WILLIE Mullins took centre stage at Punchestown’s last National Hunt fixture for four and a half months as the trainer notched up a double which he achieved in conjunction with Brian Hayes.
The brace was completed by the Sue Magnier-owned The West Awaits whose display in the mares’ novice hurdle over an extended two and a half miles suggested she is a mare going places.
The daughter of Flemensfirth, who was placed in a listed contest at the festival, looked on from second behind Dreamingandhoping and the race took on a very one-sided look when the pace setter gave best after two out.
The West Awaits had opened up a commanding lead long before she reached the last and a safe jump at that obstacle put the seal on a 13-length triumph for the 2/1 favourite.
“I really like her and she’s a lovely mare from a great family,” observed Hayes. “She’d a very good run here at the festival and down in grade tonight she has built on that. She really enjoyed that nicer ground and she’s a super jumper so she’ll be one to look forward to.”
Earlier Hayes enjoyed a straightforward time of things on board the Mullins-trained Fan De Blues who justified evens favouritism in the beginners’ chase over two miles. This Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned gelding, who had been placed in a Grade B handicap on his penultimate start and ran quite well behind Asterion Forlonge in a high-class event last time, made the running and asserted between the last two fences to win by seven and a half lengths.
“It was straightforward. He jumped out to his left a little but the first time tongue tie helped him and hopefully he can build on this.
“It’s nice that he is a novice for the whole season,” commented Hayes.
BRIAN McMahon made it two winners in as many days as Sizing Malbay (8/1) bagged her first victory in almost two years in the 0-109 rated handicap chase over just short of two and a half miles.
Philip Enright, who rode the McMahon-trained Powersbomb to victory here on Sunday, produced the Conor & Con Partnership-owned mare with her challenge in the straight. The Flemensfirth mare came to the last holding every chance along with Robin De Roost and Fill The Tank and she finished out strongly to defeat the first-named by two and three-quarter lengths.
“I love it here and it’s been a lucky track for us. She’s owned by a father and son from Miltown Malbay which is just nine miles away from my home place so it’s lovely to have a winner for Clare connections,” commented McMahon.
Another horse to avail of a drop in class following a decent run at the Punchestown Festival was New Ross who won the first division of the extended two-and-a-half-mile maiden hurdle to continue an industrious few days for Joseph O’Brien’s jumping team.
J.J. Slevin was on board this five-year-old who was facing a much easier assignment than when fifth in the final of the Connolly’s Red Mills Auction Hurdle Series. The 5/4 favourite wasn’t that fluent at the last just as he attempted to take charge of this race but he stayed going to hold off Look Dont Touch by three-quarters of a length. New Ross carries the colours of Pat McGee.
There was a stirring finish to the lady riders’ handicap hurdle where Oliver McKiernan and Liz Lalor combined to strike with Junior Rattler (5/1).
This six-year-old has been in fine heart since getting off the mark at Naas in March and this latest success ensured that he has finished no worse than third in his last four starts.
A bold jump at the last carried Junior Rattler into a narrow lead over Nodoubtaboutthat and a cracking battle between the front pair ensued before McKiernan’s charge got the verdict by half a length.
The front two finished some 17 lengths clear of the remainder.
STEPHEN Ryan has now won with two of the three horses that he has run this season after Pipers Meadow won the second division of the two-and-a-half-mile maiden hurdle.
The grey came here off a decidedly encouraging third to Julies Stowaway at Clonmel last month but was still allowed to go off at 18/1 under Sean O’Keeffe. Pipers Meadow, who carries the colours of the late William Fitzgerald, began to close in menacingly on the leaders turning for home and he collared Gloire D’Athon on the run in before reaching the line with a length and a half to spare over Tucson Train.
“We think an awful lot of him and he had a smashing run over hurdles just over a fortnight ago,” declared Ryan for whom this was a poignant success. “The owner passed away a few weeks ago so he must be doing big things for us.
“We’ll take baby steps and see what happens but he could be a very nice horse in time.”
Sean O’Keeffe went on to complete a double on Shane Crawley’s Henry Sellers in the first division of the 80-95 rated handicap hurdle.
A 14-race maiden coming into this event, the top weight was returned a well-backed 7/1 chance and he vindicated that support by getting to the front late on for a one-length success over last week’s Limerick winner Glen Robin by a length. Henry Sellers is the first horse that owner Paul Kelly has had in training.
The other division of that handicap hurdle went to Tim Doyle as first reserve Ask David (5/1) struck under Darragh O’Keeffe. In the colours of his breeder and the winning trainer’s wife, Claire, Ask David defeated Let Her Flow by four and a half lengths to win his first race since landing a similar event here in February 2019.
The trainer revealed afterwards that Ask David was number 101 on the ballot for this race when the weights initially came out last Thursday.