REST OF THE CARD
THE benefit of a recent outing enabled Bapaume to bring Landofhopeandglory’s winning run over hurdles to an end in the Grade 2 Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle.
This race promised to provide a reasonably definitive guide to the country’s juvenile hurdling division and, as expected, the aforementioned duo along with Mega Fortune dominated the outcome. On his Irish debut at Fairyhouse, Bapaume found Landofhopeandglory too strong but evidently good progress was expected from Willie Mullins’ charge as he was returned a well-supported 13/8 chance.
Ruby Walsh enjoyed a dream run through on the inner off the last bend which enabled the Susannah Ricci-owned gelding to strike the front. This move was covered by his Fairyhouse conqueror but Landofhopeandglory could find no way past on the run-in and was forced to give best by one and three-quarter lengths. Mega Fortune finished strongly to lie just a short-head back in third.
“He’s improved from his first run which we hoped he would,” remarked Mullins. “He jumps and gallops and does exctly what’s required of him he’ll probably be back here for the Grade 1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle in February.”
The day began with a taking effort from the Mullins-trained Bunk Off Early (7/4) whose first foray over jumps in the Horse & Jockey Hotel Maiden Hurdle was a striking one. A 44,000gns purchase at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale last year, the former Andy Oliver inmate was having his first run for 14 months.
The grey produced an enthusiastic display having raced up with the pace throughout and he turned in a good round of jumping under Ruby Walsh. He sailed to the front over the second last and never came under the slightest semblance of strong pressure to brush aside Outspoken by five and a half lengths.
“He was a bit keen but he jumped super and quickened well. That was a good performance,” reflected Walsh of the Supreme Racing Club-owned four-year-old.
An industrious season for Joey Sasa (3/1) continued as he added the Thorntons Recycling Maiden Hurdle to the two bumper wins he recorded in the autumn.
The Noel Meade runner, who came here off a pair of runner-up finishes in maiden hurdles at Navan, loomed up menacingly on the outside of Barra just as the latter looked to have the measure of the favourite Castello Sforza.
Sean Flanagan then got Joey Sasa to the front nearing the final flight en route to a two and a quarter-length triumph.
“He was beaten by a good horse (Cilaos Emery) last time but I blame myself too as I probably didn’t do enough with him after his previous run,” stated Meade of the Eamonn Duignan and Bernard Woods-owned gelding. “I suppose he’ll go into novice hurdles now and he handled the ground well, it’s no worse than yielding.”
Concordin (5/1) bridged a gap of almost three years when his whirlwind finish carried the day in the Cardinal Capital Handicap Hurdle. A winner over hurdles at Navan in March 2014, Robert Tyner’s charge had been restricted to just five runs since then. However, old ability remains firmly intact and he looks like one that could easily add to his tally in the coming weeks.
The strong-travelling Artful Artist appeared to have this race under control when he eased past Top Othe Ra on the run-in and moved a couple of lengths clear. In the last 100 yards though Mark Walsh conjured a tremendous surge from Concordin and the J.P. McManus-owned gelding forced his way to the front in the last couple of strides.
“The two and a quarter-mile trip helped but two and a half may well have been better,” declared Tyner. “When he came back last season he went chasing but we said we’d make use of his hurdles mark this season but we always have the option of going back chasing.”
Jim Culloty’s Lake Takapuna (6/1) picked an opportune time to register his first success over fences as claimed an eventful Bet Through The Racing Post App Handicap Chase.
Powersbomb fell at the last when still holding the lead and he, in turn, hampered the favourite Ball D’Arc. On the run-in, David Mullins produced the Dr Ronan Lambe-owned winner with a sweeping challenge and, in the process of making his effort, Lake Takapuna squeezed up Ball D’Arc but this didn’t effect the outcome. Predictably an ensuing enquiry made no change to the length and a half verdict over last year’s winner Dysios.
“He had some nice form in novice company but he just wasn’t quite good enough to win one. I wasn’t sure how he was treated coming into this but David got a nice blow into him turning in and he finished out the race well,” stated Culloty.
Aeglos (8/1) bounced back from an unplaced run at Punchestown several weeks ago with a stylish triumph in the Lep Inn Flat Race, which made it a double for J.P. McManus.
The Joseph O’Brien-trained runner, who was giving jockey Tom Hamilton his first winner in Ireland, quickened best off a sedate pace to take charge of this race inside the last quarter of a mile. The Mahler gelding stuck to his task well in the closing stages to finish four lengths clear of the newcomer Mr Champers.
“We’ve always though plenty of him but he was a bit weak when he first ran during the summer and then J.J. (Slevin) rode him the last day and said to write off that run as the race didn’t go right for him,” remarked O’Brien. “I think we’ll go down the winner’s bumper route with him now.”
ACTING STEWARDS
F. Clarke, Mrs T.K. Cooper, Ms. M. Cosgrave, P. Reynolds, P.D. Matthews
HORSE TO FOLLOW
JARRY D’HONNEUR (W.P. Mullins): A talented novice chaser a couple of seasons ago, this gelding stepped forward from his recent comeback to finish fifth in the handicap chase won by Lake Takapuna where he showed up nicely from the front. It may not be that long before he is adding to his tally.