THE Big Westerner delivered the star performance on the second day of Limerick’s Christmas Festival as the 11/8 chance got the better of market rival Jade De Grugy in an exciting renewal of the McMahon’s Builders Providers Irish EBF Dawn Run Mares Novice Steeplechase.
Second in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham, the Henry De Bromhead-trained six-year-old had also been runner-up on her chasing debut at Fairyhouse. Here, she led from early and jumped well in the main under Mike O’Connor. Jade De Grugy joined issue on the run to the second-last but a faster jump at the final fence carried The Big Westerner to a two and three-quarter-length success in the colours of Coolmara Stables Limited.
“It is nice to get a winner over Christmas, and especially to get my first Grade 2,” 24-year-old O’Connor said. “She was tough and game and jumped impeccably. Staying is no problem to her and we always felt chasing would improve her.
“This means everything as it has been a quiet and frustrating season for me.”
HAVING been forced to settle for runners-up honours in the feature, Willie and Danny Mullins went one better in the next race, as Gigginstown House Stud’s Storm Heart (7/4) gained his second win over flights in the four-runner Goggin Buckley Hurdle
Runner-up at the top level at last year’s Dublin Racing Festival and second in a handicap at that meeting in February, the 147-rated gelding was prominent initially before being slotted in behind the leaders. The son of Storm The Stars picked up well in the straight to beat Riskaway by six lengths.
Danny Mullins reported: “We were coming here off a layoff against others who had race fitness on their side. It was a good performance and class kicked in late on.
“There was a bit of tactics at the start and nobody wanted to go, so I decided to follow the pace-setter and a few good jumps and a bit of speed got him there.
“He has run a good few pounds below what his peak is, so it will be interesting to see where the team decide to go next.”
Homebred hero
Galileo Dame also placed in a Grade 1 previously and was sent off favourite to get off the mark over hurdles in the Earl Of Harrington Mares Maiden Hurdle, but was beaten half a length by the James King-trained Changeyourstars (10/1).
The daughter of Shirocco, owned by Mrs C T Ryan & Philip Brady Partnership, headed the favourite at the last before being driven out by Phillip Enright to hold off that rival by half a length.
The winning trainer’s brother, amateur jockey Pa King, said: “I won a point-to point on her and she then went to the sales but wasn’t sold. She is a homebred and fair play to the owners who decided to race her.
“She will probably be better over a fence next year.”
Another for Elliott
After his four-timer at Leopardstown the same afternoon, Gordon Elliott put the cap on another memorable day when three-year-old Cumberland River (14/1) beat older rivals in the D & J Glazing Novice Handicap Hurdle.
Pushed along entering the straight with plenty of rivals ahead of him, the Aidan O’Ryan-owned Elzaam gelding started to motor between the final two flights and headed the wayward Burlington House on the run-in to beat that rival by two lengths.
Jockey Jordan Gainford commented: “He was very babyish throughout, but once he started to get the hang of things, he had something to aim at and stuck down his head.”
SUCCESSFUL with Happy Dreams on St Stephen’s Day, Michael McDonagh registered a second winner at his local track’s Christmas meeting as the owner/trainer’s Krabat (6/1) gained an overdue success in the Tim & Martin Molony Veterans Handicap Chase.
Last successful at Clonmel in February 2022, Krabat ended a 27-race losing run as he hit the front between the final two fences under Cian Quirke to beat market leader Decimation by a length and a quarter.
“This horse got an injury last year and had been out for a while,” Cratloe-based McDonagh reported. “He came back very shook-looking and very thin from the field, but progressed tremendously. He is like myself and would be a bit old to be improving, but if he keeps going this way he’lll be ok.
“Sometimes when they come back in too heavy from the field, it takes too much work to get them ready, and his recent run over hurdles brought him on.”
Well-earned win
Despite taking a walk in the market out to 7/1, morning favourite Torps came out on top in the Boyle Sports Home Of The Early Payout Ladies Handicap Hurdle, marking a deserved win after placing on all but one of his previous starts.
Trained by Eric McNamara for owner/breeder Richard G Walsh, the Mahler gelding pulled his way to the front before halfway but kept responding in the home straight to see off Whateys Quest by a length and a half.
Winning rider Emily Costello explained: “He had run well in his last few maiden hurdles over two miles and going two and a half miles was a big help.
“I’m riding out a day a week in Eric’s and this is my first winner for him.”
King again
The Roche’s Feeds Handicap Hurdle saw nine-year-old King Kali (6/1) record a second career success, with Kevin Sexton doing the steering for trainer Sean Byrne.
The Kalanisi gelding, owned by Mrs Paula Murphy and Eadaoin Byrne, moved smoothly into contention and led before the last. The winner dived at that final obstacle but lost little momentum and was ridden out to account for gambled-on favourite Is Charlie Around by three and a half lengths.
Sean Byrne junior, assistant to his father, reported: “He probably needed the run at Naas the last day having been off so long. We were afraid of the ‘bounce’ but, thank God, it worked out.
“He has had a lot of injuries and has very little miles for his age. He’ll go chasing at some stage and might be better over fences if he takes to it.”