Savills Chase (Grade 1)
HIS Gold Cup hopes may have taken a fair dent at the start of his season but Delta Work thrust himself back into the reckoning for chasing’s most coveted prize to head a day of days for Gordon Elliott, Jack Kennedy and Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud.
After ending last season as one of the elite staying novice chasers, Delta Work had realistic pretensions to making his presence felt against the top three-milers.
However, a first venture into open company at Down Royal in November resulted in a heavy defeat that was characterised by some ragged jumping. Delta Work bounced back in style though and after a Christmas period that began on an off-key note with the defeat of Samcro at Limerick, the winning connections enjoyed what will surely go down as one of their finest afternoons.
After missing some time after Down Royal, Delta Work (11/2) didn’t enter this race surrounded by the level of confidence that one would have associated one of last season’s star novices.
He found himself pitted against a field that featured the highest rated chaser in training, Kemboy, along with big race regulars Road To Respect, Monalee and the former RSA Chase hero Presenting Percy.
Sensible pace
For the eight contestants this was a generally uneventful race run at a sensible pace and one would have been hard pressed to rule out any one of them as they bunched up after three out.
At this point Monalee held the lead, as he had done for most of the race, and the likes of Kemboy and Road To Respect moved into contention.
A patient Jack Kennedy was quite content to bide his time further and as the last fence loomed Delta Work had plenty to do from a share of fifth. Even at this late stage, victory could have gone any one of six ways but over the final fence Monalee still held the call and he picked up well to move clear on the run-in.
On the outer Delta Work picked up with great purpose to sweep by Kemboy and Road To Respect before sustaining that charge to nail Monalee.
To his eternal credit, the latter was coming back at the line even though Rachael Blackmore had to ride without her irons late on but Delta Work got home by a head.
Road To Respect was an honourable third with Kemboy losing nothing in defeat in fourth.
Gold Cup contender
This race enabled Delta Work to reaffirm his position as a Gold Cup contender but his beaten rivals will certainly warrant the utmost respect later this season.
Indeed Kemboy and Presenting Percy offered no small amount of encouragement and both will be formidable contenders come Cheltenham.
“He missed time after Down Royal and I thought he’d need the run but Jack is riding out of his skin and it all worked out for him,” said Elliott. “If I’m honest I was hoping to bring him here and have him run a nice race and improve plenty for the run. I do think that he will improve from this but looking at what he has done today maybe I’ve been training him wrong.
“I hoped at the start of the season that he could be a Gold Cup horse and that dream is still alive. As to what happens between now and March I will talk to Michael and Eddie and see if he comes back here in February. Again I must say well done to Jack. This is a big day for him and all his family are here so I couldn’t be happier for him,” added the trainer.
Kennedy added: “Today is as good as it gets. Delta Work probably started to tie up a little in the last 50 yards and Monalee was coming back at him but he tried really hard for me and stuck his head. I wouldn’t have had many dealings with Gold Cup horses but he’s without doubt as close to one as I’ve ridden.”
Willie Mullins expressed himself happy with the effort of Kemboy having indicated before the big race that the top chaser would come on a good deal for this run. The gelding could well return to Leopardstown next month for the Irish Gold Cup.
Apple’s Jade back to her best
Frank Ward Memorial Hurdle (Grade 1)
OF all his many big race victories, this was surely one that Gordon Elliott will cherish above most others as Apple’s Jade somehow rediscovered some of her best form to win this race for the third year in succession.
Over the course of a marvellous career, Michael O’Leary’s star mare had amassed 10 victories at the top level, but a season that began with two fairly abject displays suggested that the mare was a pale shadow of her former self.
Indeed there was the suggestion that retirement would beckon for Apple’s Jade if she failed to perform this time.
Somehow though Gordon Elliott rekindled the spark that made his charge such a brilliant performer over the last few years. On a day when Michael O’Leary made his first appearance on the racecourse since May, Apple’s Jade was returning to a track where she had never been beaten and she dominated this race in the sort of fashion that has made her such an irresistible force in recent times.
A deluge of support before saw Apple’s Jade returned the 6/4 joint-favourite under Jack Kennedy and from early on she was showing signs of being back on form. Unlike her first two races of the season, she went about things with relish and, as ever, she was quite happy to jump out to her right at most hurdles.
For most of the race Apple’s Jade was pursued by Killultagh Vic but that rival was a spent force leaving the backstraight and when the mare flew the second last it looked as though the fairytale could be on.
On the run for home that she knows so well, Apple’s Jade was never going to falter and a spring-heeled leap at the last put the seal on a 17-length victory over Unowhatimeanharry.
