ROI Des Francs shook up the pecking order in the staying novice division as he upstaged stablemate Pont Alexandre in the Woodlands Park 100 Club Novice Chase.
Willie Mullins was widely expected to dominate the finish of this three-mile Grade 2 but it wasn’t in the order many expected as Roi Des Francs (13/8) bested the odds-on Pont Alexandre. Both horses made winning debuts over fences last month but Pont Alexandre made the more striking impression when he returned from almost three years off at Punchestown.
Here the front two did everything right throughout and they came away from the second last locked in combat. Between the last two fences both Bryan Cooper and Ruby Walsh started to push on the pressure and the Gigginstown House Stud-owned winner was perhaps a little quicker at the last. The outcome still hung in the balance on the run in before Roi Des Francs eeked out a useful advantage late on, scoring by a length and a half. Sub Lieutenant wasn’t at all disgraced in finishing another four and a half lengths back.
This race may have attracted just three runners but it was a quality novice chase fought out by a pair of very smart types. Of the duo Pont Alexandre was a significantly better novice hurdler and he remains a good prospect but Roi Des Francs looks to have found his true calling and is a coming force over fences.
“That was a good performance from the winner. He jumps and he gallops and he’s improving. We’ll put him in the two longer novice races at Cheltenham, the four-miler and the RSA,” said Mullins.
Of the runner-up he added: “It was just his second run back after a long time off. He might have been a little too well in himself today and it wasn’t a bad run. Maybe Pont Alexandre will improve a little more from the run.’’
Earlier Sempre Medici struck for Mulliins, Ruby Walsh and Susannah Ricci with an adequate effort in the Grade 3 Limestone Lad Hurdle. The 156-rated gelding was well clear of his rivals on official ratings and that, coupled with a fine second to Old Guard at Cheltenham, saw him returned at 1/8.
Sempre Medici won without giving his supporters a major scare but his jumping was largely indifferent throughout the course of two miles, three furlongs contest. In between the last two flights the six-year-old eased through to head He’llberemembered and after walking through the last, he was bustled along to fend off Massini’s Trap by five lengths.
“He didn’t jump great but he did what he had to. I think that trip was plenty far enough for him and just over that longer trip his jumping wasn’t as good,” declared Mullins. “The Red Mills Hurdle at Gowran next month could be a good plan for him.”
CRUISED TO VICTORY
Lagostovegas became the latest horse to endorse the form of Ivanovich Gorbatov’s triumph at Leopardstown last month as she cruised to victory in the juvenile maiden hurdle. The 11/10 favourite, who is the third subsequent winner to have emerged from the Leopardstown race, sauntered into the lead for Sean Flanagan at the second last. The John Donohue-owned mare soon held a commanding advantage which saw her cross the line seven and a half lengths ahead of Newberry New.
“She’s improving and getting stronger and she’s learning a little from every run. She’s won that like a fair horse,” reflected Harry Kelly. “We’re thinking of maybe going for either the Fred Winter or the new mares’ novice hurdle at Cheltenham.”
Edwulf (13/8) made up for a most unfortunate defeat over fences at Navan in the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle. A last fence faller when sure to land a beginners’ chase on his most recent outing, the Aidan O’Brien inmate made most of the running on his first outing for owner J.P. McManus.
Edwulf gave the favourite, Haymount, a real chance with clumsy jumps at the last two flights. To his credit though Barry Geraghty’s mount pulled out plenty on the run in to prevail by a length and a half.
“At the last couple he was a bit awkward but Barry said he was always happy. He’ll probably go chasing again next season,” reported Joseph O’Brien.
GOOD WINNER
After reaching the frame on his first two outings the Terence O’Brien-trained Articulum (7/2) got off the mark in likeable style in the two-mile, three-furlong bumper. The former winning pointer was produced by Pat Collins to head Woods Well over a furlong from home and he saw out the trip well to score by four lengths. The odds on newcomer Comediologist had to settle for fourth.
“He had the form and he’s always been quite a nice horse. As it’s January we might just keep him to bumpers for the rest of the season. He’s big and might just have taken a couple of runs to come to himself in bumpers,” declared O’Brien of the Martin McDonagh-owned gelding.
Jack Kennedy’s memorable first season in the saddle continued apace as he teamed up with Go Paddy Go in the two-mile handicap hurdle. The James Grace-owned and trained 10-year-old was bidding for his first win since November 2013 and was going nicely when he struck the front coming away from two out. The 10/1 chance then stuck to his task well to account for Ballyroe Rambler by three and a half lengths.
“He was running on good ground all last year so the ground was a worry but he handled it well and stayed galloping. He’ll go for something similar again,” stated Grace.
cross head HOGAN WINNER
Eiri Na Casca (5/1) improved on a couple of runner-up finishes in recent weeks to claim the two-mile handicap chase for trainer-rider Denis Hogan. The Adrian McNamara-owned gelding kept close to the pace throughout and then asserted from before the last to defeat Finea by four lengths and should add to his tally in the coming weeks.
“He just bumped into one over two miles, seven furlongs at Musselburgh last time and I wasn’t worried about coming back to this trip,” reported Hogan. “I’m delighted for Adrian who is a very loyal owner and this horse is only just coming to himself.”
ACTING STEWARDS
N.B. Wachman, N. O’Byrne, P.F. Myerscough, J. Tyrrell, P.D. Matthews
Horse To Follow
JOSHUA LANE (E.P. Harty): This former Cheltenham bumper third ran quite respectably on his handicap hurdle debut when he was beaten just over five lengths into fourth by Go Paddy Go. There should be more to come from him through the second half of the season.