ON his first start since tackling the exalted surrounds of the Irish Derby, Carlo Biraghi got his jumping career off a bright start in the Introducing Racing TV Maiden Hurdle. This saw him earn a quote of 16/1 for the Triumph Hurdle as he provided Fozzy Stack with his first success under National Hunt rules.
A Curragh maiden winner on the first of his three outings last year, the Galileo gelding took up a forward position for Danny Mullins and jumped well before improving to head the favourite Andalusa early in the straight. Carlo Biraghi shifted left nearing the final flight to give Mullins an anxious moment or two but he righted himself on the run-in to come seven and a half lengths clear of Pienta. The 12/1 chance is owned by Eimear Irwin and Sue Magnier.
“He jumped well apart from the last where I thought he might run out. He’ll probably get another run before maybe going to Cheltenham or Aintree or coming back here,” reported Stack. “He’ll mix it over the summer with the flat and he might be a horse for the likes of a Chester Cup or an Ebor. He stays well and I was pleased with how he settled.”
A talented duo served up the finish of the day in the Racing TV-sponsored mares’ maiden hurdle over two and a half miles where Elfile (11/4) just managed to edge out the favourite Black Tears. The latter recovered well from an awkward jump two out and led over the last but she was soon joined and headed by Elfile.
A gripping duel ensued on the run-in but the daughter of Saint Des Saints, who is owned by Scottish-based Kenneth Alexander, scrambled home by a short-head for Paul Townend. This was a first run since November 2017 for the winner who struck twice in French bumpers and was also placed at Grade 3 level.
“She had some nice form in France. She wasn’t exactly showing that at home but I’d say that’s her trip and maybe softer ground,” commented Mullins. “I think she’ll improve for the run as I keeping saying that a lot of our maidens are behind where they could be.”
Gordon Elliott struck with Dallas Des Pictons who took advantage of a good opportunity in the Watch Racing TV With Free Trial Now Maiden Hurdle over two and a half miles. The Gigginstown House Stud-owned six-year-old was a 6/5 favourite to build on his second to City Island at Leopardstown over Christmas and he did so in convincing fashion.
Jack Kennedy moved him to the front before the last and the Spanish Moon gelding galloped clear to defeat Lighthouse Warrier by 10 lengths.
“He doesn’t do anything fancy but he’s a grand horse who stays well and this longer trip suited him. He’s a nice chasing type for next season but we’ll move him up in grade next and see how he goes,” remarked Elliott.
TRIUMPH
Tipperary trainer Aidan Fogarty notched up his second triumph in as many days as Gliondar Mo Chroi (6/1) pulled victory out of the fire in the Racing TV Home Of British And Irish Racing Novice Handicap Hurdle. The Mark Enright-ridden mare looked held in second as British Art cleared the least with a lead of several lengths. However, she came with a powerful surge on the run-in which enabled her to get home by half a length.
“She’s a tough mare. She looked beaten but she fought back well. She had to have a chance on her third at Limerick (third to Chosen Hour) and we felt she’d improved from that,” commented the trainer’s father Joe who owns and bred the daughter of Stowaway.
After finishing second or third in five of his first six races over hurdles, the Noel Meade-trained Free Ranger got his turn in the Watch Racing TV Now Handicap Hurdle over two miles.
The 5/1 favourite headed the front running Empire Burleque nearing the straight and Sean Flanagan’s mount had more than enough in reserve to contain the effort of Uno Momento who went down by five lengths.
“The easy finish here probably helped him. He’s a horse that can quicken up a bit and then he flattens out. He was entitled to win and I’d imagine he will go for something similar next,” remarked Noel Meade who charge carries the colours of Brian Mellon.
The Caddy Rose, who lost out by a neck here on New Year’s Eve, went on to complete a double for Meade in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Flat Race. Mark O’Hare made the running on the consistent daughter of Presenting who had surged into a commanding lead over her toiling rivals by the time that she neared the straight.
The Joe Kernohan-owned 11/2 chance increased her advantage all the way to the line to prevail by 16 lengths. The winning jockey picked up a two-day whip an for his efforts. The 11/10 favourite Fasola Tido was found to be blowing hard after coming home in seventh.
“That was great and we’ll go jumping now. Mark said the cheekpieces were a help as she travelled really well. I think the fact that she got her own way in front today was a help too,” declared Meade.
GAMBLE
There was quite a gamble landed in the Racing TV-sponsored 80-102 rated three-mile handicap hurdle where Global Racing rewarded those that backed him from 8/1 into 9/4 favourite over the course of the day. On his first start for Gavin Cromwell, the Andrew Lynch-ridden and Michael Brazil-owned son of Hard Spun cruised clear between the last two flights and he readily withstood the late charge of Cher Why Not by a length and a half.
“He’s a grand big horse and I haven’t got him that long but he’s been working well at home. Hopefully he can go for something similar again and while we haven’t schooled him over a fence yet, he looks like a chaser,” reported Gavin Cromwell.
ACTING STEWARDS
P. Caffrey, Mrs J.O. Onions, J. Maloney, C. O’Reilly, P.D. Matthews
HORSE TO FOLLOW
INGENUITY (G. Elliott): He followed up a solid debut at Leopardstown with an encouraging sixth to Carlo Biraghi. A four-year-old maiden hurdle could be his before the end of the season.