“I WISH we had racing at Navan every week!” quipped Gordon Elliott as the season’s leading trainer continued his remarkable run of success by saddling a 186/1 five-timer highlighted by the Grade 2 success of A Toi Phil in the Webster Cup.
Ruby Walsh deputised for Bryan Cooper, still stiff and sore after a fall at Cheltenham, aboard the 6/5 favourite who took control approaching the last for an easy eight-length victory over Nearly Nama’d.
Elliott, who went one better with a historic six-timer at this venue on Troytown Chase day last November, said of the Gigginstown-owned gelding, “I was worried about how he would handle the real heavy ground but he was good. He’s probably better in Grade 2s or Grade 3s rather than a Grade 1. It was a good performance.”
Cooper missed out on another winner for his retained owner in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Hurdle where Monbeg Notorious made all under Denis O’Regan. The 100/30 chance had his task eased somewhat when odds-on stablemate Baltazar D’Allier fell before halfway and the Milan gelding relished this two-mile, six-furlong trip to beat Augustin by five and a half lengths.
“He’s a grand big galloping horse, a chaser for next year. This is the sort of track and ground that he wants. He’s a winter horse and may not do too much more this season,” said Elliott.
FACILE SUCCESS
Chirico Vallis ran out early on at Gowran Park the previous weekend but was much more amenable on this occa sion making most for a facile win in the Bective Restaurant Maiden Hurdle. The 4/7 favourite cruised home under Davy Russell to beat King’s War by 12 lengths.
“On his form he deserved to win that, and Davy said he gave an exhibition of jumping today. It’s possible that he’s better going left-handed,” said Elliott of the J. P. McManus-owned gelding.
Russell was feeling the effects of the earlier fall from Baltazar D’Allier and gave up a winning ride on Sanibel Island in the Kilberry Handicap Hurdle. Once again it was Denis O’Regan who took advantage as he completed a double on the afternoon. The well-backed 4/1 chance travelled sweetly to lead before the last and was just pushed out on the run-in to beat Grand Partner by three and a half lengths.
“He seemed to like that ground today and travelled away well on it. It’s great for Tom Doran, who has a few horses with us, and we’ll look at the likes of Fairyhouse and Navan for him,” said Elliott.
The Cullentra House trainer, who sent out six winners on the day as Double Scores also won at Limerick, landed the bumper with the imposing Minellafordollars.
The 6/4 favourite, a Lingstown point-to-point winner and making his debut under rules, came from off the pace and drew clear inside the final furlong to beat Beyond The Law by eight and a half lengths.
“It’s the first horse that John (Nallen) has had with me and thankfully it has worked out for him. He’s a nice horse but a horse for the future, and you won’t see him again this year,” said Elliott before adding, “I’m just lucky to have the horses, owners and staff that I have. I can’t believe how well things are going and long may it last.”
Eoghan O’Grady, whose Westerner Point won the Tim Duggan at the Limerick Christmas meeting, sent out his second Grade B Handicap Chase winner of the season as Mick The Jiver justified good support in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Handicap Chase Final. The 3/1 shot was sent on early in the straight by David Splaine, and kept on strongly from the last to beat Kilcarry Bridge by six and a half lengths.
O’Grady said, “He loves that ground and David gave him a super ride. That could be it for this year, and if the ground is good in a month’s time he certainly won’t be running. He’d a lovely racing weight.
“There is a new bunch of lads, the Jiver Syndicate, from Cahirsiveen who have bought into him after his last run. It’s a great start for them.”
Sunsetstorise, available at 14/1 earlier in the day and backed on track from 10/1 into 13/2, landed a nice touch in the two-mile, one-furlong handicap chase. Ger Fox’s mount led before the final fence and went on to beat Arthur Moore’s odds-on favourite Ontopoftheworld by two and a half lengths.
Trainer Fran Flood commented: “It’s the first bit of heavy ground that he’s been lucky enough to get this year. He only has a certain gear and he plods away through it where other horses can’t.
“We’ll go for something similar if we can find it. The (No Man) syndicate are from Grangecon and include the breeders, Noeleen and Tom O’Toole.’’
Acting stewards
R. Dore, N. Colfer, T. L. Crawford, J. Gaisford-St Lawrence, P. D. Matthews.
HORSE TO FOLLOW
MINELLAFORDOLLARS (G. Elliott) Powered up the hill to take the bumper in fine style, and looks an exciting stayer in the making over jumps.