PATRICK Mullins has his sights set on four figures after partnering his 900th career winner at Fairyhouse last Saturday.
The most successful amateur rider of all time got the leg up on 15/8 favourite Jimmy Du Seuil in the opening SIS Supporting Irish Racing Beginners Chase and made all for a cosy success.
His mount travelled best at the head of affairs going to the final fence in the two-mile, five-furlong contest and ran on well when asked for an effort in the closing stages to post a four-length win over The Big Westerner.
It was an impressive first outing over fences for last season’s Coral Cup winner and the winning rider said: “He jumped brilliant and it looks like he might even be a better chaser than he was a hurdler.
“He beat them easily. Nick Rockett and I Am Maximus got beat in this beginners’ chase and Impaire Et Passe won it.
“We always thought he was a Grade 1 horse and hopefully he can make into one.
On the achievement of riding 900 winners he added: “It’s great to get, I want to get to 1,000.
“I met Stan Mellor’s wife Elain in London recently. He was the first to ride 1,000 and she was telling me that he rode his last winner for my grandfather on Herring Gull in the Prix des Drags. Hopefully I have another three years or so.”
Elliott doubles up
Gordon Elliott has Grade 1 ambitions with Skylight Hustle after his facile win in the Kettles Country House Hotel Maiden Hurdle.
The Robcour-owned gelding went to post a 4/5 shot in the two-miler and the result never looked in doubt.
Jack Kennedy made all on the Jukebox Jury gelding, who skipped clear before the last for a very easy 21-length success.
“I’d say he’s a very smart horse,” said Elliott. “He had a great run the last day, he was only half fit and he blew home. I was delighted with him as we knew there was loads of improvement in him.
“We would have been disappointed if he got beat here today. I’d say he’s a real two-miler. He’ll be going for the two-mile novice race at Christmas. We have to give him a go at it.”
Elliott ran three in the bumper, named after his late uncle Willie Elliott, and it was the Gigginstown gelding Keep Him Company that proved strongest as his runners dominated proceedings.
Josh Williamson got a good tune from the French-bred gelding to lead inside the final furlong and post a three-length success over the owner’s other representative, Generous Risk.
Elliott’s other runner, 11/10 favourite Premier Division, was a length back in third.
“He’s a nice horse, he’s a proper staying horse and you’d like him,” said Elliott of the 11/4 winner. “He’ll probably go for a bumper at Christmas.”
THE feature event on day one of the ‘Winter Festival’ was the EasyFix Equine Handicap Chase and John Ryan’s Drumgill landed the lion’s share of the €45,000 pot.
Michael Kenneally produced the 11/1 shot to lead after the second last and he found plenty late on to secure a two-and-a-half length win over long-time leader Touch Me Not.
“He’s a magical horse. Things just didn’t go his way in Punchestown (last time) and he was very unlucky he didn’t win the Mayo National,” said Ryan.
“That’s seven races he’s won now, he’s a phenomenal horse.
“The Dan Moore (January 10th) back here will probably be his next run. On soft ground he’s better over two miles.”
In the other handicap chase on the card True Testimony ran out a cosy winner of the mares’ event for Ian Donoghue.
Amateur Joey Dunne produced the 7/1 shot to lead before the last and she was driven out late on to record a length-and-a-quarter win over Uhavemeinstitches.
Dunne, in the colours of Matthew Rogers, said: “It’s only her third run for Ian and we thought she’d improve plenty when we got her.
“The last day in Cheltenham she probably went a bit hard. Ian said to drop her in a bit today, get her in a rhythm and get her to come home well. She did that very easy.”
TALK The Talk looked like a horse going places when running out an impressive winner of the Jack McInerney Memorial Hurdle for Joseph O’Brien.
Sam Ewing stepped in for the ride on the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned four-year-old gelding, who was a well supported 2/1 joint-favourite in the Grade 3 contest.
The Born To Sea gelding kicked clear before the last in the two-miler for a comprehensive seven-and-a-half-length win over I’m Slippy.
Ewing said: “He’s a lovely horse. Once he settled, after he jumped the first, he got into a nice rhythm and it was all plain sailing really.
“I winged the second last and was kind of left there on my own but he’s very honest. He’ll improve plenty going forward.”
When asked if he could be a Grade 1 horse in the future he added: “I don’t see why not.
“It was an okay maiden he won in Limerick but I think that was a big step forward today. He’s beaten proven horses, and other exciting horses in the field.”
Bright future
Another horse who looks to have a bright future is the Eric McNamara-trained L’Evangeliste, who justified a short price in the following Close Brothers Rated Novice Hurdle.
Sean Flanagan made all on the even-money shot, who kept on well in the closing stages to hold Gin Tonic at bay by a length and a half.
“He’s a lovely horse. I don’t believe that making the running is ideal for him but in his last two races there has been no pace on both days,” said McNamara.
“He’s doing everything right so far, onwards and upwards. He’ll make a lovely chaser in time as well.
“He might go to Limerick on St Stephen’s Day for the novice hurdle over two-miles-seven.”
From the front
Front-running tactics also reaped rewards for Billy Lee Swagger as he dominated from the front in the Summerhill Meath Senior Football Handicap Hurdle.
Tiernan Power Roche sent the 6/1 shot on after the second last in the two-and-a-half-mile contest to record a comprehensive six-and-a-half-length success.
Trainer Philip Rothwell said afterwards: “That was brilliant. We just decided to change things around completely today.
“I thought there wasn’t much pace in the race and that he was fit so we’d try and ride him very prominently. We might look at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve with him.”