A SUPREMELY assured front running demolition of some capable rivals has propelled Acapella Bourgeois into the reckoning for Cheltenham with his Ten Up Novice Chase victory the standout effort on this card.
To use American parlance, the Sandra Hughes-trained gelding got loose on the lead in this three miles Grade 2 but even so he produced the most perfect of displays under Roger Loughran.
Sandra Hughes has repeatedly stressed that soft ground is important to her charge and that is something to bear in mind for next month but granted a good ease in the ground for the RSA Chase this hugely talented gelding must rank as a contender
After showing steady progression on his last three runs over fences Acapella Bourgeois (7/2) turned on the style this time. He was untroubled up front from the moment the race began and it wasn’t long before he led by over 20 lengths.
Even passing the stands with a circuit to run, it was clear that the chasing pack had a monumental task on to reel in the leader and, in truth, they never looked like doing so.
From a mile out it looked as though the Slaneyville Syndicate-owned gelding just needed to safely jump the remaining fences and he did so with aplomb. Once he negotiated the last Acapella Bourgeois could afford to coast home and finish with some 32 lengths to spare over Road To Respect.
“We do think that he’s very good and he was as straight as dye with his jumping today,” said the delighted trainer. “He goes on really testing ground and soft ground is important to him but if we got nice, soft ground Cheltenham would be on our minds. He’s always been a very good horse and we felt that he’d really come into his own as a chaser. Roger is important to him and knows him so well, the two of them together are poetry in motion.”
CLEAR WIN
This was another good Navan fixture for Gordon Elliott who reeled off a treble headed by the exciting Sutton Place in the Grade 2 Ladbrokes Boyne Hurdle.
On just the sixth outing of his career the J.P. McManus-owned six-year-old was stepping markedly in trip to two miles and five furlongs and he looks like one for whom three miles will be no problem in due course.
There was a point in this race where the 4/6 favourite appeared as though he would have to dig deep to secure another victory yet he was much the best at the finish.
A patiently-ridden Sutton Place was being niggled along as the runners turned for home and he had work to do a this stage. After working his way into contention he needed just one reminder from Barry Geraghty and the manner in which he quickened after the last was impressive.
The Mahler gelding only needed to be pushed along to surge clear of his stablemate De Plotting Shed and win by almost four lengths. Renneti, who looked as though he might refuse to jump off, was a further two and a half lengths away.
“I’d say the ground wasn’t ideal for him but he still showed his class when it mattered,” said Elliott. “Over the new trip we perhaps rode him a little negatively and Barry felt afterwards that he might be better in his races when you grab hold of him. He’s really a chaser but in terms of the rest of the season there is the Grade 2 Ballybin Hurdle at Fairyhouse over Easter.”
Earlier, Elliott’s Ball D’Arc continued his industrious season by taking the Grade 3 Flyingbolt Novice Chase where just two of the three runners completed for the second year in succession.
When Identity Thief (lame) was ruled out this two miles contest lost its star attraction and then the race was over before it began in earnest.
The free-wheeling odds-on chance Ballyoisin had yet to come under meaningful pressure when he fell three out having been joined by the eventual winner.
This left Bryan Cooper’s mount with the most straight forward of tasks and he duly negotiated the last two fences to finish with 19 lengths to spare over Tully East. The winner was adding this race to his triumph in last month’s Dan Moore Chase at Fairyhouse.
“He’s a grand horse and the conditions suited him well,” commented Elliott. “Bryan felt he was travelling well at the time but to me the front two were going as well as each other so who knows what might have happened. I think we might aim him at something like the Ryanair Gold Cup at Fairyhouse.”
ANOTHER SMOOTH WIN
The Elliott treble was bought up by Poli Roi (2/7) as the high profile recruit from the pointing field ran out a smooth winner of the Race Displays Event Signage (Pro/Am) Flat Race.
The Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding cruised through the race for Jamie Codd and quickened nicely to see off Impact Factor entering the last furlong. At the line the five-year-old was an easy two lengths winner.
“He’s a nice horse and one for next year. Jamie said he gave a good blow there and he’ll improve plenty from this so it’s possible he could run again this season,” observed Elliott.
Almost four years after his last victory Mad Brian (12/1) bagged the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle under Danny Hand. The 11-year-old made short work of his rivals in the straight and his ever increasing margin of superiority over Rightdownthemiddle had stretched out to 15 lengths at the line.
“I was pleased with his fourth in the Grand National Trial at Punchestown the last day,” declared Gillian Callaghan who trains the gelding for the Black Steel Square Syndicate. “He’s had a few niggly problems and a wind operation but it all came right for him today and the plan would be to head back to Uttoxeter next month for the Midlands National.”
On his Irish debut and his first outing since May 2016 Denise (Sneezy) Foster’s Miles To Memphis sprang a 25/1 surprise in the P.S. Supplies Doors & Floors Handicap Hurdle. Formerly a three times winner in Britain, the Mark Enright-ridden eight-year-old ran on well from the last to see off Lilshane by two and three quarter lengths.
“His owner Jules Sigler had Tipped Up Harry with me but he’s no longer with us and this horse was sent to me after he lost his way in the UK. We’ve spent a lot of time trying to rejuvenate him and keep him happy,” stated the trainer. “I think he’s a horse we could have a lot of fun with in the summer.”
Gordon Elliott was also expected to land the opener but his Broken Soul (4/11), who chased home Melon last time, could only manage third behind Miss Mardan in the two miles maiden hurdle.
The Sean Byrne-trained winner won a Fairyhouse bumper three years ago but leg trouble meant that this was only her fourth start since then. Miss Mardan almost fell at the first and her jumping was a little novicey but she responded well for Mark Bolger to brush aside Broken Soul before the last. She finished four lengths clear of 50/1 chance King’s War.
“Mark felt that she’d probably be better on better ground and she is a good mare. The plan would be to go Limerick next month for a Grade 3 mares novice hurdle,” reported Byrne who trains the eight-year-old for the B & M Partnership.
In-running comments
Renneti was found to be lame following his third place finish in the Boyne Hurdle.
In the Ten Up Novice Chase Barry Geraghty reported that Anibale Fly made mistakes and struggled from five fences out.
Meanwhile, Jack Kennedy reported that Holeinthewall Bar never travelled when finishing down the field when favourite for the two miles handicap hurdle.
ACTING STEWARDS:
R.Dore, P. Caffrey, D. McCorkhill, L. Reynolds, H. Hynes
HORSE TO FOLLOW
IMPACT FACTOR (P. Twomey): He looked to improve from his debut third to chase home Poli Roi in the bumper where he finished 15 lengths clear of the remainder. He should be up to making his mark in a bumper.