REST OF THE CARD

AFTER showing a high-class level of form without winning last season, Let’s Dance continues to carry all before her this term and she served notice of her Cheltenham credentials with a resounding triumph in the Willies Towers Watson EBF Mares Hurdle.

As she looked to make it three wins from as many start this term, the Susannah Ricci-owned daughter of Poliglote was a 1/3 shot for this Grade 3 and she ground her rivals into submission under Ruby Walsh. From the fourth last Slowmotion went toe to toe with the favourite but she paid the price for her efforts nearing the straight.

Let’s Dance shrugged off her rival’s attentions rounding the last bend and she maintained a relentless gallop to pull 17 lengths clear.

“She did that well. She jumps and gallops and I think she would stay further,” commented Mullins of last season’s Triumph Hurdle fourth. “There is the mares’ novice hurdle in Cheltenham for her but that’s two miles, which might be a bit short, and the other option is the Mares’ Hurdle. While she is a novice she picked up plenty of experience in good company last season.”

Mullins’ near total domination of the maiden hurdles at the meeting continued with Battleford in the Guinness Maiden Hurdle.

A top-class bumper horse last term, the Andrea and Graham Wylie-owned five-year-old was a 4/9 shot to improve on his debut fourth over hurdles at Navan last month but he had to work far harder than his odds suggested.

The front runner made several notable errors during the course of this two and a half-mile contest and Ruby Walsh had to get rather vigorous for his mount to account for Coeur Joyeux by three lengths.

“He probably could improve his jumping, he has schooled better at home,” observed Walsh. “He enjoyed the trip and I imagine that he will be stepping up in grade now.”

Exactoris (4/1) provided Joseph O’Brien with his second winner of the meeting as he commendably defied top-weight in the Top Oil EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle where jockey J.J. Slevin rode out his 7lb claim aboard.

With his stamina assured over this two and a half miles, the J.P. McManus-owned Exactoris made the running and fought on well from before the last to see off the improving First To Boogie by two lengths.

“He’s tough and stays well and he’s won two bumpers as well so he’s not a bad horse. We’ll see what’s coming up for him but he could go into novice company and he’ll get three miles too,” reported O’Brien.

Robbie McNamara’s Quick Grabim (9/4) more than delivered on the promise of his debut second at Cork in November as he ran out a commanding winner of the Donohoe Marquees Flat Race.

Finny Maguire’s mount was one of several well-fancied runners in the meeting’s finale and travelled notably well throughout. He didn’t take long to settle the outcome when shooting into a decent lead nearing the last furlong and he crossed the line with five lengths to spare over Line Out. The Oscar gelding is owned by Michael Worcester whose colours were carried to Gold Cup glory by Mr Mulligan in 1997.

“He had a good run in Cork when he was too keen and did plenty wrong and today again he was quite keen but at home he’s a very laid back horse,” remarked McNamara.

“He’s won well despite doing a few things wrong again and we’ll take our time with him now as he’s still a bit weak. We’ve plenty of nice young horses coming through to run over the next few months.”

The vastly experienced Courtncatcher (12/1), who is owned, bred and trained by Cappoquin-based Patrick Duffy, got off the mark over fences in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase. The nine-year-old came here looking for his first win in over two years and had been unable to strike in 15 previous outings over fences.

However, it was all change in this two-mile, five-furlong contest which served up a cracking conclusion.

All 10 of the remaining runners were in with a chance turning for home but none could live with the Conor Brassil-ridden gelding who took charge before the last en route to a two and a half-length defeat of 20/1 chance Thomond. The winner is the only under under the care of Duffy (80) who rides him out every day.

“He’s been running well but just hasn’t clicked. He jumped super and the ground suited him today but he’ll go on softer too,” declared Duffy.

Horse To Follow

IVANOVICH GORBATAOV (J.P. O’Brien): He has yet to reach the heights of last season’s Triumph Hurdle victory but his last two runs, the latter of which saw him finish third in the day’s feature, would suggest that he will worth watching out for in the spring.

Alpha Des Obeaux was reported to have burst blood vessels when pulling-up in the Grade 1 novice chase.

Jessica Harrington reported that her former Champion Hurdle winner Jezki would make his eagerly awaited return to action in the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle at the end of January.

Henry de Bromhead reported that Identity Thief was still sore in front after pulling-up in a Grade 1 here on Monday but that he did not suffer a pelvic injury as was initially feared.

A stewards enquiry into the bumper saw winning jockey Finny Maguire hit with a two-day careless riding ban.