SHE was easily the most inexperienced member of the field and had yet to try her hand outside of maiden company but Is She Diesel was a resounding winner of the featured Monroe’s Live Mares Handicap Hurdle, justifying good market support throughout the day.
A first winner of the year for trainer Seamus Fahey, the five-year-old filled the runner-up spot on all three of her starts in maidens and she got into this race off an initial mark of 102. This meant that her relative inexperience was countered by a light weight and she produced a display that would have befitted a hardened campaigner.
Rachael Blackmore kept the 5/1 chance close to the pace and the pair brushed aside the front-running favourite Chambord Du Lys after the second last to take charge. The daughter of Schiaparelli then maintained a commanding lead to defeat the market leader by six lengths. The winner’s time was easily the quickest of the four hurdle races run over an extended two miles at this fixture.
“I’m delighted for her owner Paul Mullins who is local to here and lives just 15 minutes away,” reported Seamus Fahey. “We were taking a chance running such an inexperienced mare in a race like this but it’s worked out and this is a lovely pot to win. She does jump these EasyFix hurdles better than the other ones and Shane Butler has done plenty of schooling with her too.”
BLACKMORE DOUBLE
Rachael Blackmore then made it a double as Ronava gave owner-trainer Richard Cotter his first winner for two years in the 80-109 rated Killeen Sports Grounds Handicap Hurdle. The 10/1 shot made the running before pressing on for home inside the last half mile and nothing out of the field was able to go with him. Ronava crossed the line with eight lengths to spare over Newsworthy.
A marked drop in class, after taking on some of the luminaries of his generation, enabled Dandy Mag to record his second victory over timber in the Sheridan Electric Hurdle. The Willie Mullins inmate contested the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham and the Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle at Punchestown late last season and, in between those runs, he was narrowly denied at Grade 2 level at Fairyhouse over Easter.
That form suggested that the Grant Mercer and Caren Walsh-owned gelding faced a straightforward task and the 2/5 favourite took full advantage. Ruby Walsh made all the running on the diminutive son of Special Kaldoun who only needed to be shaken up to finish five lengths clear of Zig Zag.
“He’d been running in graded races and these weren’t graded horses so he was entitled to do that,” remarked Walsh. “He was a bit brave at the second last but he jumped well and did it nicely. I’d imagine he’ll stay going for the summer.”
Hello Sweetie (11/4) brought up a double for Walsh in the Mulholland Bookmakers Handicap Chase where she defied a 7lb rise in the weights for her victory at the track’s opening fixture of the year. The good ground-loving mare produced a typically assured round of jumping and responded well to her rider’s urgings when he dashed her up on the inside of Lucky Pat to lead in between the last two fences. Hello Sweetie kept on well in the closing stages to finish two lengths clear of Bendanella.
“She was very good there and she acts so well on this good ground,” stated Collins, who also owns the daughter of Westerner. “As she’s getting older she’s not getting as buzzy before her races so I think on this ground we might be able to step her up in trip.”
HALF SISTER TO WESTERNER LADY
Willie Mullins also ended the evening with a double as Sapphire Lady (9/10) made a winning debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Flat Race. Patrick Mullins made the running on the half-sister to the yard’s prolific Westerner Lady and this daughter of Beneficial looks a promising type. She easily dealt with chief rival The Princetonian to win by five and a half lengths and she will be worth watching out for when she moves up in grade.
“She’s going to be a lovely replacement for Westerner Lady,” reflected the jockey, who was riding the five-year-old for her owner-breeder Tony Butler. “She won as she liked and I felt there was a lot more in the tank. She wouldn’t have any trouble with slower ground either.”
Product Of Love, who had the unenviable task of taking on the hugely exciting Samcro last time, made a pleasing start to his jumping career in the F.B.D. Maiden Hurdle. Last season’s impressive Killarney bumper winner was sent off the evens favourite under Denis O’Regan and he turned in a polished display in this two-mile contest.
The Barry Connell-owned six-year-old led shortly after the third last and he readily contained market rival Knockmaole Boy to score by three and a half lengths.
“He’s a grand horse who loves good ground and he jumps well. He could go another half mile or even further if we wanted,” reflected Alan Fleming. “We’ll look for a novice or a winners-of-one next and it would be nice to think he could be one for a novice hurdle at Galway.”
Whats The Plot (7/2) progressed from an encouraging effort at this track four weeks previously to take the Audi Ballina Handicap Hurdle for Arthur Moore and Donagh Meyler. The dual flat winner endured trouble in running when finishing fourth to Andratx last time but he had a clear passage in this 80-102-rated event and was able to pick off Rapid Friz after the final flight for a cosy three-length triumph.
“He was unlucky the last day and I’d have been disappointed if he was beaten today,” commented Moore, whose wife Mary owns the winner. “He’ll mix it between the flat and hurdles over the summer and he’s been minded over the last two seasons as I think he has a nice future.”
ACTING STEWARDS
R. Groarke, P.J.A. O’Connor, A. Ryan, K. Walsh, H. Hynes
Horse To Follow
BENDANELLA (R. O’Sullivan): On his first run since December this nine-year-old ran well to chase home Hello Sweetie in the handicap chase. This outing should bring him forward and he is still open to further progress over fences.