WILLIE Mullins is now starting to roll out some of his serious talent for the core National Hunt season and teamed up with Paul Townend for a short-priced double on this ‘Ladbrokes Day’ card with It’s For Me and Loughglynn both impressing in maiden hurdles.
“He’s another exciting one for these silks,” said Townend, sporting the ‘double green’ colours of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, after It’s For Me took the Ladbrokes Play ‘1-2-Free’ On Football Maiden Hurdle. The two-mile event was dominated by the top three in the market for this 22-runner event and the trio were in the air together over the penultimate flight.
It’s For Me, a wide margin winner of a Navan bumper and fifth behind A Dream To Share at Cheltenham in March, asserted approaching the last and the well-backed 8/13 favourite was just pushed out on the run-in to beat Caldwell Potter by a length and a quarter with Ascending in third.
“He was very keen the whole way around. He showed it in his bumpers as well and wore a hood today. Maybe a stronger pace will help him to settle but when he got a bit of light he just ran with me,” said Townend.
“He had a blow down the straight and picked up again so the engine is definitely there, but we’ll have to calm it a small bit. I had the luxury of popping the last and he hit the line well.”
The five-year-old was cut into 16/1 (from 20/1) for Cheltenham’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with Paddy Power and Betfair.
Loughglynn shows stamina
In contrast Loughglynn looked all about stamina when making most and, despite a very untidy jump at the last, galloped on strongly to score by ten lengths at odds of 2/5 in the Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle over an extended two and a half miles.
“He enjoyed the scenery around Punchestown and had a look at every hurdle and the big wide-open spaces,” said the champion jockey of the Jodmart Construction-owned gelding.
“The race wasn’t that competitive, and he’ll be better when he’s concentrating on what he’s doing. When he got there, he was well able to jump but he was dossing everywhere. He’s a stayer and is going to be chaser.”
Loughglynn was subsequently introduced at 25/1 for the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival.
ANDY Oliver saddled his first winner over hurdles in over five years when Semblance Of Order, successful twice on the flat, got his jumping career off to a bright start in the Ladbrokes Daily Odds Boost 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle.
The 11/1 shot led at the final flight and, despite drifting left on the run-in, kept on well under Sam Ewing to beat Eagles Reign by a length and a half.
“He’s a good horse on the flat but started acting the monkey at stalls. We were going to step him up in trip but then schooled him over hurdles and he jumps well,” said Oliver, who trains the gelding for J.P. Ledwidge.
“He was a bit novicey at the first few and Sam gave him a super ride. We thought if we could get to the last and then go forward as he wouldn’t do any more than he has to in front.”
Roche mare on top
Miss Pronunciation followed up a win at Limerick last month by taking the Ladbrokes Play ‘Instant Spins’ Daily Handicap Hurdle.
Perzzini went off like a scalded cat in front and soon built up a huge lead but had been reeled in by the winner at the home turn, and the 10/3 chance kept on well on the run-in for Mark Walsh to beat Lazer Wolf by a length and a half.
“Mark said it was a bit of a messy race but I thought she’d come on a bit from Limerick,” said Padraig Roche, who trains the Walk In The Park mare for J.P. McManus.
“She had a couple of setbacks and I’d say it’s done her no harm as she was weak and immature. She’s turning into a grand mare and hopefully she can keep progressing.”
HUNTING Brook successfully carried a 7lb penalty for winning at Down Royal last Friday in the Ladbrokes ‘Halftime Quiz’ Handicap Hurdle.
Danny Gilligan oozed confidence on the 7/4 favourite striking the front at the last to beat American Money by a length and three quarters.
“He’d a nice win in the north but got left in front a bit soon due to fallers at the third last and I had that in the back of my mind today not to get to the front too soon. It wasn’t the strongest of races, but he’s done it well,” said Gilligan of the gelding owned in partnership by Finola Murphy, Anne Marie McManus and Tahnee Grant.
Aslukwoodhavit made a winning start over fences in the Ladbrokes Fanzone ‘Your Team Your Game’ Rated Novice Chase, with the 7/4 favourite asserting between the final two fences under Rachael Blackmore for a four-length verdict over Bleu D’enfer.
“He jumped really well and I’m delighted for Roger [Brookhouse, owner]. It’s his stallion as well so it’s great,” said trainer Henry de Bromhead.
Gate has answers
Baldur’s Gate took the other chase on the card, the Ladbrokes ‘We Play Together’ Handicap Chase. The 11/1 shot was left in front when Black Samurai, who had been jumping superbly, blundered two out and the Wild Rover Syndicate-owned gelding kept on strongly to score by 13 lengths under amateur James Hannon.
“I’m delighted for James who has been a good friend of mine for years and gave him a great spin. I just felt he needed the 7lb off over the extended trip,” said Cloyne trainer Denise O’Shea.
“We’ve always thought he was a nice horse, but he just had a few niggly problems and our vet Amy Fitzgerald has done a lot of work with him. That was his first time over the trip. Rachael [Blackmore] was always telling me to go three miles and then I jocked her off for it!”