HENRY de Bromhead and Darragh O’Keeffe have enjoyed a purple patch in recent weeks, and they teamed up to land the featured Noreside Catering Handicap Chase with 5/2 favourite Downmexicoway.
The Champs Elysees gelding was recording his third win under Rules and, after leading at the penultimate fence, kept on strongly in the closing stages to dismiss the challenge of Drumgill by three lengths. The pair pulled 15 lengths clear of top weight Rebel Gold in third.
De Bromhead said: “He toughed it out well and I’m delighted for Basil and Bernie Holian. I was concerned about the ground (officially heavy), but he didn’t seem to mind it, and we’ll look for something in the next couple of weeks. He’s a nice horse and is progressing all the time.”
Moon rises
The de Bromhead/O’Keeffe partnership were also expected to take division two of the PRL Group Maiden Hurdle with Tim Toe, but the 2/7 shot couldn’t match the late surge of Chase The Moon who came from an unlikely position two out to eventually score by two and a half lengths under Tiernan Power Roche.
“One of my best friends, Mark Scallan, had him point-to-pointing and recommended him strongly. I’m trying to buy horses that are not obvious and trusting what my friends are telling me and it’s working out well,” said trainer Philip Rothwell of the 18/1 winner. “He’s not this year’s horse and is for jumping a fence in a year’s time. He’s only four and is 17 hands. It’s great to have the support of the likes of David (L’Estrange, owner). It’s massive.”
’Big baby’
Rothwell and Power Roche went close to completing a double in the Gain Equine Nutrition Novice Handicap Hurdle where Kentucky Beach made a bold bid from the front, but was reeled in close home by Welluknow (11/2) with Daniel King’s mount getting up to score by a neck.
Winning owner/trainer Mark Molloy said: “He’s a big baby and was a July foal. He got a setback last year, so it’s just lovely to see him come around.
“He’s a home-bred and it’s a great pleasure when you have been looking at them for a long time. I think he’s a nice horse in the making and we might find something for him around Christmas.”
MAVERICK Mack took division one of the PRL Group Maiden Hurdle in decisive fashion, travelling well to lead after two out under Jack Kennedy and soon asserting to beat Bergamasquo by six and a half lengths.
“We knew he was a jumper and ran him in a bumper hoping we might get away with it, but it turned into a sprint,” said trainer Gordon Elliott of the easy-to-back 10/1 winner. “He hit the line well and Ray Stokes is a great supporter of the yard, so I’m very happy.”
Out in force
The Youoktodrive syndicate were out in force to greet Thedeviluno after the 9/1 chance, runner-up on his previous three bumper starts, made a successful start over hurdles in the Proficient Engineering Irish EBF Maiden Hurdle.
Sean O’Keeffe’s mount got on top in the closing stages to beat Skylight Hustle by two and a quarter lengths and trainer Paul Nolan said: “It’s great for the lads. It was a while coming and he bumped into some very decent horses in his bumpers.
“He worked well on heavy ground before and that’s the first time he got it as soft as that in a race. This looked a fairly decent race on paper and it’s great that he’s got his win in the bag and we’ll make a plan now.”
Making it count
Willie Mullins had just the one runner on the card, but made it count as May Call You Back recorded a fourth win this season in the Pat Carroll’s Pub Kilkenny Mares Handicap Hurdle.
The Pauline Carroll-owned 3/1 favourite overcame a mistake at the last to beat Cousin Kate by three quarters of a length.
“She’s a great money-spinner and handled that soft ground really well today, so hopefully she might keep going through the winter,” said winning rider Brian Hayes.
THE Matthew Rogers-owned Break My Soul got her chasing career off to a bright start in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase.
The point-to-point winner, a smart sort over hurdles winning twice and also fourth behind Lossiemouth in a Grade 1 at Aintree earlier this year, led approaching the last and was just pushed out by Keith Donoghue to assert on the run-in for a three and a half lengths verdict over Qualimita.
The easy-to-back 6/1 winner is trained by Donoghue’s brother Ian, who said: “Last year, we were only killing time over hurdles. I wanted to go for a chase straight away, but luckily enough Keith talked sense into me and said keep her for next season.
“We’ll look at those graded mares’ races and we won’t be afraid to go against the geldings as well. We’ll try and stay to two miles and she’s definitely the best one we’ve ever had.”
’Blame the trainer!’
Jacovec Cavern, trained locally by Paul Hennessy for The Turner family, also made a winning start over fences in the Gerry Comerford Drilling Beginners Chase.
The 18/1 chance was prominent throughout under Richie Condon and kept on strongly from the last to beat John The Diva by three and three quarter lengths.
“It was a long time coming, but it’s great and Richie did all the homework with him. We’ll be looking at anything from two and a half to three miles with him over fences,” said Hennessy before adding: “You wouldn’t think a horse that was eighth in a Triumph Hurdle would take two years to win a race. Blame the trainer!”