IT is likely to be next season before he tackles high profile assignments but Noel Meade’s Disko produced a display that marked him out as one of prodigious potential as he trounced his rivals in the four-year-old bumper.
A son of the eminent French-based sire Martaline, the Gigginstown House Stud-owned grey was making his debut in a bumper that attracted several interesting types headed by Jezki’s half-brother Jett.
The last-named was looking to build on a promising debut second at Leopardstown but neither he nor any of the others could live with Disko (7/4), who had attracted ominously good support throughout the day.
In a race run at a decent gallop, the Nina Carberry-ridden Disko went for a run up the inside of Jett nearing the straight.
He could find no way through there but this was no more than a trivial inconvenience as he switched out and then eased past Jett off the last bend. Disko then proceeded to saunter clear and he finished with 15 lengths to spare.
“We thought he was good. He’s clean winded, a great mover, well balanced and he never turned a hair when he got here today,” stated a delighted Meade.
“He’s one to look forward to and he could be a real one. He stays well but he quickens too. The plan would be one more run later in the spring in a winner’s bumper, possibly the four-year-old race at Limerick.”
Jessica Harrington’s Rock On The Moor earned a step up to grade 1 company at Easter in the well contested two and a half miles mares hurdle. This race attracted the prolific Little King Robin (fifth) but she already looked to be struggling somewhat when a mistake at the third last ended her challenge.
A Leopardstown maiden hurdle winner in December, Rock On The Moor took over the lead for Robert Power at the second last.
Analifet threw down a challenge nearing the last but wasn’t too fluent there and then had no more to give on the run-in, going down by three and three-quarter lengths to the Stephen Hemstock-owned winner. Rock On The Moor does have an entry in the mares’ hurdle at Cheltenham but a trip there looks unlikely.
“I don’t think she was out of it when she fell at Fairyhouse last time (a race won by Morning Run),” said Mrs Harrington. “Robbie said she’s never jumped as fast and she will probably now go to Fairyhouse for the Grade 1 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle.”
Reigning champion owner J.P. McManus and Tom Mullins combined for an opening race double which represented contrasting fortunes for punters.
Firstly the Mullins-trained Some Article sprung a 20/1 surprise in the two miles maiden hurdle to register his first success since he captured the 2012 Goffs Land Rover Bumper on his debut.
The seven-year-old hadn’t enjoyed the best of luck subsequent to that debut triumph and only returned from a year off last month.
The Niall Madden-ridden Some Article came to the last locked in combat with the favourite Investmentsuccess and he was the stronger on the run-in, prevailing by a length and three parts.
“We dropped him in on his comeback at Naas last month and he didn’t take much interest. He enjoys being ridden handy and that made the difference today,” declared the trainer.
The Mullins-trained favourite Oscar Knight (6/5) then registered a deserved triumph under Mark Walsh in the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle.
As he looked to improve on a couple of recent runner-up finishes, the Oscar gelding struck for home after four out and he turned in with a useful lead.
The staying on Undressed made the market leader pull out plenty from the last though and there was only half a length separating the pair at the finish.
“He jumped great and he just got a bit lonely out in front,” reported the trainer. “He will go chasing next season but we’ll look at a handicap or a novice for him next and he could go to Fairyhouse at Easter.”
Queens Wild continued a good run for Eddie Harty in the two and three quarter miles mares maiden hurdle. A third winner for the trainer from his last six runners, the 7/4 favourite had shown reasonable promise on her four previous outings.
Ruby Walsh produced her to challenge and head Why Not Thistle early in the straight and the Robert Guiry-owned and bred daughter of Westerner went on to score by four and three-quarter lengths.
“I’m delighted to train a winner for Mr Guiry. I rode for him in the 1970s and early 1980s and he’s in the game a long time and bred some very good horses. This mare was entitled to do that and she’d be better over three miles,” reflected Harty.
Sneezy Foster landed the two and three-quarter miles handicap hurdle for the second year in succession as Kentucky Star recorded a smooth success under Adrian Heskin.
On his first venture into handicaps the 16/1 chance travelled conspicuously well and he picked off the always prominent joint favourite Samanntom nearing the final flight.
The six-year-old then stretched clear to look like one who could easily progress further in the coming weeks.
“He’s had his problems with ulcers and after his first run he got a very nasty cut which meant that he was standing in for almost six months. He stays well and will jump a fence in time,” reported the winning owner-trainer.
Bold Optimist won his first race since making a winning debut in a bumper at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting in 2010 by coming out the right side of a cracking finish to the 80-95 rated handicap hurdle.
Bold Optimist, who was having only his seventh career outing, made the running for Andrew McNamara but looked to be in trouble when headed by Mr Eko before the last.
Bog War then arrived to make it a three way battle late on but Bold Optimist fought back to edge the verdict by a head. A first winner in 13 months for trainer Ray Hackett, the 10/1 chance is owned by Pat Gleeson and James Bergin.
ACTING STEWARDS
Mrs J.O. Onions, S. Barry, C. O’Reilly, Mrs T.K. Cooper, P.D. Matthews
HORSE TO FOLLOW
PEARL HEART (Mrs. M. O’Connor): This half-sister to First Lieutenant fell on her debut in the maiden won by Some Article. At the time of her departure she had dropped back to sixth but she had shown promise and, provided she is none the worse for this experience, she could make her mark in a maiden.