ON The Go Again lit up this low key fixture with a successful jumping debut which reaffirmed trainer Michael Mulvany’s belief that the gelding could be the best horse that he has had through his hands.
On his first outing for 11 months, On The Go Again was tackling hurdles for the first time having shown substantial promise on the first of two flat outings last year. When he made his debut at Leopardstown in April, the four-year-old was fifth to Bhutan in a quality affair that produced a couple of subsequent classic placed pattern winners.
On very testing ground, On The Go Again went toe to toe with the odds-on favourite Icario from a long way out in the four-year-old maiden hurdle. The Rachael Blackmore-ridden winner made a mistake two out but was back upsides the market leader at the final flight and then toughed it well on the climb to the line. With just under 100 yards to go, the 9/1 chance edged ahead and he contained his game rival by a neck.
“I do think that he could be the best we’ve had. He has a fierce turn of foot but you wouldn’t see it on that ground and Rachael said he hated the ground,” said Mulvany, whose father Larry bred and owns the son of Arakan. “He’s bred for the this game and the only reason he ran on the flat was that he was so hard to break we said we’d keep him going once he was broken. We’ll find a nice race for him.”
Rachael Blackmore went on to record a double as Folsom Blue (4/1) pulled victory out of the fire in the veterans’ handicap chase. The 10-year-old, whose last success came over three years ago, looked a forlorn hope when some ragged jumping saw him drop to the rear of the field on the final circuit. However, he began to stay on from the fourth last and then built up a head of steam from the entrance to the straight. The Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding charged into contention to lead at the final fence and he stayed on dourly to defeat Canaly by three and three-quarter lengths.
“His day was probably last season’s Scottish National when he got brought down. It’s good to see him back and all he does is stay,” declared Mouse Morris, whose string have found form at an opportune time of the season.
PUNTERS’ LUCK
After a reversal in the opener, odds-on punters enjoyed better luck when Bargy Lady, the only Willie Mullins runner on the card, made short work of her opponents in the Meridian Security Mares Maiden Hurdle. A series of good runs against mares the calibre of Toe The Line and Forge Meadow entitled Bargy Lady to go off at 2/7 and her supporters never had an anxious moment.
Ruby Walsh made all the running on the Oakroom Racing Club-owned daughter of Yeats who handed out an eight-length beating to the 22/1 chance Strike Is Back.
“She had the best form in the race and she jumped well. It’s testing ground out there and she kept going well,” reported the winning rider.
A whirlwind finish from Bilbo Baggins (12/1-8/1) enabled Adrian Murray’s charge to deny the favourite Camlann what had looked a certain victory in the two and a half-mile handicap hurdle. Camlann cleared the last with a lead of around four lengths but he simply could not withstand the late flourish of Sean Flanagan’s mount who was no better than midfield jumping two out. This was a first winner for New York-based owner Tony McLoughlin.
“He was placed in a couple of points and we bought him for Tony this time last year. He stays well and he loves that ground. We’ll look for something similar next,” declared Murray. “He’s crying out for a fence and that is what he will do next season.”
Arthur Moore sent out his first winner of the year as the Donagh Meyler-ridden Ontopoftheworld reversed form with All The Chimneys from their meeting here in January in the Meridian Security Handicap Chase. The 9/2 chance was 9lb better off with All The Chimneys who was travelling very easily for most of the straight.
A game Ontopoftheworld remained in front though and after the last All The Chimneys didn’t find at all as much as had looked likely and he went down by three-quarters of a length. Ontopoftheworld is owned by the Planets In Orbit Syndicate whose members include Turf Club stewards Raymond Groarke, Tony Hunt and Leonie Reynolds.
“The ground was a worry but now that he’s won it will open up more options with him. He could now go for a novice handicap chase at Fairyhouse in early April,” commented Moore.
Among those who relished the testing ground was Laverteen (5/1) who returned from just under a year off to take the bumper under Danny Benson. A runner-up on his debut last season, the Gigginstown-owned six-year-old quickened well on the ground to open up a decent lead over his rivals inside the last quarter of a mile. He kept going well to defeat Stowaway Forever by four lengths with the evens favourite Coeur De Beauchene a further 11 lengths back.
“He’s maybe a bit better than we thought although I did always think he’d be good enough win a bumper,” reflected Meade. “He hasn’t been the easiest to train and I’d say he wants that ground. I’d imagine we won’t go hurdling until next season.”
The dual point-to-point scorer Suas Sios (10/1-8/1) belied his position as the outsider of the five-runner field in the two and a half-mile beginners’ chase.
A first winner in just over a year for Patrick Rooney, the Kieran Ryan-owned seven-year-old jumped well for Conor Maxwell but looked held when Crosshue Boy moved ahead nearing the final fence. Suas Sios rallied well on the run-in and got back in front to carry the day by a length and a half.
“He’s a real stayer and the further I was going the better he felt. Even though I was headed I felt I had a good chance if he jumped the last well which he did,” stated Maxwell.
ACTING STEWARDS
R. Dore, P. Molony, Mrs T.K. Cooper, N. Colfer, M.F. O’Donoghue
Horse To Follow
CHARLE BRUNE (T. Shanahan): This gelding wasn’t disgraced when sixth in the maiden won by On The Go Again. He has shown promise in each of his three runs to date and there could be more to come from him.