DANNY MULLINS and Andrea and Graham Wylie’s Felix Yonger put past disappointments behind them at last Sunday’s Cork meeting when returning to the big stage to take the Grade 2 Kerry Group Hilly Way Chase.
Horse and jockey alike have encountered setbacks along the way but there was no stopping them here and Felix Yonger, the lesser-fancied of the Willie Mullins-trained pair in the race, was given a patient ride by his pilot.
Improving into third place with two fences remaining, the eight-year-old was being ridden along at that point but responded to pressure to surge to the front after the last and pose a serious threat to the gallant Mallowney.
To his credit Robbie McNamara’s mount rallied bravely but Felix Yonger had the edge at the line to shade it by a nose. They finished four and a quarter lengths in front of the 2012 winner Days Hotel who, in turn, pulled eight lengths clear of Alderwood.
Last year’s winner Twinlight was sent off favourite but never really got into the race. His rider reported that he did not travel or jump well and was pulled up while stablemate Ask Vic was found to be in season when examined at the request of the stewards.
Danny Mullins, whose past triumphs include the Guinness Kerry National, was riding his second winner for his uncle and was quick to thank Willie Mullins for giving him the opportunity to ride Felix Yonger.
“He’s a good horse and Ruby (Walsh) said to me the other day he thought he was coming back. That was a great performance.
“I knew a good jump at the last would do it and I got one. It’s important to stay winning these big races and hopefully the hard work will pay off.”
Paul Townend, who was on the mark for Rebecca Curtis at Chepstow the previous day, was aboard the trainer’s two Grade 3 winners, Black Hercules who took the step up to three miles for the Kerry Group Stayers Novice Hurdle in his stride and also the progressive Kerry Group EBF Mares Novice Chase winner Vroum Vroum Mag.
Black Hercules, who was successful at the same venue three weeks ago, is in the same ownership as Felix Yonger and oozed class in making every yard of the running, being driven out to justify 4/7 favouritism by two and a half lengths from Alpha Des Obeaux.
The hotpot, whose task may have been made easier by the defection of No More Heroes and Pulled Mussel with stone bruises, is now two from two over hurdles and this was his fifth success.
“He did it nicely,” Townend remarked, “But the ground out there is heavy and he had to do it the hard way.
“He was as well off being out in front and we knew he stayed three miles. He showed improvement on the last day again and his jumping was solid and a lot slicker today.”
Stable-companion Vroum Vroum Mag, meanwhile, is unbeaten over fences, following her scintillating win in the Grade 3 Kerry Group EBF Mares Novice Chase. Susannah Ricci’s 1/4 favourite was left in front by Elsie’s fall at the sixth from home and sealed victory with a good jump at the final obstacle, going away to beat Our Katie by five lengths.
Her jockey was all smiles afterwards, commenting: “It was easy enough. She’s done everything we’ve asked of her and jumps well. She made a mistake at the second last but it was nothing serious and she won with plenty in hand. She stays well and is a lovely mare.”
Like Willie Mullins trainer Mouse Morris was on duty at Punchestown but he sent out 20/1 shot Miradane, with Mark Enright in the saddle, to capture the Low Low Handicap Hurdle in his absence.
Barry Maloney’s seven-year-old Kayf Tara gelding was always prominent and found more where it mattered to beat Bendanella by five and a half lengths, with the locally-trained market leader Stay With It back in third.
Enright stated: “He battled well and settled a lot better today - he’s normally a tearaway. He got a bit lonely out in front but I was fairly confident when the other horse (Bendanella) came to me. It’s lovely to ride a winner for Mouse who’s been very good to me.”
Conna trainer Jimmy Mangan is a good supporter of the track and saddled his smart homebred bumper performer Montys Meadow to take the Charleville Cheese Maiden Hurdle under his son Patrick, despite jumping out to his left at the final three flights.
The 100/30 winner races in the colours of Welsh couple Peter and Trish Powell’s Hanford’s Chemist Limited.
Mangan, snr said: “I’d say he was in front too soon because he’s never done it before. When he goes up in grade he should have no problem.
“He’s very green because I never got to bring him away to school on grass but he has a bit of class. He’s closely related to Montys Pass and more than likely he’ll go to Limerick at Christmas if there’s a little race for him there.”
The presence of multiple British champion jockey Tony McCoy at the meeting was an added bonus for racegoers who were rewarded with a narrow victory for the appropriately-named Jumptoconclusions in the two and a half mile Kerrymaid Novice Handicap Hurdle.
The J.P. McManus-owned five-year-old was supported from 4/1 into 3/1 favourite and mastered the likely winner Old Time Melody in the dying strides to nail it on the line for the Edward O’Grady stable.
“I’m delighted,” commented the trainer. “We needed all A.P.’s assistance and we got it! For a young horse he stayed on quite well in rather dour conditions and maybe on better ground he’ll stay a bit further.”
Aglish native Patrick Casey notched up a memorable first winner under rules on Paul Cashman’s shock 33/1 scorer Catching Shadows in the Galtee (Pro/Am) Flat Race.
The outsider accounted for fellow longshot Alberta by three and a half lengths, after which Cashman, who trains the well-bred five-year-old for his mother Catherine, said: “I didn’t expect it and came very close to pulling him out because of the testing ground but Patrick gave him a lovely ride.
“He needed the run (behind Bellshill) the last day in Thurles but I was talking to Nina Carberry afterwards and she said it was one of the best bumpers she’d ridden in at Thurles. I’d say plenty of winners will come out of it and this horse could end up in Brightwells or he could go for a winner’s race at Leopardstown at Christmas. He’ll be a better horse on better ground.”
ACTING STEWARDS
S. McDonogh, P. McLernon, Ms K. Horgan, S. Quinn
HORSE TO FOLLOW
BENDANELLA (H. de Bromhead): He gave a good account of himself under top-weight in the two mile handicap on his first outing since March and will strip fitter next time.