TRIUMPH Hurdle fifth Place De La Nation recorded her first career victory when justifying short odds in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle.
Sent off a prohibitive 1/5 favourite under Paul Townend, the Gigginstown House Stud-owned filly tracked the leaders before coming through to head Divaboriva after the penultimate flight. Although having to be kept up to her work, the Willie Mullins-trained four-year-old scored by a length and a half.
Townend reported: “She knuckled down and class probably got her through in the end. She jumped so well early, but I wasn’t able to use my ace card as I didn’t want to let her on, and to potentially then give her a proper grueller of a race.
“She took a couple of blows but she handled the ground nicely and stayed the trip well. There is improvement in her and she jumps like a buck.”
Big plans
Connections of Eagle Fang have some big-race plans after the 7/1 chance landed the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase. Racing prominently throughout under Philip Byrnes, the five-year-old chasing debutante was strongly pressed by runner-up Kurasso Blue in the home straight, but held on well to score by three parts of a length.
Gary Bannon, assistant to owner/trainer Bill Durkan said: “He isn’t a big horse but has a massive heart and is the best horse we have. He is our Tiger Roll and he could now go for one of the Grade 1 novice chases over Christmas. He was just about ready to start today so will come forward and Philip (Byrnes) said he learned plenty.”
Local luck
The David Harry Kelly-trained William Tell proved a popular local winner with punters when keeping on best to land the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Hurdle.
Prominent throughout under Cian Quirke, the 15/2 chance led two out, before staying on well to win by a length and a quarter for owner/breeder Otto Daniel Kueres.
David Harry Kelly said: “He goes well and point-to-pointing didn’t really suit him, although he was unlucky not to win the first day.
“He was impressive in Cork, we gave him a break and came back here. He is a fine big horse so going over fences will be his thing, although we’ll keep him to hurdling this season if he isn’t sold.”
Well-related Lady off the mark
A HALF-sister to the stable’s Champion Chase winner Captain Guinness, the Henry de Bromhead-trained Stoneyford Lady landed the William Hill Each Way Extra Challenge Series Handicap Chase.
Sent off 6/1 joint-favourite under Darragh O’Keeffe, the Declan Landy-owned mare was always to the fore before going clear with fellow market leader Stily before two out.
Ridden to head the latter on the run to the last, the daughter of Valirann stayed on well to score by four and a quarter lengths. De Bromhead said: “Declan has been very patient with her and, while she was entitled to win over hurdles, we didn’t so it was nice to see her win that.
“Darragh said she jumped great and hopefully she will progress now. She had run well in a beginners the last day, so hopefully now she might progress.”
Jewel dazzles
The Brian McMahon-trained Jolie Jewel defied top weight when staying on strongly under James Smith to win Division l of the William Hill Each Way Extra Challenge Series Handicap Hurdle.
Held up towards rear in the initial stages, the Daniel Kelly-owned mare closed on the leading group entering the straight. Only sixth jumping the final flight, the 8/1 shot really took off on the run-in, rattling home to win by four lengths.
McMahon said: “Like always in order to get her settled, we dropped her in and they probably stopped in front. Sometimes when the pack goes no gallop, you can get lost out of her ground but other times you can come home looking like Arazi!”
Conceding weight
Michael O’Meara’s Plunkett Street also conceded weight all round when landing Division ll of the William Hill Each Way Extra Challenge Series Handicap Hurdle. Sent off 5/1 under Daniel King, the Ryan and O’Meara-trained gelding led at the last, before stretching clear to score by five lengths.
O’Meara said: “The race went to plan and, while we didn’t know if we’d have to go on, someone else led which I was glad about. We’ll see what way the ground goes but he’ll get a break now for a couple of weeks.
“We’d be hoping for soft or yielding ground but nothing too heavy. Myself and Jim Ryan, a former amateur jockey, own him.”
TRAINER Sean Aherne sent out 25/1 chance Hillstar Blues to take the Racing Again On The 27th November Handicap Hurdle. In the leading half-dozen throughout, the Sean O’Keeffe-partnered gelding led entering the straight, keeping on strongly in the colours of owner Eoin Barry to hold Freddie Robdal by a short head.
Aherne said: “Some of his form wasn’t too bad at all. He was entitled to come here with some little chance, but we wouldn’t have been disappointed if he finished fourth or fifth.
“A lot of my horses had been sick and thank God they seemed to have turned the corner. I’d say if we stepped him up in distance he might improve again and he is also only four.”
Making all
Local trainer Andrew Slattery sent out 5/2 joint-favourite Mullaghgloss to win the concluding Sign Up To GavinLynchRacing.com (Q.R.) Maiden Hurdle. Making virtually all under Adam Ryan, the Punchestown Friends Syndicate-owned gelding kept on well to score by five and a half lengths.
Slattery said: “The only thing I was worried about was the two miles, as he wants two and a half or three (miles). Adam jumped out and kept it simple and the horse jumps well. If he had been beaten today, we were thinking about leaving him until next summer but we’ll look for a rated novice now.”