ITM – Supporting Irish Store Sales Champion I.N.H. Flat Race (Grade 1)
IN another fascinating match-up between two of the season’s leading lights, Kilcruit reversed Cheltenham form with Sir Gerhard to extend Willie Mullins’ remarkable domination of this race which has seen him win six of the last seven renewals.
There was just half a length between the two chief protagonists when they met at Prestbury Park and that left Patrick Mullins with the most difficult of choices: he opted for the odds-on Sir Gerhard.
This left this most coveted of spare mounts to fall to Derek O’Connor and the decorated amateur’s interminable wait to get his name on this race’s roll finally came to an end courtesy of this Maureen Mullins-bred six-year-old.
In a race run at a searing gallop Kilcruit and Sir Gerhard locked horns from before the entrance to the straight, but it always looked as though Derek O’Connor’s mount was going the better.
His Cheltenham conqueror fought hard but simply couldn’t find a way past as Kilcruit maintained a relentless tempo to carry the day by just under five lengths.
Stuart Crawford’s O’Toole ran a splendid race to deprive the favourite of second, while Eric Bloodaxe shaped up nicely in fourth on his first outing for 15 months.
Glided
“Kilcruit looked very good there in what looked tough race run at a good pace,” commented Mullins. “He glided down to the start and loved that ground. When you consider how well he handled heavy ground at Navan in December, this horse could be anything. We’ve had the family for years and years and I think he could be the last one out of it.”
Meanwhile, O’Connor reflected: “There was always a worry that it could be tactical but I spoke to Paul (Townend), Ruby (Walsh), David Casey and Patrick (Mullins) was very honest as well – they all said to me that you are on a stronger stayer.
“They have done a great job on the ground here but it is riding quite tiring and we got tired and it ended up being a staying race which played to his strengths.
“I’ve tried so many times to win this, for around 15 or 16 years, and I should have won it on my first ride in it on Blazing Liss (2004) so I’m delighted to get it done today.”
Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)
THE best staying novice performance of the season was in the offing here as Galopin Des Champs annihilated a decent field containing two other Cheltenham Festival winners to win with any amount to spare and signal that the sky could be the limit for him next season.
Things mightn’t quite have gone to plan for this French import initially this season as he was a beaten favourite on his first two starts. A reasonable run behind Appreciate It at the Dublin Racing Festival was encouraging though and even better was to come at Cheltenham where he landed the Martin Pipe.
That particular Cheltenham contest has been a springboard to success in this race in the past and that was once again the case as the Audrey Turley-owned five-year-old outclassed his opponents on his first try at three-miles.
Another winner for Paul Townend, who was inching steadily closer to another champion jockey title, Galopin Des Champs did everything at his leisure. The 13/8 favourite hurdled smoothly and effortlessly and this race was over the moment he moved on as the straight loomed.
Galopin Des Champs eased away from stablemate Stattler with imperceptible effort and he crossed the line a dozen lengths clear of Gentlemansgame.
“He looked very smart today stepping up to this trip,” declared Mullins. “He took off when Paul gave him a squeeze and the race was over by a fall from the turn-in.
“He looks like a horse who appreciate fences but he is very slick over his hurdles and Paul said he could be a Stayers’ Hurdle horse although that is a conversation that we will have much later in the summer.”
Highlight of the day
Clan Des Obeaux left it all out on the track in the Punchestown Gold Cup and his bold display coupled with the brave decision to journey across the Irish Sea was duly rewarded.