AN utterly dominant display from the front made Smashing the star turn at Gowran Park and his victory in the Grade 2 Red Mills Chase has made him a lively contender for championship honours next month.
The free-going grey excels on soft ground so the very testing conditions suited and he produced his best effort yet in easily accounting for the 149-rated duo of Morning Assembly and Ballycasey.
A Ryanair Chase bid now looks the likely option for the Alan and Ann Potts-owned seven-year-old and in a very open edition of that race he will head to Cheltenham as a more than credible contender for that Grade 1 prize.
Davy Russell, who rode the gelding when he won at Thurles last month, was again on board and he allowed his mount to dictate from the outset.
Smashing’s aforementioned rivals remained in close proximity for much of the two and a half mile journey. However, neither could muster any response from the turn in and Smashing (9/10) looked as fresh as paint jumping the last three fences as he coasted home to defeat Morning Assembly by 11 lengths.
“Davy knew him a lot better today and the horse jumped brilliantly. He’s a really good horse on that ground,” said Henry de Bromhead. “The question is whether he will be as effective on better ground. I’m not sure but I always assume the worst and he was fourth in a Coral Cup on decent ground. I’d say we’re entitled to be thinking about the Ryanair now.”
A crack at next month’s Champion Hurdle could be next for Sempre Medici following his triumph in the Grade 2 Red Mills Trial Hurdle. The Susannah Ricci-owned 2/7 favourite was made to work but he showed a fine attitude when it mattered most to capture his second graded race of the season.
Sempre Medici, who had upwards of 15lb to spare over his four rivals on official ratings, produced a much smoother round of jumping than was the case at Naas last month.
The favourite did look as though he could be in for quite a fight when Bentelimar made his way to the front with two to jump. There was nothing between the front pair at the last but Sempre Medici knuckled down very well for Ruby Walsh and pulled clear on the run in to finish seven lengths clear.
“That was a bit harder than expected but the ground is very tacky out there and being an ex-flat horse he’d prefer better ground,” declared Patrick Mullins. “I’d say that he will be on the boat for the Champion Hurdle and hopefully on better ground he will improve.”
STYLISH DISPLAY
The card concluded with a stylish display from She’s Otto in the EBF Ronan Lawlor Memorial Mares (Pro/Am) Flat Race. The daughter of Milan was a 4/11 shot to build on her debut second at Fairyhouse last month and did so with the utmost ease.
She cruised to the front for Patrick Mullins around a quarter of a mile from home and never came off the bridle to register a 13-length triumph. Winning trainer Margaret Mullins won a Fairyhouse bumper on the dam, Miss Muppet, in 1994.
“I think she could be very nice and it’s been a very good family to us through the likes of Chomba Womba and Down In Neworleans,” commented the trainer who owns the five-year-old along with Peter Magnier. “We might look at going to Liverpool for the mares’ bumper.”
SLOW MOTION
The especially testing nature of the ground was illustrated by the slow motion finish to the two and a quarter miles beginners’ chase where Golden Boot (3/1) turned over the odds Young Finnegan (3/10).
Only three went to post here and Yaha Fizz’s early departure reduced the field to two and the Barry Browne-ridden Golden Boot looked to have the upper hand from the second last.
Despite the very steady pace the two finishers looked out on their feet before the last but Golden Boot toughed it out to prevail by four and a half lengths. The successful seven-year-old, who carries the colours of the Keep The Faith Syndicate, was recording the first triumph of his career. Young Finnegan was subsequently found to have burst a blood vessel.
“The ground really showed on the two horses coming to the last, it was tough going,” commented McKiernan. “He’ll probably go for a small handicap somewhere and he should get further.”
FOLEY TRIUMPH
Local trainer Tom Foley sent out Toushan (4/1) to claim the At The Races Careys Cottage Cup Handicap Chase. The Michael O’Dowd-owned and bred nine-year-old was on the pace throughout under Roger Loughran and then looked to take control of the race early in the straight. A slight stumble after clearing the last in fine style derailed Toushan’s momentum slightly but he recovered to contain Witness Of Fashion by half a length.
“At the start of the week we were going to run in the handicap hurdle but then when we saw the entries we thought this might be a better option,” stated Foley. “He’s been a bit unlucky, he’s fallen a couple of times over fences but is actually as good a jumper as you could hope to see.”
Davy Russell also picked up the two and half miles handicap hurdle on O’Ceallaigh. Both Tongie and Rue Hill looked major dangers to the front-runner coming to two out but O’Ceallaigh (14/1) readily dealt with them for a clear cut triumph. This was a first win for the Patrick McCarthy-owned gelding since New Year’s Day 2015.
“He won his maiden by making the running too. He was a bit keen early on and the plan was to drop in but he got a freebie up front,” commented Peter Fahey. “He’ll stay handicapping until the ground dries out and hopefully he’ll be a nice horse to go chasing with next winter.”
After reaching the frame in three of his previous five outings over timber, Newberry New took advantage of a good opportunity in the Sea Moon & Shantou At Burgage Stud Maiden Hurdle. Robert Power made all the running on the Noel Carter-owned 11/10 favourite and the pair had this race in safe keeping from early in the straight, eventually prevailing by 15 lengths.
“The heavier the ground the better for him. He jumped great and he stays very well, he’ll probably get two and a half miles,” reported Jessica Harrington.
Acting Stewards
N.P. Lambert, P. Coveney, Mrs J.O. Onions, M.C. Hickey, S. Quinn
Horse To Follow
RUE HILL (D. Hickey): He was beaten just under 25 lengths into third in the handicap won by O’Ceallaigh but this was his first run in over a year and he can do better next time.
Whip ban
BARRY Browne was given a one day whip ban after taking the beginners’ chase on Golden Boot.