LADBROKES MUNSTER

NATIONAL (Grade A)

SADLER’S RISK gave trainer Henry de Bromhead and jockey Andrew Lynch their first taste of Ladbrokes Munster National glory at Limerick last Sunday when pulling out more in the closing stages of a thrilling and eventful race to contain the determined challenge of Spring Heeled by one and a quarter lengths.

The drama began as early as the fourth fence where the well-supported favourite Perfect Promise fell and brought down Pass The Hat. Last year’s winner Shanpallas was badly hampered and unseated Barry Geraghty while Carriganog came to grief at the last when still a close third.

The 14/1 winner is owned by well-known English owner Roger Brookhouse and de Bromhead said: “I thought he made a couple of mistakes that cost him the race and another at the second last but he winged the last and travelled really well.

“That’s only his second run in a handicap and obviously the Galway Plate was a good run. All he did was gallop and it was a super ride from Andrew who’s riding great and a good win, too for Roger. I think the key to him might be to keep him fresh and we backed right off him after Galway.

“He only goes right-handed and we pin-pointed this race for him and trained him for it. His runs at Cheltenham were shocking but maybe we should try going left-handed once more but I’m not really pushed. There are plenty of races for him right-handed and he’s got a lot of class. If not we’ll leave him off and do something similar next year.”

Lynch observed: “I’ve had a good few rides in the race and it’s a nice pot to win, especially for Roger who puts plenty of money into the game and let me ride him today. He was travelling well but the fences here are very trappy and upright and if you get underneath them it’s hard to get back up.”

GIGGINSTOWN House Stud’s retained jockey Bryan Cooper kept his boss Michael O’Leary happy with a chase double via Devil’s Bride in the Pricewaterhousecooper Rated Chase and fencing debutant Lord Scoundrel who got off the mark over the larger obstacles in the Racing Post EBF Beginners Chase.

The 2/1 favourite Devil’s Bride captured the eighth race of his career when leading at the second last and going on to win by a comfortable four and a half lengths from Shadow Catcher. Cooper remarked: “He’s a horse who’d fool you because I thought he was half flat out but when you set him alight he comes alive again.

“He’s been a great money-spinner this summer but won’t act on winter ground so I’d imagine we won’t be seeing much more of him. He’ll be brought back for the Festivals in the spring.”

Gordon Elliott’s Lord Scoundrel, meanwhile had his task eased in his event by the heavy penultimate fence departure of the favourite Rock On Fruity which left him clear to collect by an eased-down 33-length from The Winkler.

Cooper reflected of the 5/2 winner: “He jumped the fences great but turning in he was a bit lazy so I was using Barry (Geraghty on Rock On Fruity) as a lead. He winged the second last and is a nice chaser in the making and one of many to look forward to. He wouldn’t want to go the other way around as he can jump to his left.”

Barry Geraghty gave the 3/10 favourite Tigris River a confident ride to get back on the winning trail in the Dunraven Arms Hotel Hurdle. Tracking the pace-setting Chatham House Rules from the outset the jockey upped the tempo when leading at the second last and romped to an easy five-length victory from Holy Water.

Owner J.P. McManus’s representative Frank Berry observed: “He couldn’t have done it any easier and jumped well. It’s nice to get his confidence back after Listowel and he will improve jumping wise.

“I don’t know if he’ll be a winter horse but you’ll see him again in another month or two and he’ll be back in the spring for a handicap off a nice mark. We’ll have to dip the water at some stage and see where he stands against the other novices.”

Willie Mullins sent out an even shorter-priced favourite in Long Dog for a facile three and three-quarters of a length success under Ruby Walsh in the Grade 3 Shannon Airport Christmas Racing Festival Novice Hurdle.

The 1/7 favourite extended his unbeaten record in this country to four wins when coasting to this latest front-running success in the colours of Susannah Ricci. Walsh said on his return: “I like him and always liked him and he’ll step up in grade again but where that is I don’t know.

“They probably weren’t going quick enough for him there and I suppose he guessed a bit at the second last first time around. He had a good run in a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse in heavy ground and I think he wants softer ground.”

Doneraile trainer John Joe Walsh knows what it takes to have a winner at this venue and saddled the B.S. Racing Syndicate’s Wate And See, with Adrian Heskin in the saddle, to take the honours in the Download The Free At The Races App Mares Handicap Hurdle at a price of 5/1, despite his reservations about the ground.

The seven-year-old took over from the long-time leader Lenora before the turn-in to the straight and was good value at the finish for her snug three length win over Solita. The gamble of the race Elusive Ivy trailed in last on her handicap debut.

Walsh reflected: “I thought the ground might be too soft for her because she’s better on good ground but she’s improved a bit and got stronger. We’ll find another little handicap for her and she’ll stay hurdling for a while. She jumps those Easyfix hurdles well.”

Run For Firth, from the Kieran Purcell yard, upset joint favourites Tigroney and Chief Of Panama in the Anglo Handicap Hurdle when denying them by the combined margin of six and a half lengths.

Purcell is also the successful owner of the 10/1 winner who races in the red and white colours of his local GAA club Windgap.

He said: “I was nearly going to go over fences with him because he’s crying out for a fence but I might give him another run over hurdles before the ground goes. He likes nice ground but I suppose it’s running out at the moment.”