WILLIE Mullins is considering a number of big race options for Too Bossy For Us after the expensive purchase got off the mark over hurdles in the two-mile ThatPrizeGuy.co.uk Maiden Hurdle to initiate a double on the card for the champion trainer and Paul Townend.
The Golden Horn gelding, bought by the H O S Syndicate for 330,000gns back in the autumn of 2024, was following in the footsteps of subsequent Breeders’ Cup hero Ethical Diamond who won this maiden hurdle for the same connections 12 months ago.
The uneasy 5/4 shot headed the front-running Speculateur approaching the final flight and kept on well on the run-in to score by two and a half lengths with Mino Des Mottes putting in some good work in the closing stages to complete a 1-2 for Closutton.
“He did it nicely. It was a slow enough run contest and we’d have preferred a faster one. He still has a bit of improving to do, and he jumped the last very high which showed he has plenty left in the tank,” said Mullins.
“He has enough class for the Supreme, but we’ll have a look and see what races he’s in and what he’s qualified for. He’ll hopefully be a horse that will be dual-purpose during the summer, and we might try and qualify for the Melbourne Cup as well.”
Fillyoureye brought up the Mullins/Townend double in the two-mile, seven-furlong ThatPrizeGuy.co.uk Maiden Hurdle with the Flynn family’s homebred son of Leading Light leading off the home turn and drawing clear to beat Frankie’s Freebie by 16 lengths.
“He needs a bit of nicer ground and a trip. Looking at him today I think he needs a fence too, but I’ll wait until the new season comes in. He was very free but is now settling in his races and we took the hood off him today,” said Mullins of the 7/4 favourite.
VANILLIER again showed his liking for the unique demands of cross country racing when repeating his victory of last year in the ThatPrizeGuy.co.uk P.P. Hogan Memorial Cross Country Chase.
The well-backed 15/8 favourite put up a fine front-running display in the hands of Keith Donoghue and kept on well in the straight to beat The Goffer by a length and a quarter with Conflated holding every chance a further half a length back in third.
“It’s something different from your day-to-day stuff and I get a good kick out of it. He’s brilliant at it, ground conditions (soft to heavy) suited, and I think jumping won it for him,” said Donoghue before adding, “You couldn’t meet nicer people than the Keaveneys who have been with Gavin (Cromwell) for a while now and they are just lovely people.”
Walsh on a roll
Mark Walsh followed on from his four Grade 1 wins for J.P. McManus at the Dublin Racing Festival with another two winners for the leading owner aboard the siblings Crecora Hills and Agameoftwohalves.
Crecora Hills justified strong support in the featured Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Handicap Chase with the 6/5 (from 5/2) favourite striking the front at the second last and asserted on the run-in to beat Sophia Rose by five and a half lengths. Winning trainer Robert Tyner said, “It was a nice performance and a nice pot to win with her. She handles that ground well and two-and-a-half or two-six is fine for her. If we could find another mares’ chase like that it would be grand.”
Agameoftwohalves opened his account at the fourth attempt in the two-mile, three-furlong ThatPrizeGuy.co.uk Maiden Hurdle for horses rated 110 or less with the Gordon Elliott-trained 15/8 favourite overcoming a mistake at the last and finding plenty on the run-in to deny Good Option by two lengths.
McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry said, “He was workmanlike, and hopefully his jumping will improve. Mark said he was a bit messy at a few of them, but he got to the line quite well. He’ll jump a fence in time and he’ll go further too.”
MICHAEL Kenneally continued an amazing run of success adding to a 219/1 treble the previous afternoon at Fairyhouse with a double aboard James The Brave and Pebble Bleu to make it five winners on the trot in just over 24 hours.
James The Brave, trained by Padraig Butler (pictured below) for the Red Strand Syndicate, landed a gamble in the ThatPrizeGuy.co.uk Novice Handicap Hurdle with offers of 10/1 overnight slashed to 6/4 by the off.
The well-backed favourite made all in this two-mile, three-furlong event and, after holding a couple of lengths advantage approaching the final flight, needed to be driven right out to hold off Lough Nigara by a neck.
“He’s well named, he’s tough. The owners are a good fun group, and it’s nice to see the kids there as well. It brings a bit of life to racing,” said the East Cork rider.
Making all
Kenneally drew level with Eoin Staples at the head of the conditional jockeys’ championship on the 23-winner mark after again making all on Pebble Bleu in the two-mile, seven-furlong ThatPrizeGuy.co.uk Mares Handicap Hurdle.
The Colin Motherway-trained 9/4 favourite, carrying a 7lb penalty after winning over a similar trip at Thurles last Thursday, took control from early in the straight and kept up a relentless gallop to beat Slotty Dotty by three and a half lengths.
Motherway said, “I thought it might come too soon after Thurles, but she came out of it bouncing and seems to be improving with age. Mike gets on great with her and is riding out of his skin at the moment. I’m delighted for John and Sharon (Flavin), who have been big supporters of my yard and they want to cover her as she’s got a great pedigree and is a valuable broodmare now. We’ll tip away and we might find another race for her over fences, maybe.”