FIVE-POUND claimer James Smith bagged the €45,000 Holden Plant Rentals Shamrock Handicap Chase, landing a pre-Cheltenham feature-race success for leading trainer Gordon Elliott on Jigoro (12/1).
Racing behind the leaders, the Bective Stud-owned gelding led at the third-last and held on well on the run-in to score by a length and a quarter from Maidenstreetprince.
Elliott’s assistant, Ian Amond said: “He has been running consistently and James gave him a good ride, and found the best of the ground.
“Dropping back in trip probably suited and riding him that way did the trick - he won well.
“James is in a few days a week and is a good lad, who is getting plenty of opportunities. I’d say he will have something to ride for Gordon in the Martin Pipe Hurdle next week and maybe in some of the handicaps.”
Change of luck
Elliott’s well-backed Manoir De Mirande was out of luck in the opening William Hill Challenge Series Maiden Hurdle, as trainer Oliver McKiernan ended a barren spell with the Philip Enright-partnered, Keep The Faith Blockstock-owned Minella Boss (5/1).
The son of Golden Horn made all and fought off Bulgaden Castle by half a length, with another 31 lengths back to the third.
A relieved McKiernan commented: “That is a while coming and it is 12 months to the day since my last winner. Our previous winner was in the Leinster National at Naas and there has been a cloud over the yard since.
“It hasn’t gone away yet, but we think we have a couple of them right now and thought this fella was right. This is a strong type, he is robust enough.”
Patience rewarded
Ross O’Sullivan and the Horse Power Syndicate’s patience had been tested with Sky And Sand (13/2) prior to winning the day’s Holden Fleet Handicap Hurdle, with the gelding scoring under jockey Danny Gilligan.
Unplaced in five previous hurdle outings, the six-year-old was produced from mid-field to score by a length and a quarter from Onlymammycanloveme.
O’Sullivan reported: “He ran such a shocker on his first day back this season, but we put a line through it and he improved a hell of a lot on his latest run.
“He stepped forward again today and he handled the ground - that was the key. He is a fine, big strong horse who will jump a fence as well.
“I approached Gary (Finlay from Naas) about buying the horse and he put a syndicate together. I’m delighted he has won for the lads and we always thought he could do something like this.”
VETERAN 11-year-old Lets Go Champ (7/2) landed the INHSC Tetratema Cup Hunters Chase on his second run for both trainer Mags Mullins and jockey Sophie Carter.
Previously successful in a Grade 3 handicap chase at the 2024 Punchestown Festival, the Knockeen Stables Ltd-owned gelding had scored on his return to point-to-pointing last month and made much of the running before eventually repelling the challenge of even-money favourite Hunters Charm by three-parts of a length.
Mullins stated: “That was brilliant and I am charmed with him; he is a star. Sophie rides out two days a week with me, is a lovely girl and gave the horse a super ride. I got the horse 10 weeks ago and he just does his own thing at home.
“We might look at Aintree now, where he is qualified for the Foxhunters, so we’ll see what he is like tomorrow and go from there. John (Duggan) is a great new owner in the yard, so I’m delighted for him.”
Progressive
The Boyle Sports Cheltenham Bank Handicap Hurdle was won by Gillian Callaghan’s Royal Soldier (11/1), scoring under jockey Donagh Meyler in the colours of the trainer’s husband Pearse Callaghan.
The handicap debutant improved from the rear to eventually score by five and a half lengths from Galavanting George.
Trainer Callaghan stated: “He has progressed with every run and ran nicely at Fairyhouse the last day. With natural progression, he has grown up and he is one for the future. Hopefully, he will eventually go chasing and be a nice horse.”
DROMARD (10/11f) made an impressive debut in the concluding Doc’s Bumper, scoring by 21 lengths for Willie and Patrick Mullins, and owner Dr Peter Fitzgerald.
Although somewhat uneasy in the market, the son of Doctor Dino travelled strongly and having quickened away from runner-up Siege Of Cartage two furlongs out, went further clear inside the final furlong.
Trainer Mullins said: “He’s a lovely big horse and we just couldn’t get him ready in time for Cheltenham. When we saw the Doc’s Bumper, we put him aside for that. He looks a real nice prospect.
“This fellow is by Doctor Dino, they don’t normally win on this heavy ground, but this fellow is a big, old-fashioned chaser type and he relished it. If the ground doesn’t get too dry in the spring, we would keep him for Fairyhouse or Punchestown.”
High hopes
Adrian Sexton has high hopes for Likealightswitch (2/9f) following his mare’s success in the William Hill Challenge Mares Maiden Hurdle, under the trainer’s son, Harry Sexton.
Having made all for an easy seven-and-a-half-length success over Chautuaqua, Sexton senior stated: “She is an extremely difficult mare to train, she is very hard on herself, but is getting better with racing.
“When she learns to race, she will be a hell of a mare and, until now, it is only very good horses who have beaten her.
“She is the best I’ve ever had though and I’m very lucky to have her. I have a plan for maybe Fairyhouse or Punchestown and it is great for Mark (Dunne), who is my sponsor and this is his first horse.”