THE recent alliance between Emmet Mullins and Amo Racing Limited reaped an early dividend when Dallas Star successfully transitioned to jumping in the maiden hurdle sponsored by Bar 1 Betting.
The five-year-old gelding went off 15/8 favourite, on stable debut for Mullins, with punters mindful of the high level he was campaigned at on the flat.
Donagh Meyler had him in the box seat in second behind Minella Post and Dallas Star took over in jumping the last. En Or came home well, but Dallas Star fended him off by half a length.
Mullins said: “I’ve just had a quick call with Kia (Joorabchian, Amo Racing Limited) on the phone, and he is over the moon. He says he can’t believe his first jumps runner is a winner. I said, ‘we will start as we mean to go on!’.
“I’d be fairly sure the plan will be to stay over hurdles and get a good novice hurdle season out of him. Next summer he is a horse that will definitely be more than capable of switching codes.”
Cheltenham on the cards
Bells Grove (11/2) stayed on well to collar Lips Freedom in the handicap hurdle sponsored by SIS.
Kieren Buckley settled him in mid-division and the pair improved to second in jumping the last.
Nothing finished better than handicap-debutant Bells Grove who passed Lips Freedom close home to hit the line three-quarters of a length to the good for owner David L’Estrange.
Edward Buckley said: “We were talking the other day about maybe going to Cheltenham in October to see what is there for him. The ground at the October meeting could suit, and we want nice ground.”
Wings off the mark
Norman Lee’s At The Wings was another horse tasting success for the first time in the first divide of the Millbrook Food Group 100 Years Celebration Handicap Hurdle.
The son of Wings Of Eagles made his move two out and grabbed the lead on the approach to the last. The uphill finish wasn’t problematic as he saw it out by two lengths at 7/1 for the Stones & Homes Syndicate.
Jockey Shane O’Callaghan said: “There was no hood on him today, so we just rode him on heels and kept him covered up.
“He jumped like a buck and probably got there a bit too soon, probably idled a little bit going to the last.”
MOTHER Ship’s consistency was rewarded in the second split of the Millbrook Food Group 100 Years Celebration Handicap Hurdle.
Paddy Hanlon was on board the 11/1 shot who raced in rear of mid-division before improving her position two out.
She got on terms at the final flight and dropped her head on the line to pip Jurality for the Give Me A Name Syndicate.
Shark Hanlon said: “I thought Paddy was very good there. He took his time and came out for the better ground jumping the last two.”
Close finish
Paul Townend’s sole ride on the card was a winner as Emerald Enigma (4/5 favourite) delivered in the Meath Farm Machinery Maiden Hurdle. The six-year-old mare represented Willie Mullins and owner Ms Eleanor Manning.
She was one of three horses right there approaching the last and, despite not putting in her best jump there, rallied to get up by half a length from C Pas Possible.
Townend said: “I was slow at the last and I thought it might have cost me but, being Navan, you always want to keep a little bit up your sleeve even on good ground.”
GEORGIE Benson earned the plaudits after steering 5/1 joint favourite Can Happen home in the ladies’ handicap hurdle sponsored by Racing TV.
She guided him into the lead racing to the last and a good jump saw him stay on nicely along the run-in to hold Sallap by three-quarters of a length for owners Michael J. Mulligan and Patrick G. Walsh.
Trainer Peter Flood said: “She gave him a great ride because his jumping has been a little bit ‘iffy’ for us. Georgie is very good at getting the horse’s confidence going.
“He might go to Cheltenham in October. We stepped him up in trip today and he seemed to enjoy that.”
Battling home
Patrick Mullins was an eye-catching jockey booking for Charles Weld’s newcomer Double Helix (12/1) in the bumper sponsored by Bar 1 Betting and the pair prevailed after a battle with Derek O’Connor and Sharbel.
Double Helix was ridden to lead a furlong down but Sharbel, on his inner, was up for the fight and kept Double Helix more than honest as he went down by a neck. A stewards’ enquiry was called into possible interference, but the result stood.
Mullins, sporting the colours of Mrs John M. Weld, said: “He was green everywhere and it took him the length of the straight to really hit top gear, but that is what Charles had told me - to get clear air on him and let him use his stride.
“I have to thank Finny Maguire - he put me in for the ride, he has gone over to Newmarket to ride in the amateurs’ Cambridgeshire.”
Fifth time lucky
Returning Officer got off the mark at the fifth time of asking in the ‘unplaced’ maiden hurdle sponsored by Bar 1 Casino.
Jack Kennedy sent him on after the penultimate flight and soon rode him clear. The six-year-old gelding wasn’t foot perfect at the last, however, it didn’t stop his momentum as he rolled home by six lengths at 3/1 in the colours of Gordon Elliott.
The trainer said: “He quickened up there and galloped well - I know it wasn’t the best race in the world. This race was kind of made for him, and I do think he is better than what he has done.”