, who is now freelancing after a two-year spell across the water with Rebecca Curtis, put another winner on the board, his third of the weekend, when Charlie Stout triumphed for the Shane Nolan yard in the two-mile Gift Horse Gallery @ The Horse & Jockey Hotel Handicap Hurdle at odds of 5/2.
Racing in the colours of Barry Potts, the Spadoun gelding was three-quarters of a length too good for the favourite Bull Ride, despite drifting out to his left. Nolan was on duty at Navan and his representative Michael O’Connor said: “He was unlucky in Galway, but the ground and everything else suited him today and Eamonn gave him a great ride.
“Shane has done a good job with him and you’ll probably see him somewhere at Christmas.” His jockey added: “He’s always been there or thereabouts and the fast run two miles suited him.”
The J.P. McManus-owned Teacher’s Pet (15/8) posted her fourth win of the season with her two-length success for the father and son team of Philip and Luke Dempsey in the Christmas Greetings Rated Novice Hurdle, a race in which the favourite Dounikos, later reported to be blowing hard, had to settle for fourth place.
The winning trainer stated: “She’s improving and it was a nice race for her. She wouldn’t want it much softer than that (officially soft) and maybe she’ll have a break until the spring - she deserves it.”
Whip ban
DRAYCOTT Place’s rider Danny Mullins picked up a one-day whip ban in the fifth race.
ACTING STEWARDS
T.P. Rudd, J. Murphy, E. Halley, L. Walsh
HORSE TO FOLLOW
ROYAL CAVIAR (W.P. Mullins): He looked a class act when winning first time over fences and could be set to make up for lost time with a few more wins in the months ahead.