THE confined cards, for riders who have not ridden more than 15 National Hunt winners in the 2024/2025 season, continue to get less familiar names on the scoresheet, and Willie Mullins’ treble on this programme saw three different jockeys help Closutton to the near 4/1 hat-trick.
On an afternoon when his uncle Rory secured a Navan victory aboard Step Back In Time, Sean Cleary-Farrell kept his boss Mullins happy, getting the Donald Galt-owned 10/11 shot Sysko home a length and a quarter to the good from Son Of Anarchy in the Ladbrokes ‘Get Rewarded With Ladbucks’ Maiden Hurdle.
Re-appearing for the first-time since not quite coming up to expectations when favourite at the Galway Festival last July, the successful French-bred was always up there in a pace-setting role, and his jockey reported: “He raced a lot more keenly than I thought. In fairness though, he kept galloping and he’s a very nice horse.”
McManus double
J. P. McManus, owner of the aforementioned Son Of Anarchy, saw his colours carried to success on the other couple of Mullins winners.
Gavin Brouder donned the green and gold to make all and easily secure the Ladbrokes ‘We’re Big On Boosts’ Maiden Hurdle courtesy of Joueur Masque (6/4 into 8/11 favourite). Harry’s Legacy gave Joueur Masque most to do, but six and a half lengths was as close as the runner-up could get come the line.
“He could maybe jump a fence sooner rather than later,” suggested McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry in the aftermath.
Blueblood lands the bumper
Bred and owned by McManus in conjunction with Coolmore, Annie Power’s Camelot four-year-old Davy Crockett (1/2) lived up to his odds-on billing in the Allied Recycling Supporting Ballymacad Hunt (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race.
Patrick Mullins guided the half-brother to dual Grade 1 scorer, Mystical Power, to an easy nine-length win from Maskarvel.
“I’d like to get his hurdling career started. I’d be looking at him as maybe a Royal Bond horse down the line,” pondered Mullins senior at the number one spot.
“I’d imagine Galway is the main aim now, whether he gets a run over hurdles before then or goes there as a maiden I’m not sure.”
TRAINER Gavin Cromwell had no problem at all taking in both Saturday fixtures, and he was rewarded with winners at Punchestown, and later on at Navan.
Indeed, he saddled the first and third in the Ladbrokes ‘Big Value You Can Bet On’ Handicap Chase as Aeros Luck (9/2 into 11/4 favourite) set the ball rolling on a good afternoon for the handler.
A mistake at the last by the Damien Dillon-owned and Kieren Buckley-ridden victor looked like it might have opened the door for the pursuing The Banger Doyle. However, Aeros Luck managed to keep that consistent sort at bay by a head. The other Cromwell hope, Dutch Schultz, was four lengths back in third.
“He deserved that, he’s a consistent horse and he can run away for the summer,” commented Cromwell.
Back in front
It had been a long time between drinks for a couple of the scorers – human and equine – on this card, Dylan Robinson riding his first winner since December 2021 aboard Prince Zaltar (6/1) in the Ladbrokes Handicap Chase.
This one was for Robinson’s current main-supporter, Philip Rothwell, and the horse represents the Blind Squirrels Syndicate. Leader Malton Groove (eventually fourth) made a mistake at the last, and Prince Zaltar wasn’t long about swooping through to account for staying-on favourite, Western Model, by a length.
“I think he’s a horse that could end up running in the cross-country at Cheltenham in November, but I’d need to discuss it with his owners,” outlined Rothwell.
Loyal owner
Jules Sigler’s veteran, Smackwater Jack (16/1), gained his first win since January 2019 in the Ladbrokes ‘Gaffer Of All Accas’ Handicap Hurdle (DIV I).
A few had chances until late on in this near three-miler, and only two and three-parts of a length split the first five. In the hands of Eoin Walsh, Smackwater Jack edged out the favourite, Barryroe Madam, by half a length.
Trainer Denise ‘Sneezy’ Foster said: “He came to me from England and it’s taken a long time for the penny to drop. Eoin gave him a brilliant ride.
“I’m so happy for the owner Jules Sigler; only for him I would have been gone long ago. He’s got three horses with me all the time. He’s been a great supporter.”
RIDER of third-placed favourite, Mike O’Connor, got a two-day whip ban for his efforts on Belle The Tigress, in the Ladbrokes ‘Best Odds Guaranteed On Racing’ Novice Hurdle.
Chances are that they and the second home Sticktotheplan caught a bit of a tartar though, in the shape of the now two-from-two Timeless Treaty (4/1).
Gordon Elliott has care of the Harzand youngster for the Sierra Pacific, Pioneer Racing and Ruairi Digby triumvirate, and Paddy Cleary was in the plate this time too, after their promise-laden start at Down Royal last month.
Timeless Treaty took over before the second hurdle after a muddling early gallop, but he looked vulnerable when pressed and joined approaching the straight. To his credit, the well-related sort pulled out enough on the run-in to win by three-parts of a length and a length and a half.
“I suppose we’ll probably end up going for a novice at Galway now,” predicted Elliott.
All works out
“She’s been a tricky one to figure out. She kind of gets a bit claustrophobic in among horses and she can race keen. She kind of goes one way or the other,” admitted successful pilot Ben Harvey after the win of Ballerina Boxer (10/1) in the Ladbrokes ‘Gaffer Of All Accas’ Handicap Hurdle (DIV II).
Harvey did the steering for his father, owner/trainer William, and the mare was adding to gains secured in a Tyrella point-to-point back in January.