WILLIE Mullins worked his magic with Limerick’s J.T. McNamara Ladbrokes Munster National winner Total Recall on Sunday where the gelding made a winning debut for the champion trainer on an incident packed, and in another way, unfortunate day’s racing during which high-class hurdler Mega Fortune lost his life.
Ridden today by Ruby Walsh, Total Recall, in the colours of the Slaneyville Syndicate, was making his debut for Mullins and, although there were five casualties in the three-mile contest, Walsh avoided the trouble in-running and in the end brushed aside the challenge of top-weight Alpha Des Obeaux to win on the bridle by seven lengths.
Mullins wasn’t present but afterwards Walsh stated: “he travelled and jumped well and I suppose the runner-up (Alpha Des Obeaux) has run a blinder under top-weight and we only had 10st 5lbs on his back,” said Walsh.
“He’s a nice horse to get, he jumped super and was obviously well taught as a novice last year. He’s a very loose horse, like an elastic band, and he has great use of himself and has great power.
“He had a great racing weight on his back which is a huge plus and I’d say the runner-up has run an unbelievable race with top-weight on his first run for a while.
“I was lucky as there were a couple of fallers and a lot suffered interference but I was lucky to miss a good bit of that. He definitely got three miles and if you get into these type of handicaps with less than 10st 7lbs, you’ve a huge chance and it’s such an advantage.
“It’s my second time winning the race after Dear Villez (2008) and it’s great to win another big handicap with good prize-money.”
Racing began with the three-runner Maurice Powers Solicitors Hurdle in which last season’s Triumph Hurdle runner-up and Gordon Elliott trained Mega Fortune started the 1/7 favourite, but with the race at his mercy when well clear, met with a fatal fall jumping the second last flight. Jockey Davy Russell was unhurt but the incident left the Mouse Morris trained Balakani (8/1 second favourite, under jockey Andrew Ring) to come home a nine-length winner over Penneys Hun.
Morris has his horses back in peak form this season and after the race stated: “that’s racing unfortunately and I had plenty of it (bad luck) myself last year.
“He’s (Balakani) going to be a grand fellow to go chasing and we’ll have plenty of fun with him. He wants a trip but he’s only four and we’ll tip away in another winners’ race next, although I mightn’t delay too long hurdling.”
While Morris’ Alpha Des Obeaux went on to finish second to Willie Mullins’ Total Recall in the later Munster National, Mullins himself recorded a double on the day as his Robin Des Foret led home stablemate and better fancied 8/11 favourite Fabulous Saga, in the Listed Dunraven Arms Hotel Novice Hurdle.
The Byerley Racing Syndicate owned gelding was today winning for the sixth time in his previous eight outings and afterwards winning jockey Paul Townend stated: “he normally goes from the front but we went a good gallop and I was delighted with how he settled.
“He jumped brilliant and I just kept him on the bridle as long as I could. He handled the ground well and that opens up plenty of options for him. He probably surprised me now in fairness.”
Trainer Gordon Elliott lost Mega Fortune in the opening contest but did at least leave the venue with one winner, which came in the concluding Racing Post Irish EBF Beginners Chase with Jury Duty (4/7f), under Davy Russell.
The winner won with plenty in hand, when beating Twiss’s Hill by two and a half lengths and afterwards Elliott admitted: “it’s the end of a long day. It was one of them days when we were unfortunate to lose the other horse (Mega Fortune) who was a very good horse but it is outside the door so that’s the way it is.”
The Gold Cup and Grand National winner added: “this (Jury Duty) is a nice horse and the boys (locally based Sideways Syndicate) will have loads of fun with him. Davy (Russell) said the ground was tacky enough for him and he wasn’t just in love with it but it’s job done and he’ll come on a lot from the run.
“He jumped well and we’ll tip away and find a small winners’ race next. It’s a long way to be thinking about Cheltenham but the four-mile chase could suit him grand.
“He ran well in the Pertemps (Hurdle, finished third) last year and loves a bit of better ground.”
Another Gold Cup winner, Jim Culloty, was on the mark in the David Fitzgerald Memorial Handicap Hurdle with Crown Of Gold, but unfortunately the Dr Ronan Lambe owned gelding pulled-up lame shortly after passing the line.
The 9/1 winner, previously successful at the 2016 Listowel September festival, today defeated heavily backed 5/4 favourite Turbojet when scoring under jockey Andrew Lynch.
The Gigginstown House Stud owned, Henry De Bromhead trained Attribution was the brave winner of the PriceWaterhouseCooper Rated Chase under jockey J.J. Slevin as the gelding followed up another course chase win in July.
Slevin came in for strong praise from De Bromhead following the success as the Champion Chase-winning trainer said: “it was a super ride from J.J. and he battled it out really well and was very tough. He was left in front a good bit out and J.J. really suits him and makes him attack his fences.
“I’ll speak to Michael and Eddie (O’Leary) and see what they want to do, but stepping up to three miles is an option.”
Trainer Paul Power and his fiancee jockey Jeannie Cook were on the mark in the IWP Home Improvement Centre (Mares) Handicap Hurdle with Drakaina, as the engaged pair claimed their second win together following the previous win by Bakers Street at Bellewstown in August 2016.
Today Drakaina arrived with her challenge to lead on the run-in and eventually scored a length win over Just Janice.
Afterwards, Cook, from upstate New York, said: “she was a dream ride and travelled and jumped everywhere and it was brilliant. I was very lucky the owners (Paul Hibbard) allowed me to ride her and claim the 7lbs off her today.
“Myself and Paul met at Saratoga when working for trainer Todd Fletcher in 2009. I’ve been living in Waterford for five or six years now and am here to stay and ride in the odd point-to-point and ladies’ race.
“This is my ninth winner but it’s tough here as all the lady riders are top notch and I do what I can.”
Power was understandably delighted with the result and added: “she did a great job didn’t she (Cook)!
“I was worried about the ground but she seems to be staying better as she gets a bit older and more experience.
“She’s not overly big so the light weight suited and there weren’t many would do the weight Jeannie did today (9st5lbs) and have a good breakfast this morning!”
ACTING STEWARDS
C. O’Mahony, M. Doyle, B. Murphy, H. Williams, L. Walsh
HORSE TO FOLLOW
ALPHA DES OBEAUX (M. Morris): returned to something near his very best form when finishing second under top-weight in the Munster National and should be able to return to winning ways in graded races soon.