Racing Post Novice Chase (Grade 1)
GORDON Elliott capped an incredible St Stephen’s Day with an across-the-card six-timer as Romeo Coolio led in the dying strides to win the featured Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown.
Sent off 8/15 favourite under Jack Kennedy, the KTDA Racing-owned gelding was settled just off the pace as Irish Panther led the way. Pushed along in third entering the straight, the market leader momentarily looked in trouble as the leader kicked again.
However, having switched out to challenge approaching the last, Romeo Coolio stayed on well to eventually collar Irish Panther for a half-length victory.
“I was hoping the line was going to be further away than it was,” said Elliott. “Jack said Kieren Buckley was very good on his horse, he winged it and got three lengths on him and we got stuck in a pocket. The horse was very gutsy, we know he stays very well.
“He’ll have learned a lot from today as he was spending a bit of time in the air over his fences and was a bit slow away from them. If we got soft ground on the first day of Cheltenham you’d never know.”
Making all
Elliott hit the ground running when Ballyfad made all to win the opening TRI Equestrian Maiden Hurdle. Unbeaten in three previous starts, the Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding led from flag fall under Jack Kennedy.
Pushed along to assert entering the straight, the 7/4 chance kept on strongly to beat Leader D’Allier by nine and a half lengths.
“We were a bit worried in his bumpers that he looked like he was a bit sluggish in soft ground,” said Elliott. “He seemed to like that ground. We were worried that he might not be quick enough on it but it was a good performance. We’ll get him home and have a chat with Michael and Eddie and see where we go, maybe the DRF.”
Tough win
Spinola Bay showed great resolution to land the E-Auctions Novice Handicap Hurdle for Elliott. In front entering the home straight, the David L’Estrange-owned 7/2 favourite was strongly pressed by both Chiefs Kingdom and Money Dancer on the approach to the final flight.
Headed briefly on the run, the market leader showed plenty of determination under Jack Kennedy to get back up close home to win by a neck. “He was tough and Jack said he’ll stay further,” said Elliott. “He said he was getting it easy in front and he took it. He said when they quickened he was a bit flat-footed but picked up and galloped again.”
THE Peter Lawlor-trained Murat registered a first win over flights when showing a determined attitude to land the Thorntons Recycling Maiden Hurdle. Leading after jumping the first flight, the 11/2 chance made most but was passed by the Elliott-trained El Cairos early in the straight.
Looking booked for second place, Murat was left back in front after El Cairos stumbled and fell after the last. Doctor Du Mesnil threw down a challenge on the run-in but couldn’t get to Murat who prevailed by a nose for owner/trainer Lawlor.
“I was up against two Grade 1 horses there, and the winner probably fell,” said Lawlor. “We might go to Cheltenham and have a day out there with him. We’re close enough to the horses that are in the betting for the Supreme so why not roll the dice with him now.
“I told Cian(Quirke) to try and get a fill into him, possibly two, and he gave him a fabulous ride. He’s nearly 18 hands high, if he’s sound in the morning we’ll dream of bigger days again. I might turn up here for the DRF.”
Triumph favourite
Narciso Has shortened into clear favourite for the Triumph Hurdle after a dominant display in the Grade 2 Changing Time Brewery Juvenile Hurdle. The Willie Mullins-trained gelding had been runner-up at Fairyhouse on his Irish debut late last month and went one better in fine style. Danny Mullins bounced out in front on the J.P. McManus-owned 11/10 favourite before settling in behind the free-going Kasper Hauser after a couple of flights. Narciso Has reclaimed the lead down the back straight and kicked turning for home to post a comprehensive 11-length victory.
Assistant David Casey said afterwards: “He ran brilliant in Fairyhouse for a horse with such inexperience. We thought he’d improve from there and were kind of hoping he’d put up that performance today.
“I think there is plenty of improvement to come as well. He’s a horse that stays well. We like him, he’s a fair horse. We were confident he would keep going. Danny wanted to be positive and it worked out great.”
KIERAN Buckley gained some compensation for his narrow defeat in the feature event when scoring on Addragoole in the Racing Post Handicap Chase. The Gavin Cromwell-trained gelding went to post an 11/1 shot and travelled sweetly to lead going to the final fence.
The Addragoole Partnership-owned six-year-old stuck on well in the closing stages to post a two-and-a-quarter-length win over Release The Beast.
“He loved that ground, the better ground on the chase track,” said Cromwell. “He’s a horse that had been running over the summer, around the likes of Bellewstown, and the better ground obviously suited him well. It’s nice to get a result and it’s nice for Kieren after just getting touched off in the Grade 1, it’s a little bit of compensation for him.”
Successful debut
Noel Meade introduced a smart sort in the finale as The Mourne Rambler made a winning racecourse debut in the concluding Race And Stay INH Flat Race. Second on his only point-to-point start, the Philip Polly-owned gelding was sent off 8/1 to go one better on his Rules debut. Held up in mid-division by Dara McGill, the four-year-old was pushed along in fifth place entering the straight before coming through to head Cityofblindinlites 150 yards out to score by three and a quarter lengths.
Meade said: “I’d say he’ll come on a good bit from the run. I would have thought that they’d be pretty keen to bring him to Cheltenham and maybe back here for the DRF.
“We might even leave it like that and go to Cheltenham with him how he is. He’ll have a couple of more runs this season and then go jumping. We’ll see how he comes out of this and we certainly won’t rush him back anyway.”