ANOTHER good day for Gordon Elliott yielded a double which was supplied by two bright prospects and the first of these to strike was last season’s Cheltenham Bumper fourth Three Stripe Life whose hurdling career got off to a very taking start in the two-mile maiden.
Odds of 2/13 suggested that the Kenny Haughey-owned gelding faced a straightforward task and he took to this new discipline in good style to suggest there could be some good days ahead for him this winter.
Green
The five-year-old still looked a little green and ran wide off the bend past the stands but his jumping was slick in the main and he picked up nicely to put the race to bed after two out. A mistake at the last made no difference to Davy Russell’s mount who had plenty to spare in winning by six lengths.
“He’d probably prefer the ground a bit softer than it was today (yielding). I think he’ll learn plenty from this and we’d be thinking in terms of the Royal Bond for him now,” reported Elliott.
Queens back
The trainer then struck with a back-to-form Queens Brook in the two-and-a-half-mile conditions hurdle. The high-class bumper mare was restricted to just three runs over timber last term and then returned with a second at Wexford last month, but this effort suggested that the Bective Stud-owned six-year-old is well on the way to returning to her best.
Jack Kennedy’s mount came to the penultimate flight locked in combat with fellow 11/8 joint-favourite Ciel De Neige but she found plenty from the last to move on and defeat her 140-rated opponent by four lengths.
“She was well in at the weights (was getting 11lb from the second) and we had to run even though this came up soon enough after Wexford,” commented Elliott. “I think there could be more to come from her and she’s another who wouldn’t mind slower ground. She’ll stay hurdling and could end up in a nice handicap somewhere along the way.”
Big filly
Elliott also supplied the favourite, Laishann, for the Tattersalls Ireland 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle but he finished down the field behind Joseph O’Brien’s Six Feet Apart (100/30) who showed promise in a couple of flat runs in the autumn.
The Peter Savill-owned daughter of Mount Nelson was always on the pace and showed a nice attitude for J.J. Slevin in the closing stages to post a two lengths triumph over Doctor Brown Bear.
“The owner always wanted to send her jumping,” commented Powell. “She’s a very big filly and she’s still quite raw. I’d say there will be a lot of improvement in her in every way.”
THE impressive form of the Emmet Mullins string continued into this fixture as Rightplacerightime ran his rivals ragged in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase which was restricted to horses rated 109 or less over hurdles.
This Paul Byrne-owned six-year-old was a beaten favourite on his first two starts for Mullins but took full advantage of a good opportunity with a bold effort from the front.
The 6/5 market leader looked to be in control of this race from early on as he appeared to revel in the switch to forcing tactics and a step up to three miles.
In the straight, the Brian Hayes-ridden gelding readily dealt with the effort of Yabo to register a convincing seven-and-a-half-length triumph. The winner could be adding to his tally over the coming months.
Trix prevails
On her first start over fences since January 2020, Laughing Trix came good to record the second success of her career in the 0-102 rated Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase over three miles.
In a race whose complexion changed markedly from the turn-in, the Paddy O’Hanlon-ridden daughter of Court Cave justified some pre-race support (14/1 - 11/1) by getting on top late on for a two-and-a-half-length success over the 66/1 shot Vodka Society.
Dermot McLoughlin trains the winner for Michael Doyle.
Petrol power
Ronan McNally got back amongst the winners for the first time since January when Petrol Head won the 80-102 rated two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle.
An 11-race maiden who was having his second run for McNally since transferring from David Dunne, Petrol Head drifted out from 2/1 in the morning to 11/1 at the off of this contest but belied that market weakness.
He was an ominous presence on the heels of the leaders in the straight and got on top for Danny Mullins on the run-in to record a comfortable half-length victory over Shantou Warrior.
THE 11-year-old Crack On Corrie belied her advancing years in the first division of the 80-95 rated handicap hurdle over two and a half miles where she recorded the third success of her career.
The Willie Austin-owned and -bred daughter of Oscar, who was a reasonably well-supported 11/1 chance, was going easily for Mark McDonagh as the runners filed into the straight and a quick jump at the last made sure of a two-and-a-half-length triumph over Frazel Express.
Adrian Murray and Sean Flanagan, who combined for a Laytown winner the previous afternoon, struck again when My Newbrook Rose took the other division of the 80-95 rated handicap hurdle.
The John McGivney-owned mare was a well- backed 5/1 chance to add to her previous victory at Thurles in March 2020 and she produced a much quicker jump at the last than the joint-favourite, Saga Aravis, which set her up for a seven-length triumph.