CO CARLOW handler Pat Fahy is enjoying a good season and could be doubly-represented at the Cheltenham Festival by Thursday’s Clonmel scorer Mount Gunnery and stable star Morning Assembly.
Course winner Mount Gunnery, owned by the English-based Clipper Logistics Group Ltd, jumped well for David Mullins in the Kilsheelan Beginners Chase and the 11/10 favourite took over from Buck Dancing on the descent to the straight. From that point on the hot-pot only had to be kept up to his work to contain the effort of After Aspen by five lengths.
The eight-year-old was opening his chase account at the third attempt and his Leighlinbridge trainer said: “The conditions of the race suited him and he needed to win it. There’s a 0-140 handicap in Cheltenham and I’ll make an entry for it. The ground makes the difference to him but he’s had three quick runs so we’ll freshen him up now.”
Morning Assembly, meanwhile, “absolutely delighted” Fahy with his performance in filling the runner-up spot behind Smashing in last Saturday’s Red Mills Chase and is being aimed at the handicap chase on the opening day of Cheltenham.
Their stable-companion Head Turner brought up a double for her trainer when running out the impressive 16-length winner of the Kilmolash (QR) Handicap Hurdle at odds of 13/2 on her first outing for Fahy.
The five-year-old High Chaparral mare, who was formerly in the care of Martin Cullinane, quickened smartly from the penultimate flight to win easily under Katie Walsh, chased home by Orah Hall.
Head Turner races for the husband and wife duo of Liam and Aisling Hurley from Co Laois and her trainer commented: “We always liked her and she’s just a lovely, well-bred filly who cost a lot of money as a yearling.
“She’s been doing everything at home so well and that’s more her ground (officially heavy). We’ll look for another two mile handicap for her.”
Ruby Walsh was quickly off the mark in the opening Munster Hurdle, a race that resulted in just three finishers, with the Willie Mullins-trained 7/1 shot Urano whose last run over the smaller obstacles was in May 2014.
Better known as a staying chaser and just touched off in the Kerry National and not beaten too far in the Thyestes Chase, this seven-time winner was a few lengths adrift eary on but began to take closer order after three out and went on to slam Aurora Bell by 16 lengths after Dont Tell No One fell at the last bringing down Nine Stitches. The well-supported market leader Victory Mill was a further 36 lengths away in third.
Walsh reflected: “The ground is very heavy and he wasn’t going for the first circuit and a half but got running down the hill. I probably committed him early enough.”
Mullins, who has care of Urano for his joint owners Madeleine McMahon and Philip Reynolds, later added: “The switch back to hurdles seemed to give him confidence and I might find another race over hurdles before he goes back to fences at Fairyhouse at Easter.”
Gordon Elliott’s De Plotting Shed was a warm order for the Demesne Maiden Hurdle and didn’t let his supporters down when setting up a double for Bryan Cooper and Gordon Elliott.
“It’s very heavy and holding out there and tough work,” said the jockey after he had brought the 1/5 favourite home an unchallenged 47-length winner for the Ives Ashley Vasey Partnership.
The jockey observed: “The last day was his first run over hurdles so his jumping was entitled to improve and the extra three furlongs suited him. He’ll be a fun horse for the boys.”
The Kerryman followed up courtesy of the 11/4 favourite Altiepix’s hard-earned success for Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud in the Bishop Auckland Theatre Hooligans 20th Birthday Handicap Chase.
The conditions really took their toll here, with only four horses managing to complete. The drama continued right up until the final fence which Altiepix barely clambered over, unlike Killeena House who exited the scene, leaving the winner to come home by a 20-length margin from King Blue.
It was hardly surprising to hear Cooper remark: “I didn’t think I’d get over the last - it was slow motion stuff!”
Newcomer Alto Esqua, who was available at 4/1 that morning, landed a gamble for trainer Charles Byrnes and his Adare patron Martin White when trouncing the opposition in the Clonmel Maiden Hurdle by six lengths from Double Scores.
Byrnes said of the Davy Russell-ridden 4/6 favourite: “He’s a lovely horse. His owner bought him two years ago and he had little niggly problems that held him up but it might do him no harm because he’s a big horse.
“We schooled him in Thurles 10 days ago and that was as bad a maiden hurdle as you could get - I would have been disappointed if he hadn’t done that.
“Davy liked him and I’ll try and find a winners of one for him. He’ll jump a fence next winter.”
Veteran Grangecon trainer Francis Flood sent out Peace N’ Milan (6/1), with Johnny King in the saddle, for a runaway 17-length victory in the Powerstown INH Flat Race at the expense of the odds-on favourite Merry Knight. The mare is owned by her breeder Warrenpoint man Leonard Kelly.
ACTING STEWARDS
S. McDonogh, A.J. Molloy, J. Kennedy, M.F. O’Donoghue
HORSE TO FOLLOW
HEAD TURNER (P.A. Fahy):This well-bred performer relished the ground in the amateur handicap hurdle, winning by 16 lengths and looks to have plenty more to offer.
Mares’ bonus
FRAN Flood made a valid point after his father’s mare Peace N’ Milan had won the bumper at Clonmel: He said: “I think those ITBA bonuses should be given to any filly, even if they win against geldings.”