WILLIE Mullins and Paul Townend landed a big race double at Naas on Sunday. Blood Destiny took the featured Grade 3 William Hill Racing Bet Builder Chase. Sent off 6/4 favourite, the Roaringwater Syndicate-owned gelding tracked the pace in third before coming through to challenge leader Touch Me Not after two out.
Jumping the last in front, the son of No Risk At All asserted on the stiff uphill climb to win by four and three-quarter lengths. “It’s just great to get the win, without giving lumps away like he was the last day,” said assistant David Casey. “He obviously likes it here, he won a good novice around here. He was on a going day, travelled sweet and did it well.”
Ready, set... walk?
Mullins and Townend had earlier won the Listed Download The William Hill App Juvenile Hurdle with jumping debutant Majolique. Carrying the familiar colours of Kenny Alexander, Townend took his time to get the race underway, leading the field at a walk once the flag was dropped. The 15/8 favourite led over the first flight after finally breaking into a steady canter, before settling second as Immediate Effect took over.
Dropping back to third before halfway, Townend was content to ride a waiting race until the contest started to develop early in the straight. A mistake two out briefly put the filly on the back foot.
However, having quickened smartly on the run to the last, Majolique came through to lead over 100 yards out to score by four lengths.
“I wasn’t expecting that, I didn’t think she was ready enough and that she’d need the run,” said David Casey. “She put up a good performance, the fact that they went so slow probably helped her. I think she’ll improve hugely for it.”
Raceday stewards found all five riders in breach of Rule 211(d) (reasonable racing pace) and imposed a fine of €250 on each rider. Donagh Meyler was found in breach of Rule 214 when drifting left after the last, and was handed a four-day suspension.
PUNTERS that followed the money in the Listed William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Nas Na Riogh Novice Handicap Chase will have been raising their glasses to jockey Mark Walsh, as market leader Goraibhmaithagat overcame a sketchy round of jumping to justify favouritism. Sent off 7/2 favourite in the J.P. McManus silks, the Colm Murphy-trained gelding was far from fluent at a number of his fences and required a masterful ride from Walsh to keep him in contention.
Moving third after jumping the penultimate obstacle, the gelding showed a willing attitude from the back of the last, eventually getting on top close home to beat Magic McColgan by half a length.
“He got the job done. He made a few silly mistakes on the way, but he was tough,” said Frank Berry. “He handled the ground well and got a good ride so we’re very happy.”
Off the mark
Former point-to-point winner Melbourne Shamrock recorded a first victory under rules when justifying favouritism in the Pertemps Network Group Handicap Hurdle. Sent off 5/2 favourite, the Emmet Mullins-trained gelding was never out of the first two, as he led or disputed with Hartur D’arc. Quickening smartly under Donagh Meyler to head the latter at the final flight, the Robert Waley-Cohen-owned seven-year-old kicked a couple of lengths clear on the run-in.
Minella Sixo emerged from out of the chasing pack to get to within a neck at the line, but the eventual winner was always just doing enough.
“It was a gritty performance. He’s been knocking on the door in a few nicer races,” said Mullins. “It’s a great win to get for Robert, to get him qualified for Cheltenham. I’d say he should take his place in the Pertemps Final, once he gets into the race.”
Taking chances
Trainer Philip Rothwell extended his lead at the head of the William Hill Each Way Extra Challenge Series when Give Him A Chance stayed on best to take the William Hill Each Way Extra Handicap Hurdle. Having already secured almost twice as many points as his nearest rival, Rothwell went further clear after the John T O’Connor and Michael P Gleeson-owned 14/1 chance scored under jockey Tiernan Power Roche.
Travelling strongly on the heels of the leaders after the penultimate flight, Give Him A Chance came through to head Catch The Beast on the run-in, keeping on well to win by a length and a quarter.
Rothwell said: “I thought the handicapper had caught up on him and didn’t think he’d progress unless we’d be better back at two miles on heavy ground. That was my last roll of the dice. I said to the lads after Christmas I’d freshen him up and wait for two miles on heavy ground.”
THE Gordon Elliott-trained Low Kick looked a smart prospect when quickening up inside the final furlong to register a first success in the William Hill Inside Track Ireland (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race.
Sent off 3/1, the Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding chased market leader State Pension for much of the journey. Coming through under Harry Swan to lead over a furlong out, Low Kick quickened right way to win by 10 lengths from the newcomer It’s Good To Talk.
Stable representative Aidan ‘Mouse’ O’Ryan said: “He’s a very nice horse. He came on plenty from the first day, obviously it was a good bumper in Navan. They went a good gallop and he picked up really well. I loved the last furlong from him.
“He’s a very smart horse, a gorgeous horse. We bought him off Jack Teal in England and he was raving about him for a long time. He got beat a couple of times for them, but he’s shown us the right signs all the way.”
Star shines bright
Ricky Doyle made every yard of the running aboard the Arthur Moore-trained Star Of The Week to land the William Hill Ireland Bet10 Get5 Maiden Hurdle.
Runner-up at Down Royal last month, the Jonathan Duffy-owned five-year-old was sent to post a well-backed 5/4 favourite to open his account at the third time of asking.
Sent straight to the front from flag fall, Doyle set steady fractions on the son of Masked Marvel, before quickening entering the home straight to finish five lengths ahead of Dschingis Desire.
“He’s a gorgeous horse, he’s a model,” said Moore. “He’ll have one more run and he’ll go chasing next year. Two miles is fine for him and over fences that will be fine. He can work up from there.
“Ricky gave him a lovely ride. He’s very under-rated, he got the fractions right and is a very good horseman. I’m lucky to have him riding for me.”