THE good prize that has long deserved to come his way finally arrived for last season’s Champion Hurdle second Arctic Fire with a victory in the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle.
A triple Grade 1 runner-up last term, Arctic Fire was searching for his first win at graded level and also his first victory since May 2014.
The form he showed behind Hurricane Fly and Faugheen last season along with a rating of 169 put him in a different league to his rivals but it was still pleasing to see the Wicklow Bloodstock-owned gelding make a successful return.
In a steadily run race, Arctic Fire came under pressure to close down Monksland and Taglietelle after the second last.
To his credit the 4/6 favourite responded and, crucially, he pinged the last whereas Monksland lost valuable momentum with a clumsy jump.
After landing running, the Willie Mullins inmate collared his aforementioned rival late on to score by half a length. This was a fine comeback from the winner as it is worth recalling just how well he progressed with racing last season.
“He was gusty. He blew up and he should improve from this and hopefully we can get him back to the sort of level he was at last season,” said Mullins.
“The Hatton’s Grace is in three weeks and there is the Fighting Fifth Hurdle which he ran in last year but we’ll just see.”
Hidden Cyclone is on course for a return to the big time as he claimed a somewhat eventfulThetote.com Fortria Chase.
An interesting edition of this Grade 2 saw Bright New Dawn depart early on while the Champion Chase third Special Tiara was beaten a long way from home and so too was last year’s winner Twinlight.
By the time the runners neared the straight, the Brian Hayes-ridden Hidden Cyclone was disputing the lead with Flemenstar who stepped out through the third last.
When he was left alone up front, the Annette and David Mee-owned winner was quite idle but Hayes, who won a bumper on him in April 2010, kept him up to his work to get home by six and a half lengths. Days Hotel was second with a weary Flemenstar third.
John Hanlon said: “He found himself in front too soon but there was nothing Brian could do as they all stopped around him.
“I’d say he’ll go for the John Durkan next and the thing I’m most pleased about is that he’s learnt to settle and Brian has done a lot of work at home with him.”
Henry de Bromhead’s Three Stars took his form to a new level as he sprang a mild surprise in the At The Races At Navan For Auction Novice Hurdle. The 135-rated five-year-old chased home Bachasson at Tipperary last time but appeared to face a stiff test against the likes of Tycoon Prince (4/6) and Thomas Hobson and he was the 12/1 fourth choice in the market for this Grade 3.
As the runners neared the last three flights, only the rank outsider Billbushay was beaten off and soon Jonathan Burke had Three Stars disputing the lead. From two out it was clear that Tycoon Prince was held and Three Stars produced a much quicker jump than Thomas Hobson at the last which allowed him to open up a racing winning lead.
The runner-up did keep on quite well to be beaten two and a quarter lengths while there was a further four and a half back to Tycoon Prince.
“I thought that he might struggle as he disappointed a bit on soft ground last season but the ground can’t be too bad,” reported de Bromhead of the Robert Finnegan-owned gelding. “I’m really pleased with that and he stuck at it well in the straight. The plan before today was to give him a break until the spring but we could have a think about Christmas.”
Kitten Rock, who is certainly one of the most exciting recruit to fences this season, got his chasing career off to an ideal start in the Crystalski.ie EBF Beginners Chase. The 4/6 favourite showed lots of enthusiasm for this new discipline and measured his fences well at all stages.
After travelling best from some way out, Kitten Rock was bustled up by Barry Geraghty to see off Sizing Titanium on the run in and he carried the day by a length and a quarter. There will surely be much better to come from the J.P. McManus-owned runner.
“I’m greatly relieved as he hasn’t done one piece of work,” commented Edward O’Grady. “I’d been happy with his schooling and he’s shown a good aptitude for fences. He could come back here for a novice chase in early December.”
Both Brian Hayes and the Mee family enjoyed a double on the card as Hidden Cyclone’s victory was preceded by Ancient Sands (7/1) justifying some good support in the St Johann Ski Resort Tirol Austria Handicap Hurdle. As he looked for his first win since landing the 2013 Naas October Handicap, Ancient Sands pounced before the last to defeat Bashful Beauty by a length and a half.
“He was fit from the flat and was a bit unlucky in the November Handicap at Leopardstown last time,” remarked Kiely. “He has had a few runs over fences but we might leave him over hurdles for this season.”
WINNING AGAIN
Gillian Callaghan’s Redclue (10/1) returned to the form that carried him to three victories during the summer in the 80-109 rated handicap hurdle over two miles seven furlongs. The top weight went to the front entering the straight and quickly built up an unassailable advantage under Keith Donoghue. Redclue finished 10 lengths ahead of Crowded Room.
“His form figures mightn’t have looked the best but they came in competitive handicaps and he was back in his own grade today,” reported Gillian Callaghan whose charge is owned by the E R Syndicate. “The trip suited and he jumped brilliantly.”
Martin Lynch sent out his first winner since March 2011 as the front-running Beyond The Obvious returned to the form to claim the bumper under the trainer’s son, Mark. The 13/2 chance, who showed a good deal of promise to be placed in two useful contests last season, had the favourite Robin Thyme hard at work from early in the straight and looked likely to succeed from this point onwards.
He never came under strong pressure to defeat the staying-on newcomer Cherry Bomb by four and three quarter lengths. Beyond The Obvious is owned by John Nicholls.
Acting Stewards
T. Hunt, J. Rearden, P. Molony, L. McFerran, H. Hynes
Horses To Follow
SIZING TITANIUM (J.T.R. Dreaper): He ran a nice race in the beginners’ chase and he could be a good deal better over fences than he was over hurdles.
Bad scope
ROBIN Thyme was reported to have scooped badly following his below par run in the bumper while Special Tiara returned with an over reach on his right fore pastern after his disappointing display in the Fortria Chase.