WILLIE Mullins and Paul Townend teamed up to land both blacktype races at Thurles where Bon Viveur, in the colours of Jackie Mullins, defied notable market weakness to take the Boyle Sports Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle.
Sent off at 14/1 for the Grade 3 contest, the Flemensfirth gelding was held up in rear by Townend in what was a steadily-run affair. All four runners were in with a shout on the run to the last before Open Secret and Bon Viveur went on, and it was the latter who led inside the final 100 yards to score by three-parts of a length.
Townend quipped: “It was hard to get a few people on the phone beforehand, so maybe that’s why he was such a big price!
“When you are riding for Willie though, you have a chance every day and this is for a very important owner, so it is nice to get it done.
“He was plenty keen going so slow in behind them, but at times he gave himself a chance, was able to sling-shot off the final bend and the two good jumps in the straight made the difference.
“I thought I was doing everything wrong by letting it turn into a sprint, but he showed a turn of foot that I didn’t expect.”
Outclassing rivals
Easy-to-back at 3/1, having been morning favourite, Karia Des Blaises initiated the Mullins/Townend double when outclassing her five rivals in the Listed Carey Glass Irish EBF Colreevy Mares Novice Chase.
Having headed market-leader The Great Nudie before half-way, the daughter of Jeu St Eloi made the rest and easily accounted for outsider Shellrunforbriggs by 16 lengths.
Owned by Barnane Stud and Hollywood Racing, the six-year-old had come down at the last at Limerick over Christmas when looking likely to be placed in a valuable handicap.
“Her Limerick fall might have just crowned her, which it often can do, as she has been very brave in the past,” said Townend.
“It definitely opened her eyes when she realised she had to have more respect for them.
“It has taken her a while to put it all together, but she has done so now and I thought it was a nice performance.”
PHILIP Donovan emulated Townend by winning on both of his rides and had luck on his side in the two miles, two furlongs handicap chase, which went to Dancing Jeremy (10/1).
The Frank Reynolds-owned grey looked held in third on the approach to the last, where River Vale came down when in front and impeded the pursuing Broomfield Bijou.
The latter was soon headed by Dancing Jeremy, who then went on to post a length and a half success.
Winning trainer James Fahey said: “He was very lucky to get here today, as the lorry broke down and we just got here on time.
“We were fortunate winners, but they are there to be jumped and he has been a savage servant for us.”
Stamina
Donovan completed his brace on Barnahash Mason (3/1), who showed good reserves of stamina when giving weight and a beating to eight rivals in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle at Thurles.
The Sandmason gelding, a bumper winner at Leopardstown in December, wasn’t great at several obstacles in the two miles and seven furlongs contest and made a bad blunder three out, but forged clear in the straight to beat odds-on favourite Rusty Harkness by 11 lengths.
“For the mistakes he made, he did it well in the end and you’d be very impressed,” said Jonathan Sweeney, who trains the winner for his father, John.
“I think he’ll be better on nice ground.”
DUNGARVAN trainer Conor Houlihan, who only received his licence in November, made it two bumper winners in six days when Kiltybo (3/1) made all under Barry Stone in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Flat Race.
The daughter of Idaho scored by three and a half lengths from Moyneard.
Kiltybo is owned by Anthony Murphy, in whose colours Nan’s Choice was successful for Houlihan on Red Mills Day at Gowran Park last weekend.
Houlihan exclaimed: “Having two winners in a week is surreal, to be honest. She had been working with the other mare, who is currently in Cheltenham for a sale.
“This one is a home-bred and will be staying, so we might look for a winners’ bumper in the spring.”
Perseverance
The Boyle Sports (Q.R.) Handicap Chase went to long-standing maiden Rideau Canal (9/1), who rewarded the perseverance of connections by making the breakthrough on his 26th start.
Georgie Benson’s mount came from off the pace to post a three-and- a-quarter length victory over Nolans Rocco.
Winning trainer Denise Foster said of the 11-year-old: “He was a bit non-committal about everything, so I jumped him over banks and ditches hoping to ignite his enthusiasm, which I think it did.
“I’m delighted for his owner Jules Sigler. He’s a great supporter and, if it weren’t for him, I might be working at the checkout in SuperValu!”
Off the pace
Campbell Black (11/2) came from a long way off the pace to land the Connolly’s Red Mills Ladies Handicap Hurdle.
Trained by William Harvey for his wife Niamh and led up by their jockey son Ben, the Mahler gelding made good headway from the second last and led on the run-in to score by a neck from Orlando Spirit.
The successful handicap debutant provided jockey Lelia Byrne with her first winner over jumps.
“He was a great ride and did everything right. I had ridden one bumper winner previously, am in Willie Harvey’s every morning and do the books for John McConnell as well.”
Hannah Phillips, who rode third-place finisher Crohan Lady, picked up an eight-day suspension for breaches of the whip rules.