GYPSY Island, one of the standout bumper horses of the 2018/19 season, made a victorious return from 736 days off in the Hotel Minella Mares Maiden Hurdle although not without a scare.
A superb winner of the mares’ bumpers at the Fairyhouse and Punchestown Festivals a couple of years ago, the Peter Fahey-trained seven-year-old lined up as the winner of four of her five starts.
Her only defeat came when she lost out to Put The Kettle On in a mares’ auction maiden hurdle at Navan in November 2018 so it was no surprise to see the daughter of Jeremy head the market at 1/5.
Raced keenly
The Mark Walsh-ridden Gypsy Island was perhaps a shade keen and made a couple of mistakes with an error at the second last looking as though it could cost her as it left her with ground to make up on Annie G.
The latter blundered at the last though and the momentum swung back in favour of the J.P. McManus-owned mare who got up to score by a length and a half.
“Fair play to everyone at Martinstown who did everything to get her back,” said Fahey. “She was keen there but at least she’s back and we can go on from here. We’ll just see how she comes out of this before making plans but she will improve massively from this.”
Capable lass
There were a couple of other capable mares on show and these included Sliabh Mhuire Lass (4/1) who added the Glenview And Rathbarry Hunters Chase to her six victories in the point-to-point field. Derek O’Connor was on board this 10-year-old mare who is trained and owned by his sister-in-law, Grainne, and the decorated amateur made most of the running.
Sliabh Mhuire Lass, who was wearing first time blinkers, only had Cardboard Gangster to contend with in the straight and she contained that one’s effort to prevail by one and three-quarter lengths. The winner is set to be covered in the coming days.
A welcome change of luck for trainer Patrick Griffin as the 92-rated Give Me A Moment sprang a 33/1 surprise in the handicap chase over an extended two miles.
The six-year-old responded well to Adam Short’s promptings to get the better of the hat-trick seeking Jack Holiday on the run-in and carry the day by two lengths.
The winner is owned by Douglas Pryde and David Van Der Hoeven who were involved in the shock Aintree Grand National winner Auroras Encore.
Nancy Wyse shows plenty
of smart bumper promise
BOTH point-to-point bumpers on the card, which were sponsored by p2p.ie, played host to performances of promise and the first of these came from Nancy Wyse in the mares’ bumper over two-and-a-quarter miles.
A first winner on the track in seven years for owner-breeder-trainer Gerard Quirke, this daughter of Mahler was also giving amateur Shane O’Rourke his first triumph on the track to go with his 42 point-to-point successes.
Nancy Wyse (12/1) had shown ability in point-to-point bumpers at Wexford and Cork in recent weeks. After tanking her way to the front early on in the final circuit she sustained her effort in commendable style as well as showing a cracking attitude to last home by half a length from Rosa Gloriosa.
The winner showed good form to beat Norwigi in a point-to-point and clearly possesses considerable level of ability to win despite racing as freely as she did.
Another nice effort came from Douglas Talking (16/1) who struck for Andy Lynch and Paul Bannon in the colts’ and geldings’ bumper.
The Alanna McGuinness-owned six-year-old endured anything but a clear run in the straight as a series of gaps closed just before he could make his way through them.
However, Douglas Talking was still good enough to finish off his race with a flourish to nail the favourite My Immortal on the line. He looks a horse with decent prospects over the coming seasons.
AFTER ending his best campaign to date on a high last Saturday with a Grade 1 success on Jeff Kidder, Sean Flanagan got off the mark on his second ride of the new season as Noel Meade’s Face The Odds (8/1) pounced late in the Berkshire @ Kedrah House Stud Beginners Chase over just short of three-miles.
After contesting some fair beginners’ chases through the winter, the Patricia Hunt-owned Face The Odds was making his first appearance of the year and he looked set for a minor role on the approach to the straight.
Favourite
The front-running favourite Fully Charged soon began to flag though and Face The Odds closed in ominously from two out before getting on top in the last 100 yards to defeat his 129-rated rival by a length and a half.
Lorna Fowler’s Bronson In Blue deservedly got his turn after some decent efforts in defeat as he registered a clear-cut triumph in the Ryan’s Cleaning Event Specialists Handicap Hurdle over three miles.
This Michael Conlon-owned and bred son of Fracas was sent to the front by Conor Orr with two to jump and the pair came home just under five lengths ahead of Junior Rattler. The victorious 5/1 chance appeals as being able to add to his tally over the coming months.