WILLIE Mullins took the wraps off a rather talented-looking French import in Statuaire (13/8) who was operating on an entirely different level to her rivals in the Randox Health Maiden Hurdle.
This M.L. Bloodstock-owned six-year-old mare hadn’t run for almost 12 months and had pulled up on her previous two starts. However, back in September 2018 this lightly-raced type did reach the frame at listed level at Auteuil and evidently that ability still burns brightly.
When Danny Mullins sent the favourite to the front at the second last, she wasted no time stamping her authority on this race and she eventually came home some 23 lengths ahead of Tecumseh Sherman.
“It backs up her second in a listed race in France and hopefully she can build on this,” commented Danny Mullins. “She hadn’t run in almost a year, so she was just a bit fresh but she galloped when it mattered which is most important.”
The champion trainer was also expected to land the Molson Coors Flat Race with the odds-on Aslukwoodhavit but he was a spent force early in the straight and faded to fourth as Full Of Light made a winning debut for Margaret Mullins.
This Daniel Furini-owned and bred son of Leading Light pulled up on his sole point-to-point outing but was clearly all the better for that experience and he would have been a commanding winner here only for looking very green when he hit the front inside the last furlong. Nonetheless, the Tom Hamilton-ridden 20/1 shot reached the line just under three lengths ahead of Kingfisher Lane.
Longacre Square (9/1) maintained Denise Foster’s bright start to the season in the 80-109 rated handicap hurdle. The We Are Going To Do It Syndicate-owned gelding had shown promise in a couple of maiden hurdle and he showed a nice attitude on his handicap debut. Bryan Cooper had him showing in front before the last and he kept on in determined fashion to defeat Silvertown by half a length.
“The two-and-a-quarter miles suited him well and he’d probably get a bit further too. He’s a grand, honest horse and he should be able to win again through the summer,” declared the trainer’s representative Ian Amond.
THE Brian Hamilton-trained and owned Dynamic Allen once again showed her liking for Downpatrick as she picked up the Toals Bookmakers Beginners Chase under Simon Torrens.
Just over two years after recording her previous victory at this track, the 6/1 shot took charge of this race after deftly negotiating the last two fences and she went on to score by a length and three parts from Doldido who had her back in sixth when winning over hurdles at Clonmel last week.
“After her run last week she dropped to 102 over hurdles so it was an opportunity to have a go at this and it worked out (race confined to horses rated 102 or less over hurdles),” stated Hamilton who is based just five minutes away from the track.
“She did have a bit of trouble with her wind but a wind operation seems to have helped her a little and she just needs to be nursed into her races.”
Advantage
Meanwhile, the David Christie-trained On The Sod, who landed a similar event at this track 14 months ago, took advantage of a good opportunity in the Molson Coors Hunters Chase. Barry O’Neill made all the running on the Tetratema Cup third and the 6/5 favourite was in control at all stages, eventually coming home five and a half lengths in front of Timewaitsfornoone.
This Ask gelding is owned by the Kieran Mahon and Noel Keenan Partnership and was enjoying a deserved change in luck having come down when still disputing the lead at the third last in a decent hunters chase at Fairyhouse over Easter.
Magic touch continues for Gibney
AFTER posting an impressive 16-winner haul for the 2020/’21 season, Tom Gibney recorded his second success of the new campaign when Magic Piper won the second division of the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.
Jack Foley made all the running on the Brian Groarke-owned and bred gelding who was returned a well-backed 5/1 shot to shed his maiden tag after 13 previous appearances and Magic Piper crossed the line with 15 lengths to spare over Frazel Express.
In the first division of the Opportunity Handicap Hurdle, Natural Breeze gamely tried to make all but his effort came up just short as he was collared in the closing stages by the James Lambe-trained and Conor Orr-ridden Ringhill Lady who crept into this race as a third reserve.
Recovered
The 80-rated mare was fitted with first time blinkers and recovered well from a less than fluent jump at the last to succeed by a length and a half. The 25/1 shot is owned by the Ringhill Syndicate.
Also on the card, Ask Cory (6/1) was produced in good shape by Henry de Bromhead to make a winning return from 152 days off in the 0-109 rated handicap chase over just short of three miles.
A winner at Killarney in October, Sean Flanagan’s mount recovered well from nodding on landing after the second last to take charge of this race.
He did need the line late on as Goodnightngodbless closed in menacingly but the Ivan Thompson and Cobra Partnership-owned eight-year-old got home by a diminishing half length.