DENIS O’REGAN gave Hurricane Darwin an ultra-confident ride in the three-mile www.grahamnorris.com Memorial Handicap Hurdle at Clonmel to set the seven-year-old up for a possible tilt at the Troytown Chase at Navan.
The 5/1 shot, who won nicely over fences at Navan last time, ranged up alongside the favourite Hollow Tree and Glendine River on the approach to the penultimate obstacle and was in front before the last, going away to successfully exploit his lenient hurdles mark by three and three-quarter lengths from Hollow Tree.
Alan Fleming has care of Hurricane Darwin for Barry Connell and said: “That’s going to leave him spot on for the Troytown and we’re happy with where he is. Denis dropped him in lovely and said he was always going to win. Riding them like that, Denis gives them great confidence and he has him on the right road.”
The Gordon Elliott-trained Shattered Love gave an exhibition of jumping under Jack Kennedy to capture the Clonmel Oil Chase Day November 16th Mares Chase when justifying 4/9 favouritism by a clear-cut seven lengths at Miss Eyecatcher’s expense.
With the trainer having left for the Breeders’ Cup on Wednesday, it was left to his representative Davy Condon to say: “That ground (officially soft, yielding in places) is perfect for her and she had no problem with the drop back in trip. She jumps for fun and Jack said her jumping was unreal.
“He also said she wouldn’t want real heavy ground, so Gordon will pick and choose her races over two to two and a quarter miles. You’d like to see her on bigger tracks.”
Gigginstown had earlier initiated a double through 2/1 chance Trainwreck, who looked a nice prospect for the future when opening his account over timber for the Henry de Bromhead stable in the Cashel Maiden Hurdle. Davy Russell’s mount was in the leading group throughout, as the favourite Sympa Des Flos took them along and went to the head of affairs before two out.
Pushed out from the final flight, Trainwreck had three and a quarter lengths in hand at the finish. His trainer remarked: “He jumped well and got a super ride from Davy. I was disappointed with him in Galway, but he’s a big baby and learning all the time.
“That Galway run wasn’t a bad race and this probably wasn’t as good, but he learnt a lot from the first day and he’s improved. He looked good and Davy was delighted with him, so hopefully he’ll run in one of those rated novice hurdles.”
The fairer sex had the edge in every respect in the Cahir Mares Maiden Hurdle, in which the Dot Love-trained Dawn Shadow prevailed under the champion conditional Rachael Blackmore. Become Legend established a commanding lead, but this was whittled away by the 6/1 winner who led turning for home and had the race sewn up before the last in holding Osco Mosco by three and a quarter lengths, with the favourite Martello Park back in fourth.
The King’s Theatre mare is owned and was bred by Sean Reilly from Mullingar who is a neighbour of Love’s. Her assistant Ciaran Murphy said: “Her bumper form entitled her to do that and she can go for a winner’s race now. Hopefully she’ll progress as the season goes on.
“She’s useful and has just taken a bit of time. She just missed out in a listed bumper at Gowran, so the plan is to get blacktype over hurdles and chasing is the long-term plan.”
CONSISTENCY
Vincent Halley’s Tintown Robin reaped the reward his consistency deserved with a four-length success under Philip Enright in the Clonmel Handicap Hurdle. The 9/2 shot was homebred by Julia Foran from just outside Mooncoin and the trainer commented: “He’s been running consistently all summer and has been second four times.
“The owners have been very patient with him, but I didn’t think it would takes as long for him to break his duck. He handles soft ground and he’ll go for another handicap, but he’s not an out and out winter horse. Once the real winter ground comes. I’ll put him away.” Market leader Persian Wind was fourth.
Goulane Chosen took Coeur Joyeux’s scalp on her first outing for the Seamus Spillane stable when springing a 16/1 surprise in the Breeders Cup Starts Tomorrow On At The Races Rated Chase.
Donie McInerney’s mount, who carries the red and white colours of his breeder Mary O’Donnell from Ring, got the better of his opponent when grinding it out on the run-in to claim the prize by one and three-quarter lengths. The long-time leader Laid Back Luke was sent off favourite, only to weaken into fourth.
The trainer’s son, Mossie Spillane, commented: “It was his first run for us – all the hard work had been done by David McGrath and we got the easy part. He’s won around here and been placed and he loves it here.
“We thought he’d probably need the run, but he runs better fresh and had good form behind some really good horses. We’ll probably space out his races and he could be a nice horse.”
Doneraile handler John Joe Walsh brought the curtain down on the fixture when sending out Presentingoscar to record a half-length success over Hanover Street in the Powerstown Demesne (QR) 80-102 Handicap Hurdle.
Ballinhassig auctioneer Christy Buckley is both the successful owner and breeder of the 5/1 favourite who was winning for the second time in the hands of stable amateur William Cronin, for whom this was a fourth racecourse success.
“I thought he was a bit unlucky in Thurles last week when he made a bit of a mistake at the third last,” said the trainer, adding: “He’s a fine big horse and eventually he’ll go chasing.”
ACTING STEWARDS
P. F. Ronan, N.P. Lambert, S. McDonogh, P.D. Matthews.
HORSE TO FOLLOW
VENEZIANO SPRINGS (T. O’Brien): Having shown ability last term, he struggled on his return to action, but fared better here in a first time hood when weakening into fifth before two out in the maiden won by Trainwreck. May be worth keeping the faith.