GIGGINSTOWN House Stud’s Staffordshire Knot won for the third time in his last four outings as he led home a 1-2-3 for Gordon Elliott in the Grade 2 William Hill Boyne Hurdle.
His rich vein of form saw him go off 11/10 favourite and Jack Kennedy was content to track stablemate Maxxum over the extended two-mile, five-furlong trip. He got on terms three out, but Maxxum wrestled back the initiative over the next.
Staffordshire Knot challenged the leader before the last and, crucially, jumped it better than that rival. He stayed on best to score by two and a half lengths from Better Days Ahead who came through for second from Maxxum.
Elliott said: “I thought it was a good performance by Staffordshire Knot, he had fitness on his side. We couldn’t get him to finish races last year, this year he has just turned the corner. Even looking at him, he is a different horse. He’s qualified for the Pertemps in Cheltenham, so he could end up somewhere like that.”
Elliott and Kennedy earlier combined with Bective Stud’s Coyote Spirit in the Navan Ford & Opel Maiden Hurdle. The 5/6 favourite travelled well in taking over after two out and powered clear before the final flight.
He passed the line with 25 lengths in hand over Loch Cuan in a remote second. Elliott said: “They went a good gallop. The ground is very soft and he got through it, but he (Kennedy) said it was hard work. He mightn’t want it that soft.”
BROTHERS Connor and Daniel King continued their dream run with Oscars Brother as he followed up on his Grade 2 success at Punchestown in November with another in the same grade in the William Hill Racing Bet Builder Ten Up Novice Chase.
The 6/4 favourite faced three rivals and made all in the hands of Daniel King. They enjoyed a good cushion over their rivals before the fourth fence and, although that advantage was reduced three out, they readily went on before the last to strike by six lengths for J.P. McManus.
Connor King said: “He loved it (ground), he had the ears pricked the whole way. It looked like he could have gone around again. He just likes to do his own thing there but, if someone wanted to give us a lead, we would be happy enough.”
When asked if he will go to the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham, he replied: “I’m not sure. After the last day, we kind of had this race pencilled in. I suppose we can make more plans now. He’s a horse that takes his racing well, so we will see how he is during the week and go from there.
“The timing of it (Brown Advisory) would be good.”
Festival bound
Zanoosh (8/13 favourite) opened up a possible path to the Cheltenham Festival with an emphatic victory in the Listed Ryan’s Cleaning Apple’s Jade Mares Novice Hurdle over two and a half miles.
She travelled supremely well in second for Brian Hayes and set sail for home after the penultimate obstacle. She was far from extended in asserting by eight lengths for the Winning Ways Reunion Syndicate. Trainer Colm Murphy said: “We would have been disappointed if she hadn’t gone and done it well. She had to do it without getting a hard race if you are to consider any graded races.”
When asked about her Grade 1 Albert Bartlett entry, he replied: “It’s a dreamer’s option you might say. We gave it (entry) to her after winning here the last day when they were closing. The step up to three miles on nice ground could be what she wants.
“There’s also a race in Limerick the same day (Cheltenham week), so we’ll see.”
Off the mark
Westandtogether brought up plenty of bets when making the breakthrough in the Gibney’s Of Malahide Handicap Hurdle for owner Jules Sigler. From a morning price of as big as 25/1, her price contracted to 9/1 on the off.
Danny Gilligan held her up and the pair took closer order on the approach to three out. She moved nicely in launching her challenge at the next flight and Gilligan sent her on before the last. Ted’s Corner was in with a shout there, but the leader was a length and a-half too strong for him.
Denise Foster said: “Danny has helped me a lot with her. He got off her in Punchestown, her very first run, and he said ‘Sneezy you are going to have some fun with this one’. It has taken her a little while to get going.”
HENRY de Bromhead’s Rokathir (14/1) (pictured left) pulverised his 16 rivals with a 22-length victory in the William Hill Each Way Extra Handicap Chase.
This staying test of three miles on heavy ground saw eight horses pulled up as Rokathir poured it on before two out. He duly kept on strongly for Darragh O’Keeffe.
The trainer said: “Roger (Brookhouse, owner) is here with his son Rob. They just got over this morning, so delighted. He really appreciated that ground and the trip. There’s the novice handicap back here in March, that might be one.”
Irish debut
French-import Luidgi Du Luy enjoyed his first run on Irish turf in the William Hill Bet 10 Get 5 On Irish Racing (Pro/Am) Flat Race. The 4/1 shot won a final-furlong battle with Liberator and had his measure by a length and three-quarters close home as he scored for the Truckers Partnership.
Emmet Mullins said: “Great start, he had a nice run in Auteuil (third) and I suppose that bit of experience stood to him there on that going today. He’s a horse with a future, I’d say. He could be a nice horse next winter going forward.
“It is great for Michael (O’Neill, jockey). He’s in with me nearly every morning of the week before he goes to work and it is all paying off.”
O’Neill was given a two-day ban regarding time to respond to the whip.