STAR attraction Min picked up where he left off 11 months ago, when injury intervened, to make it three from three over fences with an almost faultless round of jumping in the Ladbrokes Bet €10 & Get €40 On The Grid Chase at Gowran Park last Saturday.
Susannah Ricci’s six-year-old son of Walk In The Park met with his only defeat at the hands of Altior in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and judging by the way he way he was almost looking for the next fence the minute after he had jumped the last one, Min’s zest for jumping remains undiminished.
The 1/9 favourite safely negotiated the final three obstacles in the home straight under Paul Townend and stretched clear for a bloodless 36-length win over Flaxen Flare.
Trainer Willie Mullins was almost purring afterwards, commenting: “I thought his jumping was good and I loved the way he put himself right when he was wrong. He was very good in front at his fences and now that we know he gets two and a half miles, it opens up more options. I’ll be looking at Christmas for him.”
The indications are that Douvan will take his chance in the Tingle Creek Chase, Djakadam will run in the John Durkan and Un De Sceaux in next Sunday’s Hilly Way Chase at Cork.
Stable companion Carter McKay, a leading bumper horse last season, made a winning return to action in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle when successfully opening his account first time over timber.
Installed the 10/11 favourite, the Martaline gelding was always close up. Joining issue with the longtime leader Mortal at the penultimate flight, the hot-pot had to be shaken up briefly before the last and had just gained a fractional advantage at that obstacle when his rival slithered out of the race, leaving Townend’s mount to come home in his own time, 15 lengths in front of Wings Like Arion.
Mullins has care of the winner for Pearl Bloodstock Ltd whose yellow and royal blue starred silks are Sheikh Fahad’s own personal colours. Peter Moloney, who manages his interests, said: “He did it well and jumped like a buck. I think he really needs that ground (officially heavy) to show his best.
“He had an operation on his back during the summer because he wasn’t moving well so, to do what he did in bumpers, was a bonus.”
Carter McKay’s trainer later added: “He jumped more like a chaser and appears to like that winter ground. We’ll just try and space out those novice races and go whenever he’s ready to go.”
The 13/8 favourite Sharjah gave the Mullins/Townend combination the middle leg of a treble when maintaining his unbeaten record over the course and distance in the Join Gowran Park Racing Club Novice Hurdle with a facile four-length success over Roaring Bull who genuflected at the last, which cost him valuable momentum.
Said the trainer: “I thought Paul was very good, both tactically and technically on both horses. He thought that he could use his speed to beat them and got a good jump at the last when he wanted it. He’s a horse who’s improving and Paul thinks he’ll have no problem going further.”
Gigginstown were doubly represented in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase, but it was Dounikos, the lesser-fancied of the Gordon Elliott-trained pair, which prevailed for Keith O’Donoghue at odds of 28/1 at the main expense of his stable-mate Monbeg Notorious.
Market leader Tin Soldier was a close third behind the duo when taking a heavy fall at the second from home, but fortunately he got to his feet and was able to walk back in.
Dounikos’s rider stated: “He did it very well. We thought he might have needed the run, but he jumped brilliant and fences have really improved him. When Davy (Russell) was stood down (with a leg injury), I rang Gordon to ask if I could switch to Monbeg Notorious, but he told me to stick with Dounikos and he was right.”
ATTEMPT
Mastermind, from the Charles O’Brien stable, got his hurdling career off the mark at the second attempt when capturing the Thanks To All Our Customers 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle under Denis O’Regan. The 20/1 shot, owned by the Painestown Syndicate, headed Randles Ur Poet before the second last and kept on for pressure to score by five lengths, with the disappointing favourite Kuraka, who did not handle the ground, back in third.
“He had a good first run in Fairyhouse where he ran a little bit free, so we put a hood on him and that seemed to work,” commented the trainer. “I was a little bit concerned about the ground and was pleasantly surprised at how he handled it. He’s not a bad horse and I’ll look for a winners race for him.”
Peter Fahey saddled Roja Dove to justify 9/4 favouritism in the Cathy O’Farrell AIRO Winner 2017 Mares Handicap Hurdle by three and a quarter lengths from rank outsider Trans Wood, despite Roger Loughran’s mount wandering around a bit on the run-in.
The group-placed five-time winner is leased by the FirstTimesTwentySix Syndicate from Noel Doyle who picked her up at the sales in England. “I’m thrilled for the syndicate who are a good bunch of lads from Maynooth,” said Fahey. “Her next run will be in a rated chase in Tramore – she’d be qualified for that. She’s on a nice mark and they’ll have good fun with her for the winter.”
Philip Dempsey’s good run of success continued with Persian Wind’s neck victory over Dont Kick Nor Bite in the Irish Racing Yearbook Handicap Chase. The favourite Slemish finished fourth.
Ridden by the trainer’s son Luke, the 7/2 favourite races in Robert Honner’s colours and “jumped and battled well”.
Said Dempsey: “I thought he was more of a summer horse and there’s a hurdle race in him.”
Acting Stewards
N.P. Lambert, Ms Denise Brophy, A. Byrne, P. Coveney, H. Hynes.
HORSE TO FOLLOW
MORTAL (J.P O’Brien) Had just been headed by the winner when coming to grief at the last on his second start over hurdles. He deserves another chance and, with the smart Pomme Tiepy as his dam, there should be plenty more to come.