TRAINER Gordon Elliott’s dominant St Stephen’s Day continued as Kazansky won Limerick’s featured Grade 2 Defender Novice Hurdle under Danny Gilligan.
Kazansky and runner-up County Final battled from the second last, with the son of Milan landing odds of 9/2 by a head. A stewards’ enquiry was later called as the pair bumped on the run-in, but the result stood.
Gilligan reported of the Damree Developments Ltd-owned winner: “It was a lovely tough performance by Kazansky and it was a big step up in trip for him today. He is a genuine horse and, while there was a bit of bumping going down to the last, my lad showed guts to tough it out.”
Irish debut
Willie Mullins introduced a smart newcomer as the ex-French-trained Bertutea easily landed the opening Aqua Process Solutions 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle.
Always prominent under Sean O’Keeffe, the Gigginstown House Stud-owned 7/4 favourite headed leader Elman before two out. Keeping on strongly from the back of the last, Bertutea beat Crooked Path by nine lengths.
O’Keeffe said: “That was a nice performance and he had a bit of hurdle experience in France. He might be better on nicer ground but he has a nice bit of ability and was able to handle it well. Hopefully he can step up and progress now.”
Happy double
O’Keeffe went on to record a double as Happy Dreams landed the BRC McMahon Reinforcements Handicap Chase. Narrowly denied over hurdles at Cork earlier this month, the Michael McDonagh-trained gelding was sent off 9/5 favourite to go one better.
Tracking the leaders after three out, the eight-year-old, who is also owned by McDonagh, came through to lead at the penultimate fence. Staying on well, the eventual winner held the late run of Kilbrin Rocco by a length and a quarter.
McDonagh reported: “That is his fifth time winning here and he loves this track. He is a lovely horse to train, he gives no trouble and is an old pet at home. He won the Tim Duggan Chase two years ago and he is declared to run again in two days’ time from out of the handicap, so if he is okay he’ll run again.”
LOCAL trainer Eric McNamara got the week off to the perfect start when Starting Fifteen justified market confidence in the Signsplus Maiden Hurdle. Sent off 4/5 favourite under Sean Flanagan, the Starting Fifteen Partnership-owned gelding was in the first half-dozen throughout. Coming through to challenge early in the straight, the four-year-old headed Laurets D’Estruval at the penultimate flight before powering clear to score by four and a half lengths.
McNamara said: “The secret to him is Sean Flanagan switching him off and getting him to relax. Sean came down to school him over hurdles in the past couple of weeks which was all in preparation for today so I’m delighted.
“He’ll probably go for a novice next and he could end up running in one of the better handicaps in the spring. He is well bred and could also go back on the flat next year, although it is important he settles.”
Shining pedigree
The Denis Hogan-trained Cousin Kate stayed on strongly from off the pace to win the Mr. Binman Mares Handicap Hurdle. A half-sister to two blacktype mares, the Liam Mulryan-owned filly opened her account in a maiden hurdle at Tramore on her penultimate start.
Sent off a well backed 9/4 favourite (from 3/1), the filly headed leader Carried With Love at the final flight, before staying on well under Sean Flanagan by four and a half lengths.
Flanagan, who registered a double on the card, reported: “She has a massive pedigree and I rode her on her first run. She has stepped forward plenty from each run and stepped forward again today.
“They went a right good gallop and she struggled a bit coming down the hill but she picked up again. Denis (Hogan) rode her himself the last day but left a little bit in the tank. She is quick and slick over hurdles and does the job well and I think she might stay further in time.”
SENT off 9/4 favourite, Moudan survived a first-fence blunder before lifting the O’Kelly Brothers Demolition Rated Novice Chase for Eoin Walsh and Ciaran Murphy.
The Pat McCormack-owned son of Mount Nelson erred at the opening obstacle and with the challenging Choccabloc falling at the second-last, Moudan eventually held on well on the run-in to beat No Flies On Him by a head.
Jockey Walsh commented: “There wasn’t much speed on in the early stages so I left him roll along. He is big and lairy and was pricking his ears, and landed down on top of the fence. He wasn’t doing a lot the whole way and when the others came to me, he started to pick up and began to concentrate on the job.” Jockeys wore armbands in memory of late Paul Kavanagh and Walsh added: “Paul is in our thoughts and we are thinking of him and his family today.”
Right on time
Well beaten on both previous starts, the Charles Byrnes-trained Never Late took a significant step forward when landing the concluding Play perysbingo.com Mares INH Flat Race.
Despite being sent off 33/1 under Anthony Bustin, Byrnes Bloodstock Limited’s daughter of Mahler travelled strongly throughout the race. Although it looked as though her chance had gone when she found trouble in running early in the straight, the four-year-old found plenty once the gaps eventually opened. Staying on strongly close home, Never Late beat Think It Through by a neck at the finish.
Anthony Bustin said: “I broke her as a three-year-old and while she was very good to break, it probably took her time to learn and to know how to work. It was brilliant to get a winner for the lads and hopefully she will go on now over hurdles, or whatever the boss decides to do.”