BRIAN Hayes came in for plenty of praise from Willie Mullins’ son Patrick at Tipperary for his handling of Susannah Ricci’s 13/8 favourite Brahma Bull in the Berkshire at Kedrah House Stud Beginners Chase.
The queue of jockeys volunteering to ride the eight-year-old on his chasing debut wasn’t very long but the outcome on this occasion was, nevertheless, a positive one for the Willie Mullins stable, despite Brahma Bull having a good look at the last.
He was pushed out from there to win well by 14 lengths from the always-prominent The Mulcare Rover.
Patrick Mullins said: “All credit for that has to go to Brian. His schooling hasn’t been fantastic and he’s not a nice ride and the usual suspects weren’t putting their hands up to ride him! He’s a horse with a big engine but he hasn’t been an easy horse to train or keep sound and he’s not easy on himself.
“He’s just a bit strong in his races but Brian got him into a good rhythm and we’ll find a novice chase for him and just keep him going over staying trips.”
COMFORTABLE VICTORY
The champion amateur was in the hot seat himself in the P2P.ie Irish Point-To-Point Website Point-To-Point Flat Race when steering the even money favourite The Brass Man to a game two and a half length success.
The runner-up Jack Thunder unleashed his challenge inside the distance and looked a real danger for a few strides until the winner picked up again to score by two and a half lengths.
The five-year-old Milan gelding, who races for the three-way partnership of Mary Furlong, the executors of the late Peter Magnier and his trainer Mag Mullins, was a beaten favourite on his only point-to-point start at Tattersalls Farm but is well-regarded by his handler.
She commented: “He was idling a bit in front but I think he’s very good. He’s only going to improve and he’s a big baby still. Myself and Peter bred him and Peter is a big loss. I rate this horse very highly and he’ll go to the sales at Doncaster – he’ll be a lovely horse for the back-end.”
The J.P. McManus-owned Pack Your Bags (11/2) took full advantage of the front-running Effernock Lad nodding on landing at the final obstacle, almost sending Killian Moore out the side door, to take the Tipperary Racecourse 0-116 Handicap Chase for Robert Tyner and Philip Enright by four and a half lengths. The sixth-placed Commandant was sent off favourite.
Tyner recalled: “He was impressive in his point-to-point but he’s been disappointing since then and we had him wrong for a while. This year we thought it was distance he wanted but two miles is no problem to him and he’s after coming together now. He seems to handle that ground and he’ll stay going for the summer and go back over hurdles.”
SUCCESS
Gordon Elliott’s triple bumper winner Carrie Des Champscame to Tipperary with a tall reputation and wasn’t unduly pressured to make a successful debut over timber in the light blue and white colours of Scotsman Kenny Alexander from Perth in the Hotel Minella Mares Maiden Hurdle.
Jack Kennedy’s mount, the even money favourite, was up with the leaders throughout and went to the front before the turn for home. Despite landing awkwardly at the last, she picked up well when challenged on the run-in to collect by one and threequarters of a length from Blue Heather.
Her jockey observed: “She was a bit novicey but you’d expect that,” while the owner’s racing manager Peter Molony said: “She’s the first of Kenny’s home-breds to win and she’s one of Kenny’s favourite horses.
“Gordon’s been saying she’d be better over hurdles and we’ll try and sneak a bit of black type with her – she already has some from when she was third in a listed bumper in Gowran.”
Cray, a winner on the flat at Pontefract, landed a gamble for Gavin Cromwell and his Co Down owner Colman Smith in the first division of the Ryans Cleaning Event Specialists 80-102 Handicap Hurdle.
Backed from 16/1 into 5/1 favourite, Jonathan Moore’s mount led before the last to run out a comfortable three length winner at the line.
A stewards enquiry failed to alter the result. Cromwell said: “He’s just started to come to himself in the last couple of weeks and he’s in again at Cork on Saturday over three miles. That should suit him better because he didn’t travel anywhere there.”
DRAMATIC FINISH
Division two of the contest went to the Tom O’Connor-trained Madaboy Crosswho sealed the verdict under Kevin Brouder by half a length from Chestnut Brave who wasn’t giving up and stuck with him all the way.
The stewards called an enquiry to examine possible interference between the two principals in the closing stages but, after due deliberation, the result was allowed to stand.
Shane Pegley from Abbeyleix owns the 6/1 joint favourite who was opening her account at the 16th attempt.
The other joint favourite Mlily was sixth.
Madaboy Cross is a full-sister to the quirky Lilshane and O’Connor remarked: “They all have a bit of a quirk but she’s been tipping away for a while. She was in great order all the week and we were expecting a big run.”
Monday’s hooded Down Royal victor Rewritetherules, from the Shark Hanlon stable, was even more impressive under Tom Hamilton in the Glenview And Rathbarry Stud Novice Hunters Chase, drawing clear from the last to easily account for Bright Rhett by 11 lengths.
Dermot O’Rourke of Farmer Brown fame owns the 7/4 favourite and his trainer nominated the Horse and Hound Cup at Stratford as the next objective for the son of Jeremy, commenting: “He’s entitled to go because he’s a promising horse. He fell in his two point-to-points when he was going to win and he got free with Tom on the first circuit.
“He’s got to learn to switch off. It’s great to have a good horse back in the yard after Hidden Cyclone went.”
Colin Bowe saddled the ultra-consistent Fort Worth Texas for a smooth one and threequarter length success over Dime A Dozen in the mares point-to-point bumper.
Winner of four of her six starts between the flags and second in the other two, this Gold Well mare travelled like a dream for Rob James and looks to have a bright future ahead of her.
“She’s a great little thing,” Bowe exclaimed of Castleblaney-based Leo McArdle’s 4/1 winner.
“She’s earned a break and she’ll come back for the winter over hurdles because she acts better on heavier ground.”
Careless riding
KEVIN Brouder was given a one day careless riding ban in the third race.
HORSE TO FOLLOW:
BLUE HEATHER (G. Cromwell): Despite making numerous errors, she did well to stay in the hunt and finish second to the favourite on her hurdling bow in the mares maiden hurdle. Will know more next time.
ACTING STEWARDS:
Ms. K. Horgan, J. Powell, Mrs. J.O. Onions, P. Dowling, L. Walsh.