BACK on her favoured good ground, Hello Sweetie showed just what she is capable of as she made short work of her rivals in the featured Breaffy House Resort Handicap Chase at Ballinrobe’s opening fixture of the year.
The Pat Collins-owned and trained daughter of Westerner produced a polished display under J.J Slevin who allowed her to take charge of the race after the third last fence.
The 4/1 chance never looked likely to relinquish her clear advantage in the closing stages and she came home with four lengths to spare over Eight Till Late.
“That’s her ground and she’s a brilliant jumper, she was gaining lengths a most of her fences. She’s just an honest mare who never lets you down,” reflected Collins. “I’ll probably put her in foal and then looks towards Galway with her.”
Dodgybingo (11/2) took full advantage of a marked drop in class to dominate the Breaffy Resort-sponsored four-year-old conditions hurdle.
Noel Meade’s charge was unplaced in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham last time out but relished both the track and the quick ground. Sean Flanagan’s mount, who is owned by Mrs Finbar Cahill, jumped superbly and had his rivals hard at work from fully half a mile out. He crossed the line six and a half lengths clear of Linger.
“He doesn’t like it when horses come around him so the race suited well. He’s a summer horse and enjoys fast ground,” reflected Noel Meade. “We’ll try him back on the flat too but jumping does make a difference to him. I’d also have to say that both the track and the facilities here are a credit to everyone involved here.”
Ellmarie Holden followed-up her double on the opening day of the new season at Down Royal by sending out Coolmeen Hill (9/4) to take the Healy Mac’s At Breaffy Maiden Hurdle.
Since she first embarked on a training career 11 months ago the trainer has had her team in terrific form and this victory was her fifth from her last nine runners.
Davy Russell dashed the Clonmel bumper winner into a useful lead coming away from the last and the pair came home with four lengths to spare over Jacobs Well. The odds-on Timi Roli had to settle for third.
“He ran over two and a half miles last time but he had his trip (two miles) and his ground tonight. He’ll probably stay at this trip and we’ll stay hurdling for the time being. He should make a chaser in time,” reported Holden, who trains the winner for her father, Paul.
Davy Russell then made it a double on Political Theatre who delivered on the promise he showed on his first four outings to edge out fellow 15/8 joint favourite Dawn Raider in the Spa At Breaffy Maiden Hurdle.
There were no more than a few of lengths covering the leading quartet at the last but, crucially, the Chris Jones-owned winner slipped through on the inner to take a couple of lengths out of his rivals heading into the last furlong. Political Theatre fended off Dawn Raider by a length and a half.
“He’s a grand horse and should make a nice handicap chaser in time. I’d imagine he will have a break now and come back chasing later in the season,” reported Arthur Moore.
“He was near enough the last horse that the late Terry Ryan sold and it looks like he will work out well. It’s lovely ground out there and there’s a great cushion of grass on the track.”
After sending out several placed runners over the course of the evening Stephen Mahon did make his mark when Rocky Court (12/1) bounced back to form in the Weddings At Breaffy Beginners Chase. Denis O’Regan made much of the running on the John Rabbitte-owned gelding who responded well when he was pressed on either side after the third last fence.
It wasn’t long before Rocky Court held a clear lead once more and he defeated the favourite Black Warrior by four and a half lengths.
“He pulled-up lame at Fairyhouse over Easter when another horse struck into him,” reported Mahon. “He came back sound again after a couple of days and he’s produced a good performance there. I think I’ve the nicest team that I’ve probably ever had for the summer.”
Grand National-winning rider Derek Fox teamed up with Andratx, trained by his uncle Mark McNiff, to take the 80-102 rated Leisure Club At Breaffy Handicap Hurdle. The four-year-old was a 13/2 chance to follow up his victory at Downpatrick in March and, having kept close to the pace, he wore down Stormey in the last furlong to prevail by a length and a quarter.
“They went hard up front which suited and he’s a grand, straightforward horse who jumps well,” observed McNiff of the Francisca Carton-owned winner. “He might go back on the flat before going back hurdling later in the summer.”
Grey Mountain Mist provided Dusty Sheehy with his first winner of the year in the Events Arena At Breaffy Handicap Hurdle. The 9/2 shot made his way to the front for Paul Townend before the last flight and, having opened up a useful lead, he just held off the strong-finishing top-weight Lizzies Champ.
The latter looked an unlucky loser having been denied a run just after the last flight which cost him ground and momentum. Sheehy, whose son Danny is nearing a return to action after fracturing his leg in a fall at Dundalk in February, reported that the Sliabh Bawn Racing Syndicate-owned winner would turn out again at Downpatrick last night.
Adrian Murray’s Billy’s Angel progressed from two promising runs in defeat to take the Breaffy-sponsored bumper under Derek O’Connor. This five-year-old began his career with a fifth in the Leopardstown maiden hurdle won by Melon and was then third in what looked a smart Tramore bumper won by Fort Montagu.
The 5/1 chance, whose trainer has been enjoying a fine run of form over the last few months, took charge of this race nearing the straight and defeated Sudden Destination by two and three-quarter lengths.
“He likes good ground and he’s a summer horse. He’s always shown plenty of potential and having spoken to Derek I think we might go for a winner’s bumper now,” reported Murray, who owns the gelding along with Betty Murtagh and Michael McCauley.
ACTING STEWARDS
T. McDonogh, N.B. Wachman, D. Pugh, N. Rooney, M.F. O’Donoghue
HORSE TO FOLLOW
BLACK WARRIOR (C. Byrnes): This very useful 133-rated hurdler took second in the beginners’ chase on his first outing since November. The extended two-mile trip would have been shorter than ideal for him and he can improve on this form as he moves up in trip.