GALVIN continued Gordon Elliott’s domination of the Irish Daily Star – Best For Racing Coverage Chase when providing the Cullentra House trainer with an eighth win in the space of 11 years in this Grade 3.

The Ronnie Bartlett-owned gelding won the three-mile event 12 months ago before going on to take the Grade 1 Savills Chase at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting, and in winning again he emulated Don Cossack and Roi Du Mee who also won back-to-back runnings of this race for Elliott.

The 11/10 favourite tracked the pace set by Poiltesse, who didn’t help her chance by jumping left, with the winner’s stablemate Run Wild Fred taking over in front after halfway. Galvin was soon in front following a massive leap at the third last and Davy Russsell’s mount took control before the last to beat Run Wild Fred by five and a half lengths.

Like a buck

“Davy said he jumped like a buck from fence to fence. Fitness wise he is probably a little bit behind where he was last year and he’ll come on for it but it’s a nice start.

“He’ll head now to Down Royal (for the Ladbrokes Champion Chase on November 5th) probably along with Conflated,” said Elliott. “He doesn’t get the credit he deserves. He keeps pulling it out every year and we are lucky to have him.

“Jack (Kennedy) said Run Wild Fred would be better off in a big handicap. He’s nearly on his own and was too idle but that will leave him spot on. He fell last time in the National and was a bit careful over the first four or five. He’ll go for a good handicap chase.”

The other Grade 3 on the card, the Buck House Novice Chase over an extended two miles and two furlongs, went the way of Adamantly Chosen but only after giving odds-on backers an almighty scare at the first.

Bad blunder

Danny Mullins did well to keep the partnership intact after a bad blunder but the 5/6 favourite learned quickly and went on to put in a sound round of jumping to beat Visionarian by three and three quarter lengths.

“I was very impressed with his jumping albeit that he made that bad mistake early on. He jumped from fence to fence, likes that ground and going right-handed seems to suit him,” said Willie Mullins.

“Danny thought he wouldn’t have any problem going out in trip either. We’ll have to take a look at the Drinmore and I don’t think he’d want a run in between,” he added.

“The Watch This Space Syndicate is headed up by Martin Lydon who has been involved in a number of syndicates with good horses like Quel Esprit over the years.

“It’s the first day that I’ve seen Martin racing in a while and he picked a good day to come.”

Marine sailing on to better things

MARINE Nationale maintained his unbeaten record and had owner/trainer Barry Connell dreaming of bigger targets after justifying odds of 4/9 in the Festival 2023 On Sale Now Maiden Hurdle.

The French Navy gelding won both bumper starts in good style earlier this year and put in a fine round of jumping here despite racing a bit keenly.

Michael O’Sullivan’s mount asserted on the run-in to beat Viceregent by a comfortable four lengths and a pleased Connell said afterwards: “He jumped well and has schooled well at home. Sam Curling had him as a four-year-old and he was ready to run in point-to-points so he had loads done.

“He could probably do with another run and may go for a Grade 3 in Navan (For Auction Novice Hurdle on November 13th) with a view, if he’s still on track, to going for the Royal Bond after that.

“He’s having a good blow after that and it’s a good start. He’s a horse that would not want soft ground and usually Fairyhouse before Christmas and Leopardstown should be ideal.”

Facile victory

Downpatrick maiden hurdle winner King Kal took the step into handicap company in his stride by recording a facile victory in the Punchestown Festival Deals Handicap Hurdle.

The Paul McKeon-owned gelding, supported from 15/2 overnight into 7/2 favourite, cruised to the front off the home bend and Brian Hayes hardly moved a muscle on the run-in beating It Could Be You by four and a half lengths.

Hayes said: “Colm (Murphy, trainer) is not running a lot of horses but whatever is running seems to be placed or winning and he’d a nice low weight.

“There was a bit of hustle and bustle turning in and he got a clearer run than most.

“He was good and for a first run in a handicap we were delighted with him.”

MENINDEE, 8/1 in the morning and sent off at half those odds, was another well-backed winner in the Visit The New Punchestown.com (Q.R.) Handicap Chase.

Ben Harvey’s mount pecked slightly at the last but finished strongly to get the better of Temptationinmilan by a length and three quarters.

“She has a huge stride and the big track suited her. Ben felt that she is still very novicey and obviously it’s just her second run over fences,” said David Christie who trains the Yeats mare for David Kells.

“There is a two-mile-seven-furlong hurdle at Thurles next week for mares only that I had an eye on, so we’ll see how she comes out of this. She always jumped a hurdle like a fence and when she gets her act together was always going to be better over a fence.”

Well Funded, trained by Eoin McCarthy for Sean Maguire, added to a win at the Listowel Festival last month when leading before the last to beat Dollys Destination by a length and a quarter in the Sign Up Today For Latest News & Offers Mares Handicap Hurdle.

Colder

“We got away smart but I think she likes being ridden a bit colder and I was happy enough to take my time on her,” said rider Richie Deegan of the 8/1 shot.

“We fancied her but it was in the back of our mind that she had been busy. It’s all worked out well.”

But What (7/1), trained by Andy Slattery for his parents Billy and Margaret, led over a furlong out under Adam Ryan in the bumper before holding off Fermoyle by a head.

“He’s a proper horse and was only 80% fit in Listowel where he cantered into the straight but then blew up. My father is in hospital so that will be a good tonic for him,” said the Killenaule trainer.

“We could give him a little break and come back for some spring bumpers and keep him for over hurdles next year.”