FOLLLOWING a prolonged dry spell that had led to reduced field sizes of late, the Meath Foxhounds and Tara Harriers fixture at Fairyhouse on Sunday was met with ideal underfoot conditions, attracting a strong turnout and resulting in an extended nine-race card.
The opening four-year-old mares’ maiden divided and was the start of a memorable day for Rob James, who recorded a four-timer, while also training a double in the process. He was responsible for both winning mares in the Matchmaker Syndicate colours, kicking off with Princess Day (3/1 - 5/2) in the first division.
The debutante, a €37,000 Tattersalls May Sale purchase by emerging sire Success Days, who now boasts four winners and two seconds from six runners, travelled fluently and jumped well throughout.
She made stylish headway on the final circuit and quickened smartly from the last to assert over Fancy Hill in a strongly-run contest.
“She’s very good, does everything right and is tough and hardy,” said the winning rider/handler. “She was green throughout, but still did it well. She’s by a lovely up-and-coming sire, I wouldn’t mind having a few more by him.”
In the second division, Royale Navy (3/1 - 9/2) built on a promising debut second behind a smart type at Tattersalls just two weeks earlier. By Born To Sea, the €10,000 Arqana purchase showed a willing attitude and battled gamely to the line.
Though briefly outpaced turning in, she finished strongly once finding her stride to beat newcomer favourite Bessie Grove.
The opening division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden marked the third leg of Rob James’ four-timer, as King Du Brivet (7/2 - 3/1 joint-favourite) got off the mark at the fifth attempt for the Monbeg Syndicate.
Having shown glimpses of ability in previous outings, the son of the late Triple Threat relished the conditions here.
Up the tempo
He took over from the long-time leader and eventual runner-up Good Option in the straight, quickly upping the tempo, he stayed on strongly to score by a convincing eight lengths bringing up the first leg of a double for Donnchadh Doyle.
The finale capped a memorable afternoon for Rob James, as he steered Sioux Falls (2/1 favourite) to victory in the five-year-old and upwards unplaced maiden, bringing up his four-timer and completing a double for Doyle and the Monbeg Syndicate ownership.
Settled towards the rear, the chesnut son of Guiliani was given a well-judged ride, making smooth progress from two-out before asserting after the final fence to score by four lengths over Aberfeldy.
Sent off favourite on his first two starts, he had clearly been held in high regard and confirmed that promise in style.
THE opening division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden went the way of the Jonathan Fogarty-trained Smoke Trail (5/2 - 3/1) for the Gaynestown Stud Partnership.
Sixth on debut at Dromahane earlier this month, the Jet Away gelding stepped forward here. He took up the running early and was never headed.
Given a positive ride by Barry Stone, he opened up a significant advantage from the back of four-out, forcing his rivals to do the chasing. He ran out a convincing winner from Lazare De Star, and this success secured Stone’s first regional title finishing with a total of 21 wins in the eastern region.
The second division saw the impressive Ballyfad (6/1 - 5/1) make a winning debut for handler-rider Luke Murphy. A son of Tirwanko, he raced prominently throughout, jumping and travelling with real fluency.
He asserted his dominance by upping the tempo into the straight. The manner in which he effortlessly put his rivals to the sword was eye-catching, pulling clear to score by four lengths from Seammoon Story.
Murphy remarked: “I always liked him, he’s a good, big, tough, honest horse. He more or less made the running and sat upsides the whole way. Jumped super, just a proper, hardy, straightforward type with a brilliant attitude. All being well, he’ll go to the sales next week.”
The Eddie Power-trained Salvador Lord (4/1) produced one of the visually most impressive performances of the day, when landing the second division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.
The striking chesnut son of El Salvador tracked the long-time leader throughout under Joey Dunne before making his move at the entrance to the straight.
Quickened
He asserted with authority, never needing to come off the bridle, and then quickened again smartly after the final fence to record a commanding six-length victory over King Of Aces for The Neigh Sayers Partnership.
Jurassic Pet (7/2) went one better than her previous effort at Oldcastle to get off the mark for owner James Robinson in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.
Always prominent, the daughter of Sholokhov, who is out of a half-sister to 16-time winner and multiple graded performer Super Tactics, quickened smartly into the straight and drew clear to score by eight lengths from Trustfall in decisive fashion.
P
DESPITE attracting the smallest field of the day, the open for novice riders contest provided a great race for spectators.
Bestaline set out with her customary front-running tactics but was reeled in up the straight by the market leader I Masked Du Potier (4/5 – 10/11 favourite), who has been a model of consistency for owner/rider Pandora Briselden, having never finished outside the top three since she took the reins.
The pair kept Bestaline within striking distance throughout and, approaching the penultimate obstacle, the Pat Doyle-trained son of Masked Marvel showed a sharper turn of foot to assert smartly and secure their fourth success together.
The win brings Briselden level at the top in the race for the lady riders’ title. This was a smart performance from a horse who is continuously improving and making his presence felt since stepping up into the open division.
Lazare De Star (R. James): A €48,000 purchase, he travelled smoothly from the rear and stayed on gamely to finish second, just a length and a half down on debut.
He lost little in defeat and, on the strength of this effort, looks sure to develop into a smart performer.