RUBY Walsh may have picked the wrong one of Willie Mullins’ pair in last year’s Listed Pat Walsh Memorial EBF Mares Hurdle at Gowran Park, but he got it spot on yesterday when electing to ride the exciting Airlie Beach in this year’s renewal.
Smartly into her stride the 4/9 favourite was never headed and, having come back to the field before four out, she extended her advantage the further she went in this two and a half mile contest. The six-year-old, who carries the colours of the Supreme Horse Racing Club & K Sharp, remains unbeaten in eight runs after accounting for her stable-companion Daisy’s Gift by six lengths.
Both Walsh and trainer Willie Mullins are clearly excited by Airlie Beach’s potential and her rider said: “She did it well. She travelled well, jumped well and quickened really well down the hill.
“She had a bit left and was having a good look at the last. She surprised me in Galway when coming from behind and any horse who keeps winning and surprising you is a good one.”
Mullins echoed his thoughts when commenting: “She seems to be improving. Whether she handles winter ground we don’t know, but she’s doing everything we’ve asked her. We’ll probably look at the next mares’ novice and follow the mares’ programme.
“She’s surprising me the way she keeps pulling it out and improving, but how much longer she can do it is the question.”
WALSH DOUBLE
Walsh initiated a double aboard the Garrett Power-trained Mr Antolini who gained a hard-earned victory at the expense of the favourite Ballela Boy in the Racing Again Tomorrow Maiden Hurdle. It was nip and tuck between the duo from the second last, but the 2/1 winner found more in the closing stages to prevail by half a length for the trainer’s father Pat.
The six-year-old’s jockey remarked: “He was very tough there and battled it out. I suppose he had fitness on his side, but he stuck it out well.”
Henry de Bromhead was responsible for the first and second in the Thomastown Maiden Hurdle, with 16/1 shot Veronica’s Napkin leading home her stable-mate Sir Benford Wales by one and a half lengths in the hands of David Mullins.
The complexion of the race changed at the second hurdle down the back straight when the odds-on favourite Sanibel Island fell, bringing down Milestone Prince and Sizing Julie. The latter’s rider Jonathan Burke gave up his remaining mounts after complaining of a sore back.
Veronica’s Napkin is owned by Jersey-based David and Anne Moon who have had horses with de Bromhead since he started training and bought a mare from his father more than 50 years ago. The trainer said: “She’s a lovely mare with a good pedigree and I hoped she would improve for her run in Roscommon. She’s improving all the time and we’ll look for a novice hurdle and maybe get some black type for her later on.”
OMEGA SPRINGS
Clonmel handler Liam Casey sent out his home-bred horse Omega Springs to take the Dining Packages @www.Gowranpark.ie 80-95 Handicap Hurdle when mastering the likely-looking winner Summer Storm by half a length close home.
The 16/1 winner came from off the pace under Sean Flanagan who remarked: “The stronger the gallop the better. He relaxed early and the gallop was key.”
Peregrine Run, from the Peter Fahey yard, supplemented his Down Royal success when leading before two out to capture the Banff And Buchan Handicap Hurdle by a convincing five length margin from Conduct Yourself.
“With the 13lb hike he got, I probably wasn’t as confident coming here as I was the last day,” said the trainer of Vinnie Byrne’s 8/1 winner. “He’ll get another few pounds for that which puts handicaps out now, so he’ll probably have to go back to novice company. I think ground is the key to him, but whether he handles heavy ground we don’t know.”
DANNY’S BEST SEASON
Danny Mullins is enjoying his best season over jumps and picked up a chance spare ride in the E19 Silver Package 80-102 Handicap Hurdle when deputising for Johnny Burke on his father Liam’s Coolbane West. Market leader See Me Here was in front when coming a cropper at the penultimate hurdle and the new leader Call Vinnie followed suit at the last, leaving William MacDonald’s strapping 25/1 long-shot to collect by three lengths from Catcheragain.
Coolbane West’s rider observed: “It’s unfortunate for Johnny, but Liam is a good man at what he does and he’s done well to win with a tricky horse. Johnny gave me a good insight into him and thankfully it all came together.”
Some bubbles were burst in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mucklemeg Mares Flat Race when the hot favourite Queen Dierdre ran too free and finished unplaced behind Charlie Longsdon’s English raider Snow Leopardess and bumper king Jamie Codd.The 4/1 winner, who is owned by Marietta Fox-Pitt, was having her third run and ran here on the recommendation of Jessica Harrington. Longsdon said: “This has been the plan the whole way through and she’s grown and strengthened a lot since Aintree. We’ve always liked this horse and she jumps brilliantly.”
ACTING STEWARDS
W.M. Halley, N.B. Wachman, N. O’Byrne, A. Byrne, P.D. Matthews
HORSE TO FOLLOW
SIR BENFORD WALES (H. de Bromhead): This newcomer ran above expectations when runner-up to his stable-companion in the maiden hurdle and is likely to revert to a bumper next time where, given further improvement he would have obvious claims.