Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

A GRIPPING first Grade 1 of the year cemented Ginto’s arrival at National Hunt racing’s top table as Gordon Elliott’s well touted charge once again showed just why his trainer holds him in such regard.

A fourth winner of this race in five years for Gordon Elliott, Ginto has long been regarded as a horse with stellar potential. His first two wins suggested he was a horse of some quality but it was his wide-margin trouncing of Eric Bloodaxe in a Navan Grade 2 last month hinted that Ginto could be one of the most exciting talents in the country.

This two-and-a-half-mile affair promised to provide the son of Walk In The Park with his biggest test as lying in wait was his unbeaten stablemate Hollow Games, his conqueror from his racecourse debut this time last year Whatdeawant and the well-regarded Grand Jury. Each of them had their chance to lower Ginto’s colours but none could match the six-year-old.

With stamina no issue at all for the Jack Kennedy’s mount, who was returned the 5/4 favourite following a late torrent of support, Ginto was sent straight to the front.

Sensible pace

He jumped well while setting a sensible pace and gradually he increased the tempo. The first to crack in the straight was Whatdaewant. Hollow Games could never quite work his way into a challenging position, while Grand Jury travelled strongly to look a major threat but he just couldn’t match a relentless Ginto.

At the line, the Elliott inmate had four and a quarter lengths to spare over Grand Jury as he credited Noel and Valerie Moran’s Bective Stud with their first Grade 1 success.

Hollow Games was a further neck back in third with fourth going to Churchstonewarrior. This made it 15 winners in a week for the trainer who was also securing his fourth Grade 1 triumph in six days.

“Jack said he wasn’t doing a stroke the whole way and he’s idle in front which is no bad thing. He jumped great and is a strong stayer,” said Elliott. “He had to do it the hard way and Jack said he probably didn’t enjoy being in front but we felt it no one was going to make it we would let him roll along.

“He’s been improving at home all the time and if anything he will be stepping up in trip going forward. He will be entered for the Dublin Racing Festival but more than likely he could go straight to Cheltenham and before today I was thinking in terms of the Albert Bartlett for him but we’ll see.”

“Hollow Games ran well. With the run of the race he could have been second and I think we will see him at the Dublin Racing Festival as he would benefit from more experience,” added the trainer.

Meanwhile, Jack Kennedy commented: “He’s a big, staying horse so the plan was to wind it up as I went along. He’s a proper stayer but he has a bit of pace too and he’s just a classy horse.

“He’s improved a lot since I won a maiden on him a couple of months ago and he’s just grown up a lot too. Whatever he does over hurdles he is going to be a very fine chaser.”

BLUE Lord enjoyed the sort of leisurely success that odds of 1/4 suggested was on the cards as he coasted home in the Irish Stallion Farms Novice Chase which kicked off a Willie Mullins double and made it 23 winners in seven days for the champion trainer.

A smooth win at Fairyhouse last month suggested that the Grade 1-placed hurdler could go a long way over fences and he once again showed some lovely attributes as he jumped superbly and travelled supremely well.

In a race where the two fences in the straight were omitted, Blue Lord was coasting along in a share of the lead before the original two out and nonchalant look to his left by Paul Townend suggested that the favourite had any amount in reserve.

Blue Lord eased away at his leisure to finish some 20 lengths ahead of the useful Lifetime Ambition.

“That looks a nice improvement on what he did the first day. He galloped all the way to the line with Paul and he looks an Arkle horse,” declared Mullins.

The champion trainer, Townend and owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede shared in a double when Bronn, who won a useful Ballinrobe bumper on his debut for Stuart Crawford last April, made a successful start over timber in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle.

The concluding stages of this two-mile affair made for fascinating viewing as Jack Doyle on Flame Bearer went for a daring run up the inside of the evens favourite after the second last.

At that penultimate flight Bronn shifted out to his right somewhat but Paul Townend was keen to get back to his position on the inner.

This in turn meant that things got very tight with Flame Bearer who held his ground to squeeze past one of the spurs that marked the inside of the course.

After Bronn had fought and won this battle he then had to deal with Killer Mode on the run-in, but he contained that one’s effort by three-parts of a length with Flame Bearer a further length and three-quarters back in third.

A stewards’ enquiry into the incident involving the winner and Flame Bearer took no action.

No business

“To me he (Flame Bearer) had no business going up the inside. To do that manoeuvre you are supposed to be clear of the other horse to come back out.

“I don’t agree with having no rails but jockeys nowadays seem to want it that way. If there was a rail there wouldn’t have been a problem,” observed Mullins. “Bronn is an out-and-out stayer and he needs to go out in trip. He gallops and is a strong stayer.”

After winning a restricted maiden hurdle at Limerick in November, Paddys Planet followed up for Ross O’Sullivan in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle over two miles, three furlongs.

The 5/2 favourite found himself at the head of the field turning for home and he sustained his effort in likeable fashion.

Even though he wasn’t that fluent at the last flight Jack Foley’s mount righted himself to defeat the year absent Never Off Duty by four and a half lengths. The six-year-old is owned by Richard Murphy’s Lorus Projects Limited.

“He’s a real three-mile chaser. Jamie Codd recommended him after riding him to win his point. He will be a lovely horse over fences in time,” stated O’Sullivan afterwards.