Baroneracing.com Hatton’s Grace Hurdle (Grade 1)

A RACE that has been the preserve of some brilliant mares played host to Honeysuckle who announced her arrival to the big time in resounding fashion.

Henry de Bromhead’s mare lined up as the winner of her six starts on the track and she struck at Grade 1 level over this course and distance last Easter. This race promised to provide the mare with a far greater test of her mettle but her connections need not have worried.

A deluge of support throughout the day saw the Kenny Alexander-owned mare returned at 9/10, and she won like it too. The Rachael Blackmore-ridden mare travelled supremely well at all stages of this two-and-a-half-mile race and it was all looking quite ominous when she loomed up on the outer turning for home.

Apple’s Jade was in front at this point but the three-time Hatton’s Grace heroine was easily brushed aside as Honeysuckle struck for home. The winner could afford the luxury of an untidy jump at the last and yet still win by nine lengths from the multiple Grade 1 winner Bacardys, with Apple’s Jade four lengths away in third.

On his first run since April 2018, the former Stayers’ Hurdle winner Penhill finished at the rear of the field.

Brilliant

“She was brilliant and even I could enjoy that,” quipped a delighted de Bromhead. “Turning for home I could see Rachael taking a pull on her and I couldn’t believe she was able to do that in a race of this calibre. She was taking a big step-up in class there and she handled it really well.

“Obviously the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham is going to be high on her agenda so we will just see what Kenny and Peter Molony, who is such a big part of things as well, would like to do.

“She has entries at Christmas but maybe we will look at something after Christmas and get ready for the spring with a view to taking in a prep for Cheltenham but we will just enjoy today,” added the trainer.

Apple’s Jade ran better than she did on her comeback but remains some way below her best. Gordon Elliott indicated that his charge would be in action at Christmas with the three-mile Grade 1 which she has won for the last couple of years in mind.

Envoi Allen living up to promise

Baroneracing.com Royal Bond Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

ENVOI Allen’s unbeaten and blemish free record remains firmly intact as he came through his latest top-level examination with flying colours.

A return to Cheltenham where he won the bumper last season is the primary aim for Elliott’s charge and what his target there will be is going to be the subject of some debate. So far this season the Cheveley Park Stud-owned gelding has looked comfortable over two miles but the expectation is that he will progress again when he gets the chance to race over further.

In any case though, this gelding is exciting to say the very least and Envoi Allen impressed with this effort. Just as he did at Down Royal last month, the 8/11 favourite produced a lovely round of jumping for Davy Russell for whom he raced on the pace.

In the straight, the winner’s strong-travelling stablemate Abacadabras arrived with a menacing effort and there was a suggestion between the last two flights that he might lower the winner’s colours.

Supporters of Envoi Allen need not have worried though as Russell never got especially animated on the five-year-old and, as has been a feature of his previous races last season, the strapping son of Muhtathir had considerable reserves to call upon. At the line, there was a length and a half separating the Elliott runners with the 145-rated Darver Star a further two and a half lengths away in third.

“They are two very good horses and I’m pleased with them. Envoi Allen looks as though he could be the real thing. I’d like the way he found plenty in the closing stages which is something he did a few times last season,” stated Elliott. “We will look towards his next run now. We have Leopardstown at Christmas and there is the Lawlor’s Hotel Novice Hurdle at Naas in early January.

“If we go to Naas he’d be stepping up to two and a half miles which should suit, but he’s doing things well over two miles as well so we’ve got a lot of options with him,” added the trainer whose charge also has an intriguing entry against seasoned two-milers in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown on December 29th.

Fakir attacks fences in style

Baroneracing.com Drinmore Novice Chase (Grade 1)

A RACE that was on the cusp of serving up a gripping outcome ultimately didn’t as Samcro exited two out to leave Fakir D’Oudairies to achieve the notable distinction of becoming the first four-year-old to win this race.

A successful chasing debut at Navan last month, which was achieved at the expense of Melon, marked out Fakir D’Oudairies as a potentially top-drawer recruit to fences following a fine career as a juvenile hurdler.

The J.P. McManus-owned 6/4 favourite produced a display of great verve and enthusiasm and one which was punctuated by some prodigious jumps.

Gained ground

From early in the back straight of this two-and-a-half-mile race, the Mark Walsh-ridden winner had enough of the attentions of the Irish Grand National winner Burrows Saint as he moved into the outright lead and gained ground at a series of fences.

All the while Samcro was going nicely and jumping neatly in behind and the stage looked set for a battle royal as the former joined Fakir D’Oudairies.

The crowd bristled with anticipation but no sooner did the excitement build than it dissipated as Samcro seemed to lose his footing on landing at the second last and parted company with Jack Kennedy.

While Samcro’s exit robbed the race of the finale it deserved, it says much about the standard being set by the front pair that Fakir D’Oudairies was left to come home some 22 lengths ahead of the supplementary entry Ronald Pump, who lost all chance of getting involved with a bad mistake at the 10th fence.

Burrows Saint was a further four and three-quarter lengths away on his final start in novice chase company.

Aptitude

“It’s a pity what happened to Samcro as it would have been a great race, but I’m pleased for this horse,” stated O’Brien.

“He really loves his racing and he’s got a great aptitude for chasing.

“He’s not the biggest but he really attacks his fences and you could see there with some of jumps that he produced in the back straight. “He got a lovely ride from Mark too. He will get further I’d say but the way he jumps he could come back to two miles.

“I would imagine that his options over Christmas are the two-mile novice chase in Leopardstown and the two and a half-mile race at Limerick.

“I’ll talk to Frank (Berry) and J.P. McManus about where he goes from her.” Gordon Elliott reported Samcro to be none the worse for his fall fortunately.

It is his intention to turn him out again at Christmas over races from two to three miles.