A CHANGE of heart regarding a big race target yielded the biggest success of Mick Mulvany’s career as On The Go Again rewarded the decision to skip Cheltenham and instead tackle the €100,000 Tote Irish Lincolnshire.
The Lartigue Hurdle winner made great strides on the flat last autumn to win three handicaps on the spin and those efforts suggested that he could be a likely contender for the opening day feature of the 2018 season. On The Go Again had the benefit of several recent runs over hurdles to aid his cause and those efforts coupled his assured stamina over a demanding mile saw him go off a very well-backed 6/1 favourite.
Gary Carroll, who also won the race last year, took his time in midfield and On The Go Again had work to do turning for home. However, he soon launched an unfaltering charge that carried him to the head of the field with over a furlong. The five-year-old kept on well in the closing stages to defeat Saltonstall by a length and three-quarters, with Aussie Valentine taking third to reach the frame in this race for the fourth year in a row.
“We decided to keep away from Cheltenham and wait for this,” said a delighted Mulvany whose father, Larry, owns and bred the winner. “After doing that he might have to go into group races but the long term plan with him would be the Galway Hurdle and I’d say he might have a few more spins on the flat and then we’ll give him a break around May.”
EXCELLENT START
The talented Making Light (9/4) got Dermot Weld’s campaign off to an excellent start as she secured the second Group 3 success of her career in the Lodge Park Stud Irish EBF Park Express Stakes.
The Moyglare Stud-owned four-year-old gave her connections a scare when getting loose on the way to the start but was clearly none the worse for that as she tanked through the race under Leigh Roche, who stood in for the sidelined Pat Smullen.
After travelling powerfully at all stages Making Light was an ominous presence in the slipstream of her old rival Elegant Pose with over a furlong to run. When she was asked to assert inside the distance, the daughter of Tamayuz got past Elegant Pose and she had enough in reserve to contain the game Panstarr by half a length.
“She’s a very consistent filly and the Gladness Stakes back here next month is the logical next step as she is equally effective over seven furlongs or a mile,” remarked Weld.
Dianthus (12/1) gave trainer Richard O’Brien his most valuable success to date as she accounted for the heavily backed top-weight London Icon in the Woodlands Club 100 Madrid Handicap. The daughter of Epaulette showed plenty of promise on her final two starts last season and was produced in rare order by her trainer, who made such an impression with his first runners in 2017.
BRAVE EFFORT
London Icon turned in a brave effort from the front but from some way out he was being shadowed by the winner who was crediting Chris Hayes with his third straight victory in this race. From well over a furlong out victory rested between the front two and Dianthus asserted in good style over the last 150 yards to prevail by a length and three-quarters.
“Chris rode her on her last start last season and when he got off her he told me to aim towards this race and everything has gone well with her since she came back in on January 2nd,” commented O’Brien. “I think there’s every chance that she’s a stakes filly but I’m not sure how much longer I will have her as there’s every chance she could be sold.”
Hayes was also successful on Alan Fleming’s Katie Cruel who improved on her second on the final day of the 2017 turf season to capture the six-furlong Kildare Post & Kildare Now Maiden. The strong-travelling daughter of Myboycharlie led shortly after halfway and battled on bravely in the last furlong to hold Hence by half a length.
“Chris thinks that she’s quite nice. She’ll come on a good bit from this run as well,” declared Fleming, whose partner, Henrietta, owns the winner. “She is for sale but if she’s not sold her next run will be in a stakes race. I must also say a big thank you to Sonny Farrell who rides her every day at home.”
ABILITY
Ger Lyons’ former Railway Stakes scorer Medicine Jack won for the first time since that 2016 Group 2 triumph as he bagged the six-furlong handicap. After just one outing last year, the Group 1-placed juvenile came down 10lbs in the ratings to a mark of 94 and he showed that much of his old ability remains intact.
As the field thinned out nearing the final furlong, Medicine Jack (8-5/1) did battle with the former Group 3-winning juvenile Smash Williams and last year’s winner Gymkhana. Colin Keane got his mount to the front in the closing strides for a head success over Smash Williams, with Gymkhana a further half-length back in third.
“We could not get him to raise a gallop at home last year so we gelded him at the end of last season and kept him going. His work coming here was okay without anyone getting carried away,” reflected Lyons. “The wheels are back on the wagon now and we’ll aim for a listed race at Navan on April 7th. If he gets back to what he was at two we will have fun with him this summer.”
Lyons and Keane also struck with the useful looking newcomer Bobby Boy (4/1) in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. This Sean Jones and Noel Greenhalgh-owned three-year-old son of Big Bad Bob travelled nicely through the race and then showed a fine attitude to get the better of a last-furlong duel with the favourite, Full Moon.
“He’d been doing everything right at home, my worry was just going a mile first time on that ground although I think his trip will be a mile. He’s a smart horse but we won’t rush him,” stated Lyons.
For the second time in his career, Brendan Duke supplied the winner of the first two-year-old maiden of the season as the 20/1 chance Pride Of Pimlico made all the running for Ronan Whelan.
The Martin Hayes and Peter Slezak-owned son of Casamento was one of several runners to play up beforehand but throughout the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden he was faultless. The €10,000 yearling purchase saw off the favourite Son Of Beauty with over a furlong to run and crossed the line two lengths ahead of Engles Rock.
“Today was a big day for him. I was disappointed with his behaviour beforehand but I think he’s a very nice horse and he hadn’t galloped until today,” reported Duke, who won the corresponding race with Sammy The Snake in 2007. “The ground definitely helped as he was fit, he’s done miles and miles of cantering, and this win is a great tribute to everyone at home and how hard they have worked.”
ACTING STEWARDS
M. Cosgrave, T. Hunt, P.G. Molony, R. McSharry, P.D. Matthews
HORSE TO FOLLOW
ZAYRIYAN (D.K. Weld): He finished eighth in the maiden won by Bobby Boy but didn’t run at all badly and shaped better than the final result would suggest. He could progress well off this run.