VENGEFUL looks a horse to watch out for in better company over the coming months as the French import showed a fine attitude to make a successful Irish debut in the two-mile maiden hurdle.

A winner of a flat maiden at La Croise-Laroche on his most recent appearance 13 months previously, the Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding adapted well to jumping to justify 7/4 favouritism. Vengeful had started to come under pressure from Jack Kennedy turning for home and wasn’t going at all as well as fellow Gigginstown-owned runner Dis Donc.

The winner raised his effort in fine style though to surge into a share of the lead nearing the last and he recovered well from pecking on landing to edge the bobbing finish by a head. As this was his first run for over a year and his initial venture over timber, there could be a lot more to come from the Zoffany gelding.

“He’s a nice horse who will stay a bit further and come on from this run,” said Gordon Elliott. “Jack showed again there how good he is and we’re in a fortunate position to have both him and Davy (Russell) riding for us.”

It seemed as though the juvenile maiden hurdle would also fall to Elliott but instead the useful flat performer Apparition (5/4) atoned for an odds-on defeat on his jumping debut by securing what had looked an improbable victory. The strong-travelling Mitchouka appeared to have the measure of Joseph O’Brien’s charge when easing clear before the final flight but the leader produced an untidy jump there.

Even so, Mitchouka still seemed to have done enough but he started to wilt with 150 yards to run and the J.J. Slevin-ridden Apparition seized the opportunity by maintaining a steady charge to lead on the line.

The winner and his third-placed stablemate Thomas O’Malley are both owned by the Annus Mirabilis Syndicate.

SMART

Jessica Harrington introduced a smart looking type in Holding Pattern (8/1) who made short work of her rivals in the bumper. The five-year-old daughter of Teofilo, who comes from an excellent Meon Valley pedigree, quickened up very smartly for Kate Harrington inside the last quarter of a mile to shoot clear of the field. At the line, the Orla O’Connor-owned mare had five and a half lengths to spare over the evens favourite The Granson.

“The owners have had to be very patient as they bred her. As she has taken time we’ll just take it step by step with her,” declared the trainer.

After enduring a couple of near misses, Davy Russell made his mark on the hat-trick chasing Mullinavat in the first division of the 80-95 rated handicap hurdle.

Henry de Bromhead’s charge lined up under a mandatory 6lb penalty for his facile Tramore success the previous week which meant that he was a stone well in on official figures. As a result, the Michael Allen-owned gelding was sent off a 1/3 chance and he enjoyed the most straightforward of triumphs after going to front at the entrance to the straight. The Beneficial gelding never came under strong pressure to finish two and a half lengths ahead of the 33/1 shot Hughies Bay.

DEFINITE PROMISE

A switch to fences brought out the best in Born To Size who showed a fine appetite for this new discipline in the two and a quarter-mile beginners’ chase. This five-year-old, who carries the colours of Alan and Ann Potts Limited, had shown definite promise in his first six runs over timber and was found a good opportunity in a race confined to horses who hadn’t won over hurdles.

Robbie Power had Liam Burke’s charge helping to force the pace from the outset and the outcome was sealed when Youcantcallherthat clouted the second last just as she was trying to move on terms. At the line the 2/1 favourite had four lengths to spare.

“He’s been a bit highly strung and ran a bit free over hurdles but Liam felt fences would settle him better and he was right. Both Liam and Richie Harding have done a terrific job schooling him,” observed the winning rider.

GOOD GROUND

A tightly contested two and a quarter-mile handicap chase went to Grey Mountain Mist (12/1) who was recording his first success over the larger obstacles. A winner over hurdles at Ballinrobe in May, the Danny Mullins-ridden 10-year-old was among 10 horses who were poised within a couple of lengths of the lead facing up to two out.

Grey Mountain Mist emerged to take charge before the last and he finished two and a quarter lengths ahead of Bellgrove with Templemichael coming home well for third after a costly error at the third last.

“Good ground is what he wants and that’s what we’ve been waiting for since he ran at Tramore in August,” stated Eamon Sheehy. “If the weather holds up he’ll go for another handicap and he likes this place.”

Limerick-based trainer Donncha Duggan sent out his second winner on the track as Antimatter (14/1) was rewarded for a series of solid runs in defeat in the two and three-quarter-mile handicap hurdle.

Ambrose McCurtin’s mount moved a length ahead at the final flight and first dealt with a rallying Megara before holding the staying-on 13/8 favourite Swingbridge by three-quarters of a length.

“He’s been knocking on the door and has been creeping up the handicap so it’s good he’s won. He keeps galloping and likes nice ground. I’ll talk to his owner, Edward McHugh, about whether he goes chasing,” reported Duggan.

Fairymount Boy (6/1) followed up a victory at Gowran Park two weeks previously with an assured triumph in the second division of the 80-95 rated handicap hurdle. In the closing stages, Barry John Foley never had to get vigorous on the Paddy Hayes-owned gelding who had more in hand than his length success over Whoyakodding would suggest.

“I’d say we’ve found the key to him. Since he’s been treated for a kissing spine it’s made a big difference to him. Hopefully he’ll be back here in a couple of weeks for another handicap,” remarked trainer Michael Hourigan junior.

Concussion

RACHAEL Blackmore and Robbie Colgan both suffered concussion and missed the remainder of their rides after falls during the first half of the card. Blackmore took a heavy tumble from Shaluna in the handicap chase while Colgan suffered a nasty spill from Melly And Me in Vengeful’s race.

Starting problems

THE start of the handicap hurdle won by Fairymount Boy was the subject of a stewards’ enquiry after Jessicor was left at the start. Jessicor was pulled-up before she reached the first flight having trailed the field by some distance but the resulting enquiry deemed that a fair start had been affected.

ACTING STEWARDS

J. Rearden, A.J. Molloy, J. Murphy, S. Quinn

Horse To Follow

ANGUINO (T. Cooper): On his third Irish outing, he produced his best effort to date in being beaten by less than eight lengths into fifth behind Vengeful. It may not be long before he wins.