Matchbook Betting
Exchange Novice
Chase (Grade 1)
KEITH Donoghue had a day to remember at Limerick on St Stephen’s Day when Gigginstown House Stud’s Hardline capitalised on the long-time leader and odds-on favourite Getabird missing the last in the Matchbook Betting Exchange Novice Chase to rack up his first Grade 1 success.
Getabird looked to have the race in the bag when putting in a good jump two out but the complexion of the race changed dramatically at the final obstacle when he got in too close to it and nodded on landing.
Getabird managed to find a leg to get back into the race but, as the saying goes, the bird had flown and Hardline took full advantage to prevail by half a length for the Gordon Elliott stable, at a price of 9/2. Ruby Walsh subsequently described the mistake as the “difference between winning and losing the race.”
Donoghue said afterwards: “He just keeps galloping and, only for Gordon I wouldn’t be in this position. Two miles or two and a half is his trip.”
The trainer’s assistant, Ian Amond, paid tribute to the 25-year-old rider with the comment: “It’s great for Keith to get his first Grade 1.
“He puts in a lot of work in the yard and, as everyone knows, he struggles with his weight.”
Rest of the card
Band Of Outlaws comes out on top
WALSH was also out of luck on the third-placed Mixmoon in the opener, had earlier struck aboard Susannah Ricci’s stable-companion Salsaretta in the two-and-a-half-mile Signsplus Maiden Hurdle.
The 11/8 favourite was never out of the first two and, with Walsh demonstrating the great judge of pace that has become his hallmark, Salsaretta reduced the front-running Felix Desjy’s lead to a matter of lengths off the home turn.
Switched out to deliver her challenge before the last, the five-year-old was driven out to collect, with a bit in hand, by three and a half lengths. Her rider said: “She stays and it’s not her first season as a novice, so she has a lot of experience which some of the others wouldn’t have.
“You can’t chase them in the back straight here, so I was between a rock and a hard place. The leader fell into a hole between the last two, so I came to the other side because it looked a bit tight on the rail and a trip is what she needs.”
The owner’s racing manager Joe Chambers added: “She jumped well and we kept her novice status for this year. She’s a mare we like and we’re hoping she’ll do well over fences and a trip.”
Band Of Outlaws (2/1) finally got his turn for Joseph O’Brien and J.J. Slevin in the Greenmount Equine Hospital Three-Year-Old Maiden Hurdle when quickening from the final flight to go in pursuit of Future Proof and nail it close home by three-quarters of a length in the colours of Justin Carthy.
Slevin reported: “He got his jumping together today and jumped well, whereas in Cork the last day he didn’t jump. He was a good horse on the flat and that’s a big help, so hopefully he’ll do well over hurdles.”
There was an all-Wexford outcome to the Guinness Maiden Hurdle which went the way of Denis Hickey’s homebred seven-year-old Buckie Cullen who headed Coilte Eile half-way up the run-in to register a one-and-a-quarter-length success in the hands of Jonathan Moore.
Hickey commented: “He won two point-to-points last year and loves jumping. He’s from the same family as Bob Treacy who won the Thyestes twice for us.
“I had no intention of running him over hurdles and just ran him in Gowran to give him a bit of experience but he ran so well we said we’d have a second crack at it.
“We’ll have to find some kind of winners of one or a handicap for him in a few weeks now.”
wELL RELATED
Denis Hogan has always had a high opinion of Moskovite who lived up to her billing when defying top-weight in the O’Kelly Brothers Demolition Mares Handicap Hurdle by three and a quarter lengths from Rovetta.
The 4/1 chance, homebred in Castlebar by Robert Hennelly, was a moderate sixth turning for home but she stayed galloping to pick them off under her trainer, who said on his return: “They went a searching gallop for a handicap but they came back to her and she outstayed them.
“She’s a class mare but it’s still not going to be easy for her over two miles with top-weight because two and a half to three miles is her trip. She’ll probably come back here in March for what was the Grade 2 Shannon Spray Mares Hurdle.
“Her half-sister Moyhenna runs here on Saturday in the beginners chase.”
Ray Hackett’s course specialist The Ballyboys looked all set for win number four in the Mr Binman 0-109 Handicap Chase until jumping out to his left at the penultimate fence and then running out through the wing of the last, unseating his rider.
That gifted the race to Pat Carey’s Seskin Flyer, who only had a mandatory penalty to contend with and went on to justify even-money favouritism by two and three-quarter lengths for Kevin Brouder.
The seven-year-old is owned and was bred by Liam Phelan and Carey will give him two weeks off before going in search of further success, reflecting: “He’s a great jumper and he goes in any ground.
HURDLE
He’ll go for a hurdle race somewhere and could win one because he’s still well handicapped over hurdles and is a natural jumper.”
Tony Mullins had what he described as “a lovely surprise” when 40/1 outsider Shanches was called the winner of the Lyons Of Limerick Jaguar & Land Rover Mares Flat Race first time out after battling her way back in the shadows of the post to pip Designer Destiny by a nose, with the favourite Larquebuse a neck away in third.
The Shantou mare, who races for her breeder Michael Foley, is from the Shannak line and she was ridden to success by Johnny Hurley from Conna who was clocking up his first win on the track, to add to a further 25 successes between the flags.
“I didn’t believe she was up to that yet,” was the bemused commented from Mullins.
“So we’ll have a rethink and go for a winners’ bumper. I doubt she’s for sale.”
ACTING STEWARDS
J. Moloney, Ms Jill Farrell, P. McLernon, B. Murphy, L. Walsh.
HORSE TO FOLLOW
FUTURE PROOF (N Meade): With two solid runs over jumps to his credit, it was no surprise to see him going close in the three-year-old hurdle, only to be touched off by useful flat recruit Band Of Outlaws. Sure to make amends.