GERRI Colombe won for the first time in almost two years when justifying favouritism in the Bluegrass Racehorse Cube Chase. Sent off 8/13 favourite under Jack Kennedy, the Robcour-owned 10-year-old was never out of the first two throughout.
Heading the front-running Roi Mage after the third last, the former Grade 1 winner had to be kept up to his work before eventually running out a five-length winner.
Trainer Gordon Elliott said: “Jack said he loved the ground, he really enjoyed himself. He said he didn’t do a stroke when he got to the front.”
Elliott doubles up
Lizzie Twig made a winning racecourse debut when completing a double for Elliott, staying on well close home to land the concluding Bluegrass Mare Prepare Mares INH Flat Race. Sent off 4/1 under Josh Halford, the daughter of Poet’s Word was held up in the early stages before moving closer to track the leaders at halfway. Disputing over two furlongs out, the mare, who carried Elliott’s own colours, was engaged in a dour battle with Gortnaclea Castle inside the final furlong, before eventually prevailing by a length and three-quarters.
Elliott said: “She’s a filly that could end up going to Aintree (Grade 2 mares’ bumper) now, or one of those blacktype races at one of the festivals at home. She won’t jump this year, but we think she is a good filly.”
Close finish
Henry de Bromhead’s Raglan Road justified good support (14/1 into 7/2 joint-favourite) when leading home a 1-2 for J.P. McManus in the Bluegrass High Performance Rated Novice Steeplechase.
Slanagaibhgoleir led on the run-in, but Mike O’Connor and Raglan Road got away from the last well, despite a mistake, and ran him down close home for a half-length victory.
O’Connor said: “A strong-run race. The ground is after drying up a fair bit since I walked it this morning. Just went a strong gallop and he just seemed to stay on. I was just trying to hold him together and get him to finish out his race the best.”
Barley Lane brings up Coney Island memories
THE Eddie and Patrick Harty-trained Barley Lane made virtually all the running to take the opening Bluegrass Relite Maiden Hurdle. Placed on both previous starts, the Fearghal and Bronagh Eastwood-owned gelding was sent off 2/1 to make the breakthrough at the third time of asking. In front from the outset under Kieren Buckley, the five-year-old asserted on the run to the last, staying on strongly to beat market leader Powerful Paddy by five and a half lengths.
Patrick Harty said: “I like this guy a lot. Eddie and I bought him off Ross Doyle and he reminded us a lot of Coney Island, who he is very closely related to.
“I think he’s a nice horse - if he’s as good as Coney Island, time will tell. Easter might come quick and, in fact, it probably will. Punchestown then would be an option.”
Punchestown bound
Pat’s Legacy stayed on best under James Smith to win the Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series At Punchestown Festival 2026 Qualifier Novice Handicap Hurdle. Sent off 11/1, the Ian Donoghue-trained six-year-old was making his first start in handicap company.
Prominent throughout, the Walk In The Park gelding came through to lead at the last; scoring by three-quarters of a length for owner Ronan Murphy.
Donoghue said: “He’s a big, immature horse and it has taken a long time for the penny to drop. He’ll probably go straight to the final (in Punchestown) now, and he will be a nice chaser for next year.”
Smith went on to complete a double as Rockstown Girl proved too good for the opposition in Division 1 of the Bluegrass Respire Handicap Hurdle. The Anthony McCann-trained 11/1 shot tracked the leader Las Brisas Boy and took over entering the straight.
Coppola narrowly headed her before two out, but she rallied to regain the advantage in tackling that flight. The Kenneth James Farmer-owned mare was game, under pressure on the run-in, as she prevailed by three-parts of a length.
Smith reported: “She done it nicely. The plan was to make it, but the two in front went a good gallop and, when they steadied up down the back, I decided to creep a bit closer.
“On that ground, not many of them stop if they have any bit of ability at all. I got there plenty early and had to commit when I did get there, but she was always doing enough.”
THE Charles Byrnes-trained Let Him B survived a mistake at the last to register a first career success in Division ll of the Bluegrass Respire Handicap Hurdle. Unplaced in all 10 previous starts, the six-year-old gelding was sent off a 14/1 chance in the colours of the successful trainer.
Held up in mid-division by Philip Byrnes, Let Him B came through travelling strongly to lead after three out. Despite meeting the final flight all wrong, he recovered well to prevail by three-quarters of a length.
Charles Byrnes said: “He is down at 84 (rating) and appreciated the better ground. We’ll see if he comes out again soon - he had a small bit of tendon issues, and we have to mind him a bit. We’ll give him to this grade for the time being and he will probably jump a fence.” Ross O’Sullivan’s Dora d’Or won for the first time under rules when staying on strongly to land the Bluegrass Resolve Cube Hunters Chase. A three-time point-to-point winner, the Mme J Scarisbrick-owned mare was sent to post a well-backed 9/4 favourite (from 10/1).
Heading Hathaway Cottage after two out, the Lee Shanahan-partnered mare kept on well for a comfortable six-length success.
Shanahan said: “I was full of running going to the last, and she won well, and galloped to the line. Winged the last and kept on running - that’s her, she hasn’t got many gears, but she stays galloping. She’s a proper hunter-chaser mare.”