THE victory of Gangster in the Grade 3 Kerry Group Stayers Novice Hurdle and Killultagh Vic’s smooth chasing debut were the highlights of a four-timer for Willie Mullins which helped the trainer to the second fastest century of winners in an Irish National Hunt season.
Firstly to Gangster who finally got his chance to line up in the three miles novice hurdle which took place at the fourth time of asking.
The Gigginstown House Stud-owned half-brother to Rite Of Passage was appearing for the first time since scoring over two miles at the Listowel Festival and he revelled in his first try at this trip.
The 5/6 favourite eased away from the front running Last Encounter after second last on his way to a resounding 10 lengths triumph under Bryan Cooper.
“He’s a horse with a lot of stamina and he loves that trip and ground,” said Mullins. “He’ll continue to pursue these types of races and hopefully he’ll be good enough for the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham. He has a bit of speed which a lot of three milers don’t have.”
Earlier the Cheltenham winner and Punchestown Grade 1 scorer Killultagh Vic oozed class in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase.
The Old Vic gelding, who carries the colours of Rose Boyd and defeated the leading English staying hurdler Thistlecrack on his last start, was dropping sharply in trip to two miles for his chasing debut.
The 1/5 chance jumped boldly and was untroubled from the moment he moved into the lead at halfway. In the straight he hardly had to break sweat for Ruby Walsh to hand out a 15 lengths beating to Arctic Skipper. He will surely be a contender for some quality staying events later this season.
“He jumped well and we know he stays so it was good to see him win over two miles. It’s testing ground out there,” commented Ruby Walsh.
Mullins then picked up the three miles beginners’ chase where Roi Des Francs (8/13), who was third behind Killultagh Vic at Cheltenham, brushed aside fellow Gigginstown-owned runner Sub Lieutenant.
As he looked to improve on his second to Monksland at Gowran last month, the Poliglote gelding made all the running for Bryan Cooper and turned in a most proficient display. From a long way out Sub Lieutenant was his only credible threat and that one was quickly brushed aside from the second last.
“He stays and he jumps and the first thing that comes to mind is the four mile National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham. Hopefully in time he’ll be a National horse,” stated Mullins. “I’d imagine that he excels on this ground but over a distance he’d be fine on good ground.”
Allblak Des Places (1/3) made it three winners in succession for Mullins but not before he was given a real scare by jumping newcomer Outspoken in the three-year-old maiden hurdle.
The first horse to carry the colours of owner George Creighton since Hurricane Fly retired, he made vital use of the experience of two previous jumping outings in France.
The front-running Allblak Des Places produced a much quicker jump than Outspoken two out but the latter then launched a powerful rally and it appeared that he had all the momentum as the last flight loomed.
However, a mistake by Outspoken at the last cost him several lengths and settled the outcome as Allblak Des Places took full advantage. The first two home finished some 21 lengths clear of the remainder and look potentially very smart juveniles.
“He was probably a bit fortuitous and his previous experience won it for him. He won’t run over Christmas and may go to Gowran for a winner’s race on Thyestes day,” reported Mullins.
The inexpensively bought Commeragh Trix (9/4) confirmed that she is a mare with a nice future in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF 4-Y-O Fillies Flat race. Peace N’Milan looked to have slipped the field early in the straight but Commeragh Trix refused to yield.
Nina Carberry’s mount looked sure to come off second best from well over a furlong out but she gave her all to get on terms and closed in rapidly over the last 150 yards to lead in the last few strides. The Paula Cotter-owned daughter of Mountain High was building on her debut second to Champagne Harmony at Cork last month.
“She only cost three grand and she’s picked up the five grand mares’ bonus today,” smiled Charles Byrnes. “She’ll probably go hurdling now and she needs two and a half miles. The ground suited and I think she’s a mare that will win plenty of races.”
It appeared as though Willie Mullins was set to make it five in a row for the day as Au Quart De Tour looked to be doing enough to keep his rivals at bay nearing the last in the two and a half miles maiden hurdle.
However, the even-money chance exited at that flight and this enabled Gordon Elliott’s Victory Mill (13/2) to make it a treble for Bryan Cooper and Gigginstown. The King’s Theatre gelding was making his first appearance since his successful debut in a Lingstown point-to-point in March 2014.
Blazing West, who is trained, owned and bred by Willie Austin, defied top-weight in the 80-109 rated handicap hurdle. The 11/4 favourite had to fight hard from the last as Exit Seven, who was in receipt of over a stone, threw down a strong challenge.
The Patrick Corbett-ridden mare pulled out plenty from the last though to prevail by three-quarters of a length.
Edward Cawley sent out his first winner of the season as Flemenstorm sprung a 16/1 surprise in the near three miles handicap hurdle.
The Robbie Colgan-ridden gelding swished his tail under pressure at various stages but he still dug in to close down Railway Tommy and Golan Lodge who seemed to have the race to themselves from the turn-in.
It was only late on that Flemenstorm found his way past the leading pair, eventually denying Golan Lodge by half a length.
“His owner Bernadette Colleary is a cousin of mine. She bred him and has the mare so I’m very pleased for her,” declared Cawley.
“He’s still a big, weak horse so he might improve a bit still and he should make a better chaser.”
ACTING STEWARDS
R. Dore, T.L. Crawford, N. O’Byrne, J. Rearden, P.D. Matthews
HORSE TO FOLLOW
OUTSPOKEN (A.P. O’Brien): This 103-rated flat horse could well have made a successful debut over timber were it not for pecking at the last in the maiden won by Allblak Des Places. He will take plenty of beating when he runs next and looks a juvenile hurdler of some promise.
Distressed
Damut was reported to have scoped wrong and to be slightly distressed after he finished a remote fourth in the novice hurdle won by Gangster.