WILLIE Mullins posted a third and last race double at Thursday’s meeting at Thurles with decisive wins for both his French recruit Cash Back in the two-mile maiden hurdle, and the Supreme Horse Racing Club’s Golden Spread in the Fethard INH Flat Race.
Paul Townend was aboard the 10/11 favourite Cash Back in the Thurles.ie Maiden Hurdle and his performance in being kept up to his work to record a three and threequarter length success over Cosmo’s Moon was a positive one.
His jockey commented: “I don’t know what the depth of the race was but he was more manageable than he was in France and he has to improve from it. He’ll jump a fence in time.”
Cash Back races for the Watch This Space Syndicate from Dublin, headed by Martin Lydon who lives in Rathgar and has been a member of numerous other syndicates over the years, notably the one that owned Noel Meade’s first Cheltenham winner Sausalito Bay.
Townend said of Cash Back: “He jumped brilliant, bar the last, and galloped to the line and past the bend. He’ll handle more of an ease in the ground.”
DOUBLE
Golden Spread made it third time lucky for Patrick Mullins in the bumper when making every yard in a contest that was marred by the favourite Rigour breaking his leg with less than seven furlongs to travel, hampering Sneaky Getaway, who stumbled and parted company with his rider as a result, in the process.
Mullins was clearly taken by the 11/4 second favourite’s effort and said: “He missed a bit of time after his Galway run and I think he improved fitness-wise and mentally between Down Royal and here. He was beaten by a good horse that day and the third horse has also come out and won since.”
The amateur added: “He’s very laid back and can go out in trip, no problem. I think they (the Supreme Horse Racing Club) will be having plenty more photographs taken.”
Joseph O’Brien sent out the progressive Smoking Gun to make light of an 8lb hike for last month’s Gowran Park victory when getting on top under Rachael Blackmore after the last in the Thurles Handicap Hurdle.
The 6/4 favourite races in the familiar colours of Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud and O’Brien observed: “He’s improving away as we’ve stepped him up in trip and Rachael gave him a very good ride.”
Walk Away created a very favourable impression when making a winning debut for Robcour and the Henry de Bromhead stable in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle.
Ridden by Robbie Power, he jumped to the front at the second from home, lengthening clear before the final flight to account for Final List by a conservative nine lengths.
“He’s a gorgeous looking horse and we bought him before Christmas at the Cheltenham December Sales after he won his point-to-point,” was the post-race comment from his trainer.
“He seems to be a lovely young horse and we haven’t been too hard on him at home since we got him, so I’m delighted he went and did that.”
Con O’Keeffe’s home-bred mare Kilbarry Calling had luck on her side in taking the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase as she was left at the head of affairs by the bad blunder of the front-running odds-on favourite Moyhenna.
The duo were a long way clear of the remainder and Davy Russell’s mount took full advantage to run out a threequarter length winner from the staying-on A Girl Like Me.
The 3/1 chance is jointly owned by the trainer’s wife Claire and Tadhg O’Sullivan, and O’Keeffe remarked: “Davy gave her a wonderful ride.
“When Denis (Hogan riding the favourite) fell, it was our good fortune but she was a bit lairy on her own and would have been better with some company.”
JUSTIFIED FAVOURITE
Market leader Battling Spiritwith Jamie Codd in the plate, headed the betting for the Urlingford Rated Chase and justified 2/1 favouritism by two and a half lengths from Tongie.
Jonathan Sweeney trains the 12 year-old for his newly formed racing club which has nearly 20 members but would welcome a few more.
“He’s an enthusiastic horse who jumps and Jamie was good on him,” said Sweeney.
“He won twice over hurdles last year on soft to heavy ground and he can go back over them.
“If a suitable race came up with a cut in the ground, we might look at it. Two and a half to three miles suits him best.”
Still Alive relished conditions when running out a five length winner of the Killinan 80-95 Handicap Hurdle in the hands of Darragh O’Keeffe.
The 10/1 scorer, owned by Croom handler Andrew McNamara’s wife Kathleen, was striking for the second time and the trainer said: “What he did during the winter was a bonus because he’s better on that ground.
“And he had a great jockey on board. He’ll probably go to Mallow in a fortnight’s time for an amateur handicap and he might go back on the flat in the summer.”
HORSE TO FOLLOW
GOLDEN SPREAD (W.P. Mullins): Gaining in confidence with every run, he would appear to have a bright future ahead of him as a staying novice.
ACTING STEWARDS
J. Rearden, J.O. Onions, M. O’Driscoll,
P. McLernon,
M.F. O’Donoghue.