OSCAR Knight produced an effort that bodes well for his prospects in high class handicaps through the coming months as he bolted up in the featured Foxrock Handicap Chase.
The Tom Mullins charge, who has come into his own this term, crept into this €50,000 event off bottom weight but he could have shouldered an appreciably greater burden to victory. After shaping much better than the bare result of his last run would have suggested, the J.P. McManus-owned runner was returned a well backed 7/1 chance under Mark Enright.
After the second last fence the strong travelling Oscar Knight picked off Ball D’Arc and he cleared the last in fine style en route to a six and a half lengths triumph. Kilcarry Bridge finished a further 14-lengths back in third in a race where the last three fences claimed their share of casualties.
“He won well at Galway and last time out at Punchestown he jumped the second last perfectly but then nearly fell a stride after the fence after which he couldn’t get back into the race,” said Mullins. “He’s in the Paddy Power at Christmas but whether he’ll get in I’m not sure and I’ll speak to Frank and J.P. about where he might go.”
Only four went to post for the Grade 3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Klairon Davis Novice Chase but the quartet served up a cracking conclusion that went to Henry de Bromhead’s Attribution. The Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding battled with stablemate Three Stars and the odds-on Briar Hill from three out and the trio were almost inseparable for the duration of the straight.
All three still held every chance at the last but the Bryan Cooper-ridden gelding was the strongest on the run-in and crossed the line half a length clear of the market leader. Attribution was providing a boost to the form of stablemate Identity Thief who had him back in third in a graded event at Punchestown last month.
“He’s quite lazy but he battled very well, got a great ride from Bryan and he jumped super,” reported the trainer. “He may well stay a bit further than this two miles and we could look at the Grade 2 novice chase at Limerick over Christmas.”
NEW PROSPECT
Ted Walsh has quite a prospect on his hands in Any Second Now (66/1) who made a winning debut in the four-year-old maiden hurdle. This looked like a decent race and the manner in which the J.P. McManus-owned son of Oscar prevailed would suggest that he has a big future. A patient Ian McCarthy allowed his mount to latch on to the leading group before three out and Any Second Now only needed to be nudged along to come between horses and take charge on the run-in.
At the line he had two and a half lengths to spare over the 11/10 joint favourites C’est Jersey, whose chances were dealt a major blow by a bad mistake at the second last, and Chirico Vallis.
“It was his first run so I’m pleasantly surprised,” commented Walsh. “He’s a nice horse and a lovely, big chasing type. He reminds me of Rince Ri (high class staying chaser) who won a maiden first time out at this meeting in 1997. I’d say we’ll look for a winners’ race for him next.”
Our Duke (4/1) announced himself a fine recruit to fences in a decent renewel of the Mervyn Gray Construction Beginners Chase. The Robbie Power-ridden gelding matched strides up front with Prince Of Scars for much of the two and a half miles journey on his first run since March.
To his credit the six-year-old recovered well from an error at the third last and he then took charge in between the last two fences to hand out an 11 lengths beating to Gwencily Berbas with Prince Of Scars only third.
“He looks up to what we thought he was last season,” observed Jessica Harrington of the Cooper Family Syndicate-owned gelding. “Robbie loved the way he came back on the bridle after the mistake three out. Christmas comes quick enough so we might wait for a novice at Naas in January. He’ll be able to go up to three miles when we want to.”
SMOOTH WIN
Willie Mullins introduced a smart type in Pravalaguna (5/2) who ran out a smooth winner of the After The Races Party At The Central Bar Mares Maiden Hurdle.
A winner of her only start on the flat in France in April, the half-sister to Petit Mouchoir raced quite keenly throughout this two and a half miles contest but she had plenty left in reserve when it mattered. Ruby Walsh only needed to push her out after the final flight for a convincing five and a half lengths triumph. Unfortunately the odds -on favourite Three Swallowsnick pulled up early on with a suspected pelvic injury.
“I’d hope that she will improve her jumping and for her to be as keen as she was and still win at a track like this says a lot about her,” stated Mullins who trains the filly for the Bruton Street VI Partnership. “We’ll look for a mares novice next and she would be able to come back to two miles.”
FINALLY DELIVERED
Robert Tyner’s Pause And Ponder finally delivered on the form that saw him chase home Yorkhill in a Gowran bumper as he landed the two and three quarter miles handicap hurdle. The Oscar gelding came here out of form but was backed from 33/1 into 12/1 on course. Philip Enright produced the GGGE Syndicate-owned winner to pounce at the last for a one and a quarter lengths success over Silver Tara.
“I have to thank the owners as they’ve had great patience with this horse. He’s had back problems and different things,” reported the trainer’s wife, Mary. “He disappointed over fences at Naas last time so we put him back over hurdles and he seemed to enjoy himself today.”
The distinction of being the only winning favourite on the card fell to the especially well backed newcomer Dr Wallace (9/10) in the REA T & J Gavigan Estate Agents Flat Race. In a race run at a very sedate pace the Margaret Mullins-trained son of Flemensfirth travelled very nicely. From early in the straight he appeared to have everything covered and over the course of the last furlong and a half Patrick Mullins’ mount saw off the front running Minella Fair by three and three parts of a length.
“I think he will be very good, he’s just a baby still and was babyish when he hit the front,” reflected the trainer who owns the gelding with Peter Magnier.
“He might be one for Cheltenham but we’ll give him a chance after this.”
ACTING STEWARDS
T. Hunt, J. Collins, L. McFerran, Mrs T.K. Cooper, P.W. Murtagh
HORSE TO FOLLOW
C’EST JERSEY (W.P. Mullins): He would have gone close to landing the opener but for a bad mistake at the second last and it won’t be long before he gains compensation in another maiden.