DUNDALK in mid-January isn’t the obvious springboard to Cheltenham but that meeting is the plan for Glorious Zoff who made a winning start on the flat in Ireland for Gordon Elliott in the mile-and-a-half rated race.
A winner of a Sligo maiden hurdle on his first start for Elliott before coming up short in better company on his next two outings, the Deva Racing Syndicate-owned son of Zoffany lined up here as a six-race maiden on the level. He had never tried beyond a mile though and the switch to this distance made all the difference to this four-year-old who gave Sam Ewing the first success of what could be a big year for the young apprentice.
The patiently-ridden 8/1 chance got to the front around 100 yards out to see off the favourite Dances With Stars by half a length.
“I think he’s a horse who enjoys a bit of nice ground which is why we came here rather than running him on testing ground over hurdles this weekend. We’re hoping he’ll get into the Fred Winter and he will go straight there now,” commented Elliott.
The trainer and Ewing then followed up with Catherine Chroi in the Hollywood Bets-sponsored apprentice jockeys handicap over seven furlongs. This experienced Camacho three-year-old hit a nice vein of form late last year when posting a series of decent efforts at this track and she returned in good order from a month off with blinkers applied for the first time.
It took most of the straight for Catherine Chroi (11/2) to subdue the front-running Red Contender but she got on top late on to give Limerick-based owner Paul Leonard his first success on the track.
“She’s tough and hardy and she ground it out well. I’d say another furlong wouldn’t be any trouble for her and she’ll be back for something similar at the end of the month,” reported the trainer.
Irwin strikes
Another highly productive winter campaign for Joseph O’Brien continued as Irwin justified odds of 2/5 in the three-year-old maiden over a mile. This EuroLindy Syndicate-owned son of Australia began his career with a very pleasing third to Catena Zapata over this trip last month and he progressed from that although he had to work for this success.
After getting to the front with over a furlong to run, Irwin was strongly pressed by Razdan but his superior resolution enabled him to carry the day by a head.
“He’s a big, raw individual and will definitely come forward and a longer trip will be the key to him. Today will have woken him up a bit and he will improve away on grass,” commented Crosse.
De Bromhead does it again
HENRY de Bromhead successfully turned his attentions to the flat with Mosala who was a deserving winner of the older horses’ maiden over an extended 10 furlongs.
This 82-rated son of Kodiac had filled the runner-up spot in three of his last four outings as he stepped up to this trip. Unlike several of his rivals involved in some serious scrimmaging on the first bend, Mosala enjoyed a smooth run through in second for Colin Keane and he led well over a furlong out for a two lengths success over Tooreen Angel.
This fixture played host to the first dead-heat of the year in Ireland with Sunset Nova, representing Andy Slattery senior and junior, sharing the spoils with the James McAuley-owned and trained Caesar’s Comet (7/1) in the first division of the 45-65 rated seven-furlongs handicap. The latter with Chris Hayes, was joined by Sunset Nova in the last 100 yards and neither would yield to produce the dead-heat. The Men Of Forty Eight-owned Sunset Nova (5/1) was adding to the victory he recorded here last month while Caesar’s Comet was providing his connections with a quick return on the €5,000 he was claimed for out of Denis Hogan’s yard last month.
Halford’s Girl on the up
MICHAEL Halford’s Hodd’s Girl (7/2) looked a sprinter on the up when scoring here last month and she confirmed that impression by defying an 11lb hike in the ratings in the five-furlong 45-65 rated handicap.
Adam Farragher’s mount made smooth headway between horses inside the last quarter of a mile and led at the furlong pole before a length success over Pillar. The winner is owned by the Rocky Horror Partnership.
Great shape
Martin Hassett’s team have been in great shape for the last couple of months and he sent out a well-backed winner in Harry’s Hill (11/2-7/2) in the three-year-old handicap over the minimum trip.
In a time that was around half a second slower than Hodd’s Girl, Harry’s Girl produced a willing effort from the front for Seamie Heffernan. He shook off the favourite Zen Silence with over a furlong to run and he reached the line with a length and a half to spare over Betrayed.
Owned by the three-man Tipp Ramblers Partnership, the winner was adding to the nursery success he recorded at Navan last October.
After seeing his first three runners of the night finish seventh, fifth and third, Kieran Cotter struck in the finale as St George’s Head (4/1) took the second division of the 45-65 rated handicap over seven furlongs.
The Celtic Racing Club-owned four-year-old, who was 12lb higher than when winning here in November, held every chance for Declan McDonogh from over a furlong out and he took charge in the closing stages to get home by three-quarters of a length.