MYSTIC THEATRE continued her winning spree with a facile victory in the Racing Post Mares Hurdle over an extended two miles.
The 2/9 favourite put away her four rivals with the minimum fuss as she made all under Ruby Walsh.
The winning margin was clocked at 16 lengths as she made it four wins in a row – three hurdle successes following a bumper in May.
Walsh said: “She travelled well, she jumped very well. I suppose on form, on past performances, she was entitled to win. I couldn’t be happier with how she did it.”
When asked about Down Royal as a destination for the Northern Ireland Festival of Racing in early November, he replied: “You would have to think so for a filly that has won three. That’s where you would be hoping you would end up.
“It’s the first weekend in November and we are only at the end of August so we have all of September and October, so I imagine she’ll go somewhere in the middle.”
Owner Rose Boyd, who co-owned brilliant Champion Hurdler Hurricane Fly said: “She’s a lovely mare and she is taking all her racing well. She has graduated from point-to-points.”
Mystic Theatre won two point-to-points last year in Loughanmore and Largy.
She was the second leg of a double for Walsh and Willie Mullins which was initiated by Low Sun in TheTote.com Maiden Hurdle.
This was his Irish debut for Mullins having landed a win and two places for Pascal Bary on the flat in France.
The market fully expected the four-year-old gelding to deliver as he was well supported down to 4/6 favourite on the off.
However, Artful Artist and Felix Mendelssohn served it up to him before he got the better of the former by half a length close home.
Walsh, in the Ricci colours, said: “He got there in the end, he won and that’s the main thing. He did stay well. He kept going well. Let’s hope it’s onwards and upwards.”
Mezajy found plenty for trainer/jockey Denis Hogan to land the Byrne Marquees Handicap Hurdle.
The 14/1 shot stayed on well to score by a length and three-quarters for the Jrm Racing Syndicate.
Hogan said: “He did it well. He had good form on good ground and the ground suited him lovely. He ran a good race in Kilbeggan on that ground. Galway had gone too bad for him but, Galway being Galway, everyone wanted to run.
“He was probably overpriced today, I couldn’t believe it, I told the boys I would have been happy if he was half the price. He’ll be entered in Listowel but he’ll only go there if it is good.
“John Mahon in the syndicate is a Longford man based in New York. He is represented by his son John today.”
Philip Rothwell’s Runyon Rattler sprang a 22/1 surprise in the extended two and a half-mile At The Races Mullacurry Cup Handicap Hurdle.
The seven-year-old gelding asserted before the second last and drew four and half lengths clear at the winning post.
Jockey James O’Sullivan said: “Maybe the step up in trip (helped). The last day I rode him in Wexford I thought he got caught for toe.
“He’s been unfortunate not to win. He was just caught on the line in Punchestown. There’s not a horse in the country that deserves it more.”
Runyon Rattler last tasted success at Wexford in July last year. This was his third career victory.
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Young Turk obliged at 14/1 in the Bluegrass Horse Feeds Maiden Hurdle for Gigginstown and Joseph O’Brien.
Shane Shortall steered him into the lead at the third last and he made the best way home to come in by a length and three-quarters.
“He’s still a big, raw horse – that’s only his fourth run and his second over hurdles,” Shortall said.
“I don’t think the track suited him the last day (in Tramore). He found loads for me today and had plenty left in the tank.
“I wouldn’t call him an out-and-out three-miler but I imagine his game is fences and anything he does over hurdles will be a bonus.”
Edmond Kent’s Thanks For Tea was another 14/1 winner in the Hibernia Steel Products Handicap Hurdle over three miles.
Paul Townend kept her up to her work as she fended off Immortal Bridge by a neck.
Owner/trainer Kent said: “Brilliant ride. She’s a real tough mare. She needs nice ground. I can’t understand how the bookies never fancy her as she was second in Downpatrick off top weight to a good mare (Sharlanda) and the ground was very soft at the bottom of the hill.
“She was beaten seven and a half lengths in the Galway Blazers on heavy ground that she hated and she was second to a 140-rated horse (Cap D’Aubois) in Tipperary in her second run back.
“Every day she comes out she will put up a good performance. Paul said they were going flat out and he sat and waited. He knew she would come for him.
“Ground depending, there is a race for her in Ballinrobe – a valuable mares’ handicap hurdle that I won with Kris Kindle before.”
After a run of big-priced winners, favourite backers got some respite in the Woods Financial Services Ltd. (Ladies Pro/Am) Flat Race.
In a thrilling finish, 4/5 favourite Youghal By The Sea and Lisa O’Neill were all out to beat James Eclipse and Sheila Ahern by a nose.
The winner is owned by Davy Russell’s father Jerry.
Trainer Gordon Elliott said: “I’m about 10 years asking him to give me a horse to train and I was only third in line to get this horse!
“We are friends for a long time. He told me he would give me a winner some day and he did. I’m delighted to train a winner for him on his 78th birthday. Youghal By The Sea will go over hurdles now, he’s more of a hurdle horse and wants a trip.”
Whip ban
LISA O’Neill picked up a one-day suspension for using the whip with excessive frequency.
ACTING STEWARDS:
L. McFerran, C.P. Magnier, R. Dore, F. Fitzsimons & P.D. Matthews.
HORSE TO FOLLOW:
IMMORTAL BRIDGE (J.P. O’Brien): He ran a cracker when just losing out on his first attempt at three miles.