OLDSCHOOL Outlaw made an impressive start for new owner J.P. McManus when taking the BetVictor Solerina Mares Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Tuesday.
The Gordon Elliott-trained mare was sent to post a 1/2 shot for the Grade 3 contest and odds-on punters had few worries.
She led three from home, under Mark Walsh, and kicked clear over the last for a commanding nine-length success over Place De La Nation in the two-mile-two contest.
The winner is now generally 7/2 second favourite for the Ryanair Mares Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and racing manager Frank Berry commented on her performance: “She jumped great and Mark said she felt good and quickened up lovely after the last. You could only be pleased with what she did.
“She seemingly handles that ground very well.
“He was impressed with the way she picked up.
“We’ll leave it to Gordon now to see what he wants to do and see where he wants to go with her.
“As of now you couldn’t be happier to have her anyway.”
Elliott doubles up
Elliott was doubling up on the card having also landed the opening Treo Eile Supporting Mares Maiden Hurdle with Dunsy Rock.
Jack Kennedy was on board Alan Dunlop’s mare and he produced the Poet’s Word filly to lead after the last.
The 9/4 favourite stayed on strongly in the closing stages to record a six-length win over Likealightswitch.
“She was very honest, jumped great and handled the ground well.
“She was good,” said Kennedy.
“On better ground she could probably go up in trip but, on that sort of ground, two miles is okay for her.”
MICHAEL Kenneally has been one of the success stories of the National Hunt season and the red-hot 7lb claimer bagged his first career treble on the card. Don Jefe was easy to back in the ‘unplaced’ maiden hurdle but the 16/1 shot ran out a convincing winner for trainer Ger O’Leary.
Kenneally challenged turning for home on the Jack Hobbs gelding and he led over the second last to post a six-length success over Gunnery Sergeant. “This is as nice a horse as I’ve had. He’s a really promising horse,” said the Cork handler.
“He’s owned by Vince O’Driscoll and myself, we are Double O Racing. Anything is for sale but it won’t bother me to keep this horse as he’s as good a horse as I’ve had. He’s a very smart one, going forward.”
Kenneally was back in the winners’ enclosure after the next race, courtesy of the Eugene O’Sullivan-trained Themanintheanorak.
The 7/2 shot led going to the second last in the two-and-a-half mile handicap hurdle and stayed on strongly in the closing stages to beat 2/1 favourite Folly Master by three lengths.
Completing the haul
“He’s a lovely horse, we like him a lot,” said O’Sullivan of Jack Singleton’s gelding. “J.J. (Slevin) rode him one day and said he’s crying out for fences in the summer, on good ground. The only doubt I had today was the ground.”
Kenneally completed his haul when Our Uncle Jack made virtually all the running for a commanding 10-length success in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.
Martin Fitzgerald’s charge was ridden clear two from home and stayed on stoutly to follow up on a recent success at Clonmel.
“My son Danny rides him out every day at home and he actually rang Michael Kenneally from his hospital bed as he got a bad fall in a point-to-point on Sunday,” said Fitzgerald.
“He broke ribs and punctured a lung and broke his ankle. He gave Michael his instructions and it was nice to win for him. The handicapper has nearly caught up with him so might go over fences next. Danny has a lot of jumping done with him over fences, and he’s quite good.”
The three winners saw Kenneally’s claim reduced to 5lb.
GAVIN Cromwell is eyeing the Champion Bumper for Outofafrika after an impressive success in the BetVictor sponsored bumper. The Shirocco gelding was sent clear early in the straight by Declan Lavery for a six-length success over hotpot Green Hint in the two-miler.
Cromwell said of the 5/1 winner afterwards: “I’ve always liked him. The last day he was a bit green and it turned into a sprint but he was actually staying on well again at the line (when fifth on debut at Leopardstown).
“He was much more professional today and he had strengthened up a lot. He’s a nice horse to look forward to and I think he could be a good horse. I was saying to the lads there that I wouldn’t be afraid to give him an entry in the Cheltenham bumper.
“He’s a grand, simple horse and you need something like that to be able to go over and do things right in the race. I think he has the right mindset.”
Festival bound
Another horse that could be ‘on the boat’ is the Paul Nolan-trained Harwa, who made a winning start for the yard in the BetVictor Maiden Hurdle.
Sean Flanagan led before the last on the 10/3 shot and he soon asserted for a cosy eight-and-a-half length victory over 2/5 favourite Springhill Warrior.
“He was a 50 grand purchase a couple of months ago in France and he doesn’t look too bad now at that,” said Nolan.
“He needed a third run to qualify [for the Fred Winter]’. We were hoping he’d run a nice race and if he got into the race it would be great. I don’t know where we’ll stand now, we’ll see what kind of mark we get.”