JUST as he did 12 months ago, Gordon Elliott pulled a winner from left field in the €50,000 TRI Equestrian Handicap Chase as the out-of-form Gun Digger recovered to give jockey Gavin Brouder his biggest success to date.
Twelve months ago Elliott landed this prize with the 14/1 shot Woods Well, and the Gigginstown House Stud-owned Gun Digger (7/1) lined up having pulled up in five of his last seven runs. However, a bold ride from Brouder brought out the best in this gelding whose last victory came in a beginners’ chase at this track in December 2018.
Brouder got his mount jumping well and Gun Digger took lengths out of his rivals at a number of fences before striking for home with two to jump. Mortal threatened turning in but he was seen off before the last as Gun Digger kept on to defeat Scoir Mear by two and three-quarter lengths.
“He got a lovely ride from Gavin. I only met him today but he is good value for his 7lb. The horse has had a disappointing season but he’s back on track and he might go for the Randox Health Ulster National at Downpatrick next,” said the trainer.
Elliott was also on the mark with Larquebuse who returned better than ever from a near three-month break to take the Anton O’Toole Memorial Mares’ Novice Hurdle.
The Cheveley Park Stud-owned 2/1 favourite revelled in the testing ground, in contrast to most of her rivals, and she only had Mrs Milner to deal with from two out.
The latter was soon beaten as the Davy Russell-ridden winner kept up a relentless gallop to score by 10 lengths in this two-and-a-half-mile race.
Mikey Fogarty picked up a two-day whip ban for his efforts on the third-placed Darrens Hope.
Mark Walsh reported that the disappointing Barrington Court, who dropped out quickly before two out, went wrong behind.
“The ground suited and she stays well. We’ll step her up in class for a mares’ Grade 3 at Limerick on March 15th,” reported the trainer.
Newcomer
Elliott also supplied the odds-on favourite Homme D’un Soir in the TRI-sponsored four-year-old bumper but the Gowran Park winner had to settle for third behind Joseph O’Brien’s newcomer Lunar Display (7/1).
The latter picked up in the manner of a smart filly to lead with over a furlong to run and dug deep for Oakley Brown in the closing stages to edge out Blazing Khal by a head. Lunar Display is owned by the trainer’s mother Annemarie.
Blazing Khal’s jockey Philip Byrnes was given a two-day whip ban.
Jon Snow (6/4) got off the mark at the fourth time of asking since coming to Ireland as he ran out a resolute winner of the two-and-a-quarter-mile Donohoe Marquees Maiden Hurdle. The Susannah Ricci-owned gelding had run well against some quality types this season and form such as his third to Front View at Cork in November looked to give him a great chance. The Paul Townend-ridden five-year-old coped well with the ground and found plenty on the long run for home – the last was bypassed due to low lying sun – to hold off chief rival Fakiera by a length and a quarter.
The Easter Festival at Fairyhouse could be next for the winner.
The champion trainer’s brother, Tom, also got among the winners courtesy of Leopardstown specialist Grand Partner (8/1 - 6/1) in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Rated Novice Chase.
The 12-year-old was making it nine career victories and the last five have come at this track with his most recent being in the two-mile handicap hurdle on this card two years ago. Sean O’Keeffe produced the veteran to lead before the last and the pair went on to score by seven lengths. Tom Mullins trains Grand Partner for his wife Helen.
A walk in the park for Howard’s Charli Parcs
AIDAN Howard once again showcased his talents as he produced the talented but frustrating Charli Parcs in great shape off a 469-day layoff to win the two-and-a-quarter-mile conditions hurdle.
This seven-year-old showed major promise during his time with Nicky Henderson but lined-up without a win in over three years. Barry Geraghty, who had ridden just 34 times in Ireland this season coming into this race, took his time off a brisk pace set by Mengli Khan.
The strong-travelling Charli Parcs looked a likely winner from some way out and once he was pushed along to assert over the last furlong, the J.P. McManus-owned 7/1 chance scampered clear to defeat Jetz by four and a half lengths, with a further 22-length gap back to Mengli Khan. This was a second winner of the season in Ireland for Geraghty.
“We haven’t asked him to do a whole pile he has been doing things nicely,” commented Howard. “The good gallop suited him and he got a super ride from Barry and the staff at home have done a great job with him. He’ll go for something similar in a month or six weeks’ time.”
Improved
The much improved Wolfofallstreets (11/1) made it three wins from his last four starts with a clear-cut success in the TRM Nutrition Handicap Hurdle. After racing on the pace throughout, Adam Short’s mount stayed on powerfully from the last to pull clear of the chasing pack and prevail by five lengths.
This was a ninth success of the campaign for Rothwell who is enjoying his best season for six years.
“He’s been in as good a form at home over the last few days as I’ve ever seen him and it’s great to see him do that,” declared Rothwell who trains the gelding for his stalwart patrons Carol Hogan and Eric Newnham.
It was reported that the second favourite Spruced Up failed to act on the ground.