SHANESHILL was the star turn on this seven-race card held on the inside track, with the Punchestown Champion Bumper winner getting his hurdling career off to a convincing start in the two miles and four furlongs maiden.
Andrea and Graham Wylie’s gelding was sent to the front at the penultimate flight by Ruby Walsh, and the red-hot 2/11 favourite kept on well on the run-in to comfortably beat Keppols Queen by four lengths.
Trainer Willie Mullins said: “I’m very pleased with that. He jumped well apart from the third last and, given his bumper form, he was entitled to do that. He could go back to two miles or up in trip, and considering his pedigree he handled the ground well.”
The champion trainer was completing a double as Outlander also justified short-price favouritism (2/5, well-backed from 10/11 in the morning) in the two-mile maiden hurdle.
The Gigginstown House Stud-owned son of Stowaway missed all of last season having previously won three bumpers but made an impressive return to action, drawing clear before the last under Bryan Cooper for an easy 11 lengths verdict over Mike McCann.
“He will probably go up in trip and I’d imagine the staying novice division will be his target. He jumped well and I was very pleased with that after such a long lay-off,” said Mullins.
Noel Meade also saddled a double bookending the card with first and last race successes via Waxies Dargle and Aengus. Paul Carberry, sporting the silks of champion owner J.P. McManus, oozed confidence aboard Waxies Dargle (5/2) as the five-year-old gelding cruised home on the run-in for a facile two and a half lengths win over the staying-on Digeanta.
“He was rated to win, and he was suited by the good gallop and soft ground. Paul feels he jumps those (EasyFix) hurdles better than the other ones,” said Meade before adding, “I had thought about running him in the Greatwood Hurdle but he’s rated 10lb higher in England than he is here.”
Nina Carberry was upset with herself after Aengus failed to score on debut at Naas earlier this month but the leading lady amateur made amends as Patricia Hunt’s gelding completed a 13/1 double for Meade in the bumper.
The son of Robin Des Champs was sent on before the straight this time, and kept on gamely inside the final furlong to beat Cappacon by two lengths.
Meade said: “Nina was kicking herself the last day and felt she should have won. He does stay very well, and she said she should have gone earlier at Naas. He wants two and a half miles, and he’ll go over hurdles around Christmas time.”
Liz Doyle marked her 39th birthday with a winner as Broadway Twist recorded a surprise first win under rules in the two-mile handicap hurdle. The lightly-raced mare was patiently ridden by Brian O’Connell, and overcame a slight mistake at the last to beat fellow 16/1 chance Duty Dance by a length.
Doyle’s partner Barry Murphy said: “That was her first handicap and she travelled brilliant. Her owner Betty Turner won the Diageo Charity Race at the Punchestown Festival on this horse two years ago. She rides her out every morning, and it’s great reward for her after sticking with the horse. They’re running well and anything that has a chance at the moment is there or thereabouts.”
Canadian owner/breeder Jules Sigler and his wife Barbara were on hand to see Tipped Up Harry defy top-weight in the two miles and four furlongs handicap hurdle.
Robert Power put the easy-to-back 5/1 chance asleep in rear before making his move approaching the straight, and the Denise Foster-trained gelding drew clear on the run-in to beat Written Inthestars by five lengths.
A delighted Mrs Foster commented: “I’m thrilled for Jules as he’s won four times before but that’s the first time that he’s seen him win. He came over from Canada with his wife Barbara for the Cheltenham meeting where this horse was entered but didn’t get in. He’s maturing and was very relaxed today.”
Triplets Joy, trained by Paul Nolan for his neighbour Dom Stafford, showed great battling qualities to get the better of a titanic tussle from the last with Mallards In Flight in a stamina sapping two miles and seven furlongs handicap hurdle.
The Kevin Sexton-ridden 7/2 favourite just proved the stronger close home to prevail by a length and a half.
“She was closing all the way to the line at Thurles behind Mrs Mac Veale, and she won yesterday so the form was good,” said Nolan before adding, “She certainly handles the ground, and you can’t beat toughness! I’d like to stick to mares’ races, and she jumps a fence well.”
Riders are hit by whip bans
Amateur rider D.T. Kelly was given a 10-day suspension for his use of the whip on Cinder Rua, a soundly beaten 10th in the two-mile maiden hurdle.
Bray-based Kelly, who also trains the mare, was adjudged to have used the whip with excessive force and frequency and when his chance of winning or being placed had clearly gone. He was also ordered to attend RACE for one day’s tuition on the correct use of the whip.
Kevin Sexton was also in trouble with the stewards for using his whip with excessive frequency when successful on Triplets Joy in the handicap hurdle, and was given a three-day ban.
ACTING STEWARDS
C. Magnier, Dr P. Molony, J. Rearden, J. Martin-Smith, M.F O’Donoghue
HORSE TO FOLLOW
DIGEANTA (W.P. Mullins): Stayed on nicely in the closing stages over an inadequate trip, and this decent staying handicapper on the flat would also appreciate a sounder surface.