Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase (Grade 1)
NOT many jockeys ride a big-priced treble, including a Grade 1 victory on a spare ride and a 66/1 winner of one of the most valuable handicaps on the calendar, and leave the track wondering what might have been, but that was the case for Sam Ewing at Leopardstown on Saturday.
On another day dominated by Gordon Elliott, Ewing won on the latter’s Hardy Stuff in the opener, deputised successfully for the stood-down J.J. Slevin on Joseph O’Brien’s Solness in the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase and hit the target again in the 28-runner Paddy Power Chase on Favori De Champdou.
However, it could have been even better had O’Brien’s Talk The Talk not fallen at the last in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle, leaving the race at the mercy of Elliott’s Skylight Hustle with the Cullentra trainer saddling four winners on the card.
In the €200,000 Paddy Power Chase, the blinkered 10-year-old Favori De Champdou (66/1) was prominent throughout the three-mile contest and forged clear after the last to beat stablemate Search For Glory four and a half lengths.
It was a one-two for owners Gigginstown House Stud as well and Elliott remarked “Sam was good on him and got it easy in front.”
Harry Sexton, rider of third home Kinturk Kalanisi, picked up an eight-day suspension for excessive use of the whip.
Hardy Stuff (20/1) was the first strike of the afternoon for Elliott and Ewing as Ray Stokes’ Churchill gelding lunged late to land the Paddy Power I Have No Idea What Day It Is 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle.
The winner got up in the final strides to beat Ole Ole by a head and Elliott reported “They went a good gallop which suited him well. He could be one for the Fred Winter at Cheltenham.”
Super sub
After J.J. Slevin had a fall in the previous race, Ewing was the choice to replace him aboard Solness (8/1) who repeated his victory of 12 months ago in the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase, seeing off a truly gallant Marine Nationale in a thrilling finish.
Only half a length separated them and the Barry Connell-trained Marine Nationale and Sean Flanagan did tremendously well to go so close after a dreadful blunder at the second fence.
Last season’s Champion Chase winner arrived almost upsides Solness, with Majborough just behind, at the final fence, but it was Bronsan Racing’s Solness who battled on gamely to enhance his fine record at this course.
O’Brien said: “He’s very good here in Leopardstown. We tend to keep him wide looking for the better ground and he likes being in lots of space. My heart goes out to J.J. who was stood down with concussion. He’s done all the hard work on the horse, but Sam gave him a fantastic ride. He’ll come back here for the Dublin Racing Festival.”
Connell said of Marine Nationale’s mistake: “Sean said he just came up out of his hands through exuberance, caught it with his hind legs and landed steeply. He ended up facing the wrong way, it looked like he was heading down the M50 to Dublin. I’ve never seen a horse face the wrong direction before, and I’ve been going racing a long time. Fair play to Solness, he’s a 10lb better horse at Leopardstown it seems, but we know our lad loves Cheltenham.”
Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)
SAM Ewing, again filling in for J.J. Slevin aboard an O’Brien-trained runner, looked set to land the other Grade 1 on the card, the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle, on Talk The Talk as he came through to head Skylight Hustle (3/1 favourite) at the last.
Ewing’s mount landed too steeply, though, and came down, leaving the Robcour-owned Skylight Hustle to come home five lengths in front of Carrigmoornaspruce.
“He travelled like a dream the whole way and jumped like a buck,” said winning trainer Gordon Elliott. “Jack said when he came in that he definitely wasn’t beat, and he really liked the way he went from the last to the line. He’s a good horse and I think he’lll stay further as well.”
On fire
Elliott’s fourth, and Kennedy’s second, winner of the afternoon was Bowensonfire (3/1 favourite) in the National Maternity Hospital Foundation Handicap Hurdle.
The French-bred five-year-old, owned by KTDA Racing, came from well off the pace to post a length and a quarter success over Prairie Dancer.
Elliott enthused: “He’s a tricky horse, and Jack gave him an unbelievable ride. He said he got bumped at the first and ended up a bit wide, and it may have suited him. He’s a horse to run in all the good handicap hurdles and when he gets luck in running, he picks up prize money.”
THERE was a Co Cork success in the bumper as Barnahash Mason (11/) won the Paddy Power The Flat One Flat Race. The homebred son of Sandmason, fifth in a Thurles maiden hurdle on his only previous outing, is trained by Jonathan Sweeney for his father John and was ridden by Alan O’Sullivan.
The five-year-old led entering the straight and stayed on well to beat outsider Muckanagh Lough by a length and three quarters. Trainer Sweeney said: “I’d imagine he’ll go back over hurdles and he’d have no bother staying three miles.”
Making all
County Hurdle winner Kargese (10/11 favourite) showed the benefit of her debut over fences at Cork when easily landing the Paddy Power From The Horses Mouth Podcast Beginners Chase.
The Kenny Alexander-owned mare made all and was left clear when James’s Gate came down two out. With the usual final fence omitted due to the low-lying sun, Kargese was able to gallop up the straight for a 14-length verdict over Lovely Hurling.
Winning trainer Willie Mullins said: “She was a lot sharper today and jumped better. I think there is more improvement in her.”