ARKLE runner-up Only By Night made the perfect start for new owners Robcour with a gutsy victory in a thrilling finish to the Barberstown Castle Chase at Naas last Sunday.
Gavin Cromwell’s charge went to post a 4/1 shot in the Grade 3 contest, on her seasonal debut, and stalked the leaders for most of the two-mile trip.
Keith Donoghue took closer order going to the second last on the Affinisea mare and challenged on the run-in, just pipping Champ Kiely close home for a short-head success after a cracking duel.
“I’m delighted, I’ve been wanting to have a horse for him (Brian Acheson) for a long time and it’s a nice start. She’s a good mare,” said Cromwell.
“She is genuine but she won’t go and win by two or three. She’s brilliant to jump and we got the result anyway. I don’t know where we go next, but ultimately the Mares’ Chase in Cheltenham is the plan. That’s a nice start. Two and a half won’t be a problem to her.”
Mullins dreaming big
The dream is still alive with Letos after he landed a nice prize for connections in the SIS Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle. Tony Mullins’ charge travelled nicely into contention in the straight and hit the front over the last in the two-and-a-half-mile contest to beat The Nagger Reidy by a length and a half.
Mullins trains the 11/1 winner for Philomena Crampton and said afterwards: “I said on Attheraces about a month ago that this was the plan,” said Mullins.
“I think there is more to come, he’s only five and he’s a huge horse. He might bring us to where we dream of going. Danny said he did everything perfect, only idled when he got to the front.
“I said to the owner before the race that if he’s not the real one that I think, he won’t win as he has to win this one to be the real one that I believe he is. I have big dreams.”
When asked if the Coral Cup could be a target he added: “Or the Pertemps, we’ll have to discuss that. I ride him out myself at home and he feels like a horse that wants three miles. Our eventual plan is chasing and that’s where I’d have the real big dreams.”
High hopes
Eddie and Patrick Harty also have high hopes with Irish Panther after an impressive debut over fences in the GavinLynchRacing.com Beginners Chase.
The 5/1 shot led turning for home in the three-miler and quickened away from the last to record a comprehensive eight-length win over Jacob’s Ladder.
Eddie Harty said: “That was exciting, he’s a nice horse. He jumped really well and what really amazed me was how quickly he put it to bed, he actually sprinted.
“The Racing Post Novice Chase at Christmas would be more than likely where we go now. I’m delighted for Brian Whelan and Jennifer Coyle. They took the chance, they wanted a horse that would take them to nice meetings.”
THE card opened with another cosy winner over fences, the Robert Tyner-trained Crecora Hills. J.P. McManus’s filly was a well-backed 6/5 favourite and travelled strongly to lead before the last, under Mark Walsh, before posting a five-length winning margin.
“It was very straightforward, she jumped well,” said Tyner. “She travelled, they went steady. The drop of rain did no harm last night, we were praying for a bit of rain.
“Her jumping was never great from the word go. Even before she came to me, I believe she got more schooling than any horse in the country. I think she’s my fifth first-time-out winner this season. It’s nice and we’re doing something right anyway.”
Hurdles debut
The Henry de Bromhead-trained Fruit De Mer went to post a warm order on his hurdling debut and made most of the running to justify odds of 30/100 in the two-mile-two contest.
Darragh O’Keeffe asked his mount for an effort before the final flight and he galloped on strongly late on to post a two-and-three-quarter-length success over Newbrook Diamond.
De Bromhead trains the Pour Moi gelding for Basil Holian and he said: “I’m delighted with that. He jumped well and Darragh gave him a super ride. It’s what we hoped he might do, he’s a horse we like.
“Like any of ours, we’d hope he’d step forward for the run as well. He’s a nice horse, he’s raw and he’s going to keep improving.”
IN the two-mile maiden hurdle sponsored by Cavan Developments, £200,000 Tattersalls Cheltenham sales purchase Port Authority ran out a wide-margin winner on his first outing for Gordon Elliott.
The 10/3 shot tracked the front-running favourite Murat (11/10), hitting the front before the final flight and powering clear late on to score by 17 lengths. “He’s a nice horse. We thought he’d come on from today as a lot of ours are coming on from their first run,” said Elliott.
“We kept it simple and Jack said he had a blow. He’s very straightforward and I’d say he’ll stay further. He could be a horse that could go for the Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree over Christmas as a few of the boys are from the UK.”
Og on a roll
The Eoin Seymour-trained Tir Og made it three victories in her last five starts, when running out a convincing winner of the Overlander Fishery Lane Novice Hurdle.
Calum Hogan was driving along on the 5/2 shot turning for home and she stuck on gamely to lead over the last and record a three-and-three-quarter-length success.
“She’s brilliant to train, she does everything easy, and she seems to be improving a little bit all the time,” said Seymour.
“She’s very straightforward and we’re very lucky because mares can be tricky. She’s taking her racing very well. She’ll get a little break and then the lads (Keepthehighballslow Syndicate) are looking at getting a race over Christmas for her.”
Another mare to shine on the card was the Declan Queally-trained Shadys Lady in the concluding mare bumper. Queally was to the fore throughout on the 2/1 shot and she kicked clear in the closing stages to record a 10-length success over Torpille Dagrostis.
Queally said: “That was great. Neil O’Mahony was my first owner eight years ago and has been with me through thick and thin, so it’s great to get another winner for him. She’ll probably go for a maiden hurdle now, I’m thrilled with that.”