Unbelievable
“It’s unbelievable. I was out on the track watching the race with Michael’s (O’Leary) kids and the reception she got afterwards was something else. It’s what racing is all about,” said an unusually animated Elliott.
“If I told you we had changed one thing with her that worked I’d be lying. We’ve done a few things – Keith Donoghue has brought her out hunting, we got rid of the cross noseband and we put cheekpieces on her.
“For me her work still hasn’t been as good as it used to be but it’s just great to see her back. She’s a superstar mare and she has campaigned consistently at the top level since she was three years of age.
“I’m delighted for her and I’m delighted for Jack too. He’s had a rotten time of things with injury and it’s great to see him back riding these big race winners as he is a top-class jockey.
“In terms of where we go now I don’t know as she would have been retired if she didn’t spark today. She’s pulled it out of the fire today and she’s shown that she’s not done with yet.”
The winning owner indicated that the star mare’s future will be assessed on a race by race basis and he pointed towards a possible tilt at the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle.
‘Treacys’ does it again for Widger
ONE of the success stories of the season has been Treacysenniscorthy and the relentless improver took his tally to four wins from just six starts for Robert Widger in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle Qualifier.
Kevin Brouder’s mount, who is one of just two horses under the care of his trainer, produced a typically bold effort from the front as he made the most of his feather-weight. In the straight he kept on bravely to hold on by a length from Ronald Pump who was trying to concede two stone to the winner.
“It’s fantastic for a yard like ours. To even come here and have a runner with a chance is great,” remarked the former jockey who trains the admirable son of Beneficial for his wife Paula. “He is really a chaser and I had my eye on a novice handicap chase at Navan in March but now that he’s won this we will just have to see where we go.”
Nice type
Gordon Elliott has another nice type for some decent novice hurdles through the second half of the season in The Bosses Oscar (4/1) who bagged the Tote-sponsored four-year-old maiden hurdle over two and a half miles with a strong staying effort.
Both the Davy Russell-ridden winner and the favourite Jon Snow had work to do to cut down the front-running Fun Light off the last bend but both closed in steadily.
Of the chasing pair The Bosses Oscar produced a better jump at the final flight and he landed running to overcome Fun Light before hitting the line strongly to prevail by four lengths.
“He’s a very nice staying type and Davy was very pleased with him when he was second to Blue Sari at Punchestown six weeks ago,” stated Elliott who trains the gelding for Noel and Valerie Moran. “He’d be able to go up in trip if we wanted and we’ll find a staying novice hurdle for him next.”
WILLIE Mullins saddled the first two home in the Ballymaloe Foods Beginners Chase but not in the order the market expected as Easy Game (9/2) and Danny Mullins upstaged Allaho (11/8).
Allaho produced a taking display from the front over the course of this two-mile, five-furlong affair but Easy Game was a menacing presence in behind him for much of the final half-mile and the Wicklow Bloodstock-owned gelding pounced after the last to take control.
Allaho was rallying again late on but was still a length and a quarter adrift at the line.
“Allaho galloped and jumped but Paul (Townend) felt that he may have needed the run,” reported Mullins.
“Easy Game wouldn’t be a winter ground horse so the fact he has won suggests that the ground might be riding better than people think.
“He could come back here for the Flogas Chase in February and I might well do the same with Allaho.”
First success
Ferny Hollow was an odds-on shot to strike for the champion trainer in the Midland Legal Solicitors Flat Race but he was denied by a gritty newcomer Forged In Fire (9/1) who gave jockey Niall Bashford (23) the first success of his career.
Yet another bumper winner for Joseph O’Brien and Gigginstown House Stud, this Presenting gelding found any amount for pressure to get the better of the market leader by half a length.
This Presenting four-year-old looks a lovely staying prospect for the coming seasons.
Chester Cup possible
Dermot Weld, who had two runners over the festive period, made his mark with the Jack Kennedy-ridden Dalton Highway (9/2) in the Irish Daily Star Christmas Handicap Hurdle over two and a half miles.
On just his fifth outing over hurdles, this Dr Ronan Lambe-owned son of Zoffany raised his effort in fine style after the last to get the better of Youngnedofthehill.
This was a well-deserved victory for the winner who had been placed in four premier handicaps on the flat in 2019.
He has the Chester Cup as a possible long-term target.
Attendance
2019: 16,251
2018: 15,559
Tote
2019: 223,901
2018: 226,540
Bookmakers
2019: 1,088,208
2018: 1,022,365