EMILY Moon signalled that she could be a mare to follow for the remaining two months of the season with a smooth debut over fences in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase going off evens favourite.
The Jane Myerscough-owned daughter of Beneficial, who was an eighth winner for Jessica Harrington in the last three weeks, switched to fences with a rating of 129 over hurdles and she should prove at least as good in this new discipline.
Emily Moon jumped well and made short work of her two chief rivals in the straight. She took off in front at the second last for Robbie Power and then powered clear to hand out a 13-length defeat to the capable Our Roxane. The relation to Best Mate could contend in some decent mares’ chases later in the spring.
“From the first day she has schooled over fences she has been rapid over them and Robbie felt that on better ground she could go two and a half miles. She has yet to get blacktype so that would be a priority,” said the trainer’s daughter Kate.
Ambition’s rout
Another mare to rout her rivals was Gavin Cromwell’s Bay Ambition (4/1) who finished some 28 lengths clear of her rivals in the two-and-three-quarter-mile handicap hurdle. The front-runner was ridden by Jonathan Moore and she was left to come home alone when the favourite Braeside, who was within about three lengths at the time, crashed out at the second last.
The seven-year-old daughter of Oscar is owned by the Hard To Know Syndicate who ensured their winner achieved by far the biggest ovation of the day.
Amateur rider Evan Dwan notched up his third success on the track as he teamed up with Joe Murphy’s 20/1 shot John Cannon to claim the bumper. On his second racecourse outing the Tadhg O’Sullivan-owned son of High Chaparral stepped forward considerably from his debut eighth to Risk Factor at Leopardstown at Christmas.
To his credit John Cannon, whose dam is a half-sister to Ouija Board, responded well to pressure in the straight to overhaul the front-running En Beton and prevail by two and a quarter lengths. Murphy is eyeing a dual-purpose campaign for his charge.
The beaten favourite Curlew Hill (fifth) was reported not to have handled the ground.
In-form de Bromhead
secures two more winners
HENRY de Bromhead brought up a double which was completed by a promising type in Eklat De Rire in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle over two miles, seven furlongs.
This winning pointer ran a race of some promise to take second in a Punchestown maiden on his racecourse debut last month and he built on that with a commanding display from the front that was characterised by some excellent jumping.
The 6/5 favourite and Rachael Blackmore had this race under control from some way out and finished with half a dozen lengths to spare over All About Joe.
“That was a very nice performance and he’s come on a lot from Punchestown. His jumping was foot perfect today and he’s a horse with a nice future,” stated the rider who was wearing the colours of Peter Davies.
Earlier, the 11-year-old Kavanaghs Corner (5/1) notched up his second success since joining de Bromhead in the two-and-a-half-mile chase for horses rated 116 or less.
The reliable son of Coroner, who has been out of the frame only once in six starts for his trainer, was given a patient ride by 7lb claimer Daniel Holden who produced hm to hold every chance with two to jump.
The 5/1 chance then asserted on the run-in and could afford to idle late on and still reach the line two and three-quarter lengths ahead of Crazyheart.
This was a fourth win in 25 career outings for the Bridget O’Flynn-owned gelding.
The favourite Steer Clear was found to have burst a blood vessel after pulling up.
PHILIP Enright maintained his excellent form and was surely the toast of favourite backers as he got the even-money chance Strange Notions up on the line in the two-mile maiden hurdle.
In a dramatic finale, the Charles O’Brien-trained Strange Notions, who ran very well to take fifth in a €100,000 mares’ handicap hurdle at Leopardstown last month, looked held in third between the final two flights.
However, Onlyhuman’s effort petered out quickly before the last and this left Optum in charge but he drifted out to his left and lost the lead in the final stride before unseating his rider. The victory of the Painestown Syndicate-owned Strange Notions enabled her trainer to maintain a sequence that has seen him record at least one winner in every National Hunt season since the 2004/05 campaign.
Chalky White, who was returned at 8/1 having been as big as 28/1 in the morning, defied top weight in the 80-95 rated handicap hurdle over two miles.
On his fourth outing and his handicap debut, the Keith Donoghue-ridden gelding looked as though he could be in trouble at the last as Johnny Little Legs landed upsides appearing to have all the momentum.
To his credit though, Chalky White rallied splendidly to get home by a short-head and give the victorious Good At It Too Partnership their first winner for five years.
“That’s the first time Keith has ridden for me and we felt this horse had a chance.
“He’s been improving with racing and the concern was whether he’d have enough experience for his first handicap,” reported trainer James Dullea.
“I’m delighted for the owners. They’ve been in the yard a long time and it’s great for them as the last couple of horses they have had haven’t worked out.”