ON his third ride since returning from injury Ruby Walsh was back in the winner’s enclosure as the promising My Sister Sarah made it two wins from as many outings in the Coral-sponsored maiden hurdle over two and a half miles.
After her impressive debut victory in a Roscommon bumper over two months ago My Sister Sarah was making her first appearance in the colours of South African owners Barnane Stud who struck Group 1 glory in Ireland this summer courtesy of Urban Fox.
The daughter of Martaline was returned the 4/11 favourite under Walsh, who was out of action from late August until last Sunday with rib injuries sustained in a fall at Killarney, and she was a resounding winner at the line.
My Sister Sarah lost a little ground at several hurdles and there was momentary concern for her supporters on the run to three out, but she was simply much too good for these and scampered clear of Licklighter before the final flight to score by 10 lengths.
“It’s nice to have Ruby back and we think this mare has a future,” said Mullins.
“We’ll keep her to novice hurdles and she’s from the family of J’y Vole and Long Run so stamina should not be a problem for her.
“Her pedigree suggests that softer ground won’t be a problem. She lost half a length at a few hurdles but she was safe and I think her hurdling will improve.”
DOUBLE
Willie Mullins ended the day with a double as Royal Illusion, an unraced six-year-old daughter of King’s Theatre, made a winning debut in the bumper.
The Ballylinch Stud-owned 7/2 shot did battle with the favourite Wait For No One over the course of the last half mile and gained the upper hand from over a furlong out to win by five and a half lengths.
“Although she’s six she hasn’t got a lot done and I’d say she’s won today on natural ability. She may well be put away until next year and she won’t be running on soft ground,” declared Mullins.
Eight Till Late, who has been a fine standard bearer for Francis Casey in recent months, made it eight career wins from 49 starts in the Join The Coral Bet & Get Club Rated Hurdle. Only four horses turned out for this two-mile contest and all of them held chances turning for home.
At the last flight, the outcome came down to the Conor Orr-ridden Eight Till Late (7/2) and Stooshie with the veteran finding plenty on the run in to pull four lengths clear.
“It went very straightforward for him today and I got a lovely lead into the race,” stated th jockey. “It was ideal that Davy (Russell on Stooshie) came up on my outside and just helped me along into the last and he went away well.
“I’ve had a couple of nice runs on him without winning so I was just glad to get in front today.”
LATE POUNCE
There was something of a turn up in the Coral-sponsored two-mile beginners’ chase where the Ted Walsh-trained Kildorrery (10/1) upstaged some better fancied rivals under a patient Michael Stenson.
My Manekineko made a bold bid from the front but he was beaten before two out, and when the odds on Trainwreck departed there, the second favourite, Duca De Thaix, was left in front.
However, Kildorrery, who had bided his time at the rear, pounced to lead before the last and went on to score by three and three-quarter lengths. The winner is owned by his breeder Denise Walsh.
“He’d be a nice horse if only he’d behave himself,” declared Walsh.
“He handles this ground well and will win plenty of races and I’d day he will be back here for the Craddockstown Novice Chase (Grade 2) here next month.
“He doesn’t travel that well so we will keep him to the likes of here, Naas, Fairyhouse and Leopardstown.”
Smiling Eliza’s seamless transition to jumping yielded a second victory over timber in the Download The Coral App Three-year-old Hurdle, which gave Jack Kennedy his first winner in Ireland since he won on this mare at Down Royal in late August.
The 8/11 favourite, who ran commendably against older opposition to finish second in a Perth handicap hurdle lately, produced an assured effort.
The Gordon Elliott Racing Club-owned mare asserted on the run to the last to shrug aside the effort of Dawn Hoofer and she finished with half a dozen lengths to spare.
In six starts over hurdles the winner has won twice and been placed four times.
“She’s honest and tough and she likes that ground. She wouldn’t be one for heavy ground in the winter,” reported Elliott, whose other runner, Elysian Plains, was withdrawn after bolting on the way to the start.
“Her aim is a listed juvenile fillies’ hurdle at Aintree at the Becher Chase meeting in early December.”
FIRST SUCCESS
Tikkanen Express (11/1) turned in a commendable effort from the front to record his first success since April 2017 in the Coral-sponsored two-and-three-quarter-mile handicap chase.
The seven-year-old, who is owned by his trainer James Dullea, turned in a fine round of jumping, and when the challenging favourite Dont Kick Nor Bite blundered at the second last, the Danny Mullins-ridden winner was left holding a useful lead which he never relinquished.
The winning rider picked up a four-day whip ban.
“He got a great ride and he relaxed and settled. The step up in trip was a big help too, we’ve been looking to move up in trip but we only wanted to do that when he learnt to settle,” commented Dullea.
“Philip Enright, who is injured, usually rides and he’s done a great job getting him to settle.”
A well deserved success finally came the way of the Stephen Ryan-trained Messie (4/1) in the Best Price Guaranteed With Coral Handicap Hurdle over two and a half miles.
The reliable eight-year-old had been placed on his last five outings and it looked as though a minor role could beckon once again here as Authorative and Rain In Spain duelled for victory for much of the straight. Messie, who is owned by his breeder Paul McEvoy, flattened the last flight but didn’t lose any momentum and Davy Russell got him up close home to prevail by three parts of a length.
“He’s been very consistent and if the ground went that was season over but thankfully it didn’t,” reported Ryan.
“I’m delighted for his owner, Paul. He deserved it and that’s his first winner.”
ACTING STEWARDS:
P. Caffrey, J. Weld,
J. Murphy, T.K. Cooper,
P.D. Matthews
HORSE TO FOLLOW:
OUR LEGEND
(T. Mullins): He improved from an encouraging jumping debut behind Chief Justice to chase home Smiling Eliza in the juvenile hurdle and looks up to making his mark in a maiden in this sphere.
Hidden Cyclone retires
TUESDAY’S meeting at Punchestown marked the passing of an era John Hanlon as announced the retirement of his stable star, the Annette Mee-owned, Hidden Cyclone.
The 13-year-old son of the late Stowaway returned from a year off to finish an honourable third in the rated hurdle on the card.
Over his career he ran 48 times, won 17 races and finished in the first four on 37 occasions.
Hidden Cyclone’s effort in Grade 1 company include an excellent second to Dynaste in the 2014 Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
“He had a lot of good days and, even though he didn’t win it, the Ryanair Cheltenham was one day that stands out, and he ran really well in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle a couple of years ago,” reflected Hanlon.
“We’ve had some great days with him and he’s won nearly €800,000. I’ve had since I bought him as a three-year-old store.
“Hopefully we’ll see him in the racehorse to riding horse class at the Dublin Horse Show next year.”