ON a card that concluded with a striking effort from the Cheltenham-bound Carter McKay, feature race honours went to the the talented Slowmotion in the Listed BBA Ireland Limited Opera Hat Mares Chase.
The highlight of a double for both Mark Walsh and trainer Joseph O’Brien, Slowmotion was stepping up in grade from her beginner’s chase success at this track last month. On this occasion the J.P. McManus-owned mare faced a field headed by the odds-on Listen Dear, who was looking to stay unbeaten on her fourth outing over fences.
Indeed the patiently ridden Slowmotion, who was getting a very useful weight for age allowance, looked to have it all to do from fourth on the approach to the straight but yet again Mark Walsh timed things to perfection. Slowmotion (9/4) closed in steadily on the leaders and wasn’t at all far away when Solita headed Listen Dear with two to jump. Solita didn’t help her cause when clouting the last and on the climb to the line Slowmotion finished strongly to get on top, winning by four lengths. Keppols Queen took third as Listen Dear faded to fourth.
“She got a peach of a ride from Mark. He let her find her feet over a trip (two miles) that is a little on the short side for her,” said O’Brien. “I’m sure she will stay further and we’ll look for another mares’ race, possibly a Grade 2 at Limerick in the middle of next month.”
Earlier, O’Brien and Walsh teamed up with the McManus-owned Outspoken (8/15) who improved on a pair of runner-up finishes for a clear cut victory in the two-mile Credo Pizza Supporting Kill GAA Maiden Hurdle. Outspoken’s jumping was better than it has been in the past and it stood him in good stead when he was pressed by Icario from the second last.
The latter was a big threat at this point but Outspoken flew the final flight and then bounded away to pull four and three-quarter lengths clear.
“They didn’t go much of a gallop but he quickened up nicely,” commented J.P. McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry. “He has a bit to learn about jumping but a better gallop would help him in that regard. He’ll for a for a novice or a winner’s race next.”
TOP HONOURS
Carter McKay faced just three rivals in the Cavan Developments Home Builder Supporting Kill GAA (Pro/Am) Flat Race and odds of 8/13 suggested that he would be following up his debut win at Leopardstown over Christmas. The Willie Mullins charge duly succeeded and he did so in a manner of one that will challenge strongly for top honours at Cheltenham.
Patrick Mullins made the running on the Pearl Bloodstock-owned grey and Carter McKay travelled supremely well at all stages. He never came under the slightest semblance of pressure to defeat the Cork winner West Coast Time by two and a quarter lengths.
“He’s improved since Christmas and he did a lovely bit of work during the week. He’ll be going across to Cheltenham,” remarked Mullins, whose charge accounted for subsequent winner Bakmaj on his debut.
The fast-improving Yaha Fizz (7/4) made it three wins on the spin and looks one that could well add to his tally in the coming weeks with a dominant display in the Jordan’s Centre Supporting Kill GAA Rated Novice Hurdle.
Fresh from handicap wins over this course and distance and at Navan, the Eamonn Delany-trained gelding adopted his now customary front running role and was untroubled at all stages of this two-mile event.
Bobabout was the only one to keep meaningful contact with the leader but he was held from some way out and Ryan Treacy’s mount finished some 17 lengths ahead of Fit To Be Tied.
“At home he does all his work alone but we thought he’d improved from Navan. We’ll just see what the handicapper does and then we’ll review where we go,” observed the trainer’s son and part-owner Alan.
CHANGE OF FORTUNE
Conor Maxwell, who has endured an injury hit campaign, enjoyed a welcome change of fortune as a resurgent Westerners Son provided him with his first winner since May in the two-mile handicap chase. This 20/1 shot had pulled-up in both his previous starts this term but he returned to the peak of his powers for this assignment.
Westerners Son jumped boldly in front and turned for home with a decent lead which his rivals could never bridge. The nine-year-old finished four and a quarter lengths ahead of the keeping-on Squouateur.
“That was a good performance. We put the blinkers back on him today and they look to have worked and he got his own way up front. Conor said he loved the ground,” reflected McLoughlin, whose team have been in fine form lately.
Gordon Elliott is already looking forward to going over fences with the promising Midnight Escape who fended off stablemate Cracking Smart in the O’Dricoll O’Neil Insurance Supporting Kill GAA Maiden Hurdle. After starting off his career with a pair of encouraging runs in defeat the Grant Mercer-owned gelding headed the market at 15/8 for this near two and a half-mile contest.
Davy Russell’s mount was going nicely when he switched out to make his bid in the straight, but travelling just as well at this point was the French import Cracking Smart. The latter was eventually subdued on the run in as a determined Midnight Escape pulled one and three-quarter lengths clear.
“He’s a nice horse and I’m looking forward to him going chasing,” declared Elliott. “He’d have no trouble going up further in trip and we’ll find a novice for him next and then maybe leave him alone until next season.”
Dylrow, who was as big as 8/1 in the morning before being returned the 7/2 favourite, justified that support in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.
The seven-year-old only returned from a lengthy absence last month and showed plenty of promise on his second run back at Gowran. Eoin O’Connell produced his mount to tackle Cahirconree nearing the last and Dylrow got on top on the run-in to score by half a length. The winner carries the colours of trainer Robbie Hennessy’s late father, Bill.
“The boss bought him and then about two weeks afterwards he got a leg, it wasn’t a bad injury but we gave him plenty of time,” stated Hennessy. “He’ll make a smashing chaser and handles that ground well.”
ACTING STEWARDS
N. O’Byrne, Ms. M. O’Connor, N. McCaffrey, L. Reynolds, P.D. Matthews
HORSE TO FOLLOW
HOLD ONTO YOUR HAT (O. McKiernan): This gelding ran a respectable race to take fifth behind Dylrow in the handicap hurdle and he stuck to his task well in the straight. Over a longer trip he could be up to making his mark in this sphere.