CHAMPAGNE West got his jumping act together at Tramore to give his new trainer Henry de Bromhead and rider David Mullins the best possible start to 2017 with a comfortable success in the Listed Download The Free At The Races App Chase in front of a good sized crowd.
Formerly in the care of Philip Hobbs, Roger Brookhouse’s nine-year-old was in front from the outset and came down to the final fence well clear of the short-priced favourite Roi Des Francs, being unchallenged to register the sixth win of his career by 12 lengths.
De Bromhead, for whom the 2/1 winner put the seal on a double, said: “He jumped really well and David was brilliant on him. He just loves that soft ground and ploughs on through it. We’ll see what’s coming up for him in conditions chases.
“There’s the Kinloch Brae at Thurles, the Red Mills Chase at Gowran and another one in Navan at the end of March or we could start looking at the Irish Gold Cup. I don’t think he needs to be extravagant. I was worried coming here on a tight track, but he did it well.”
The trainer and jockey duo had earlier struck with the appropriately-named Adreamstillalive who lived up to her name when coming good for the One For Luck Racing Syndicate from Mullinavat in the David Flynn Building Contractors Maiden Hurdle.
The 5/4 favourite, who was just touched off at the last meeting here, led from start to finish to beat Voiceofthekingdom by three lengths. “She did it well, but it took us a while to get there,” said de Bromhead. “She’s a big mare who’s had a few problems over the years, so the lads have had to be patient with her. She has a good pedigree and will be a really nice chaser next season.”
NOLAN WINNER
Mullins made it a 74/1 treble when Co Wexford handler Paul Nolan sent out 10/1 chance Peculiar Genius to land a gamble (from 16/1) on his handicap debut in the Currans South East Cleaners 80-102 Handicap Hurdle. The four-year-old son of Jeremy took it up on the downhill run to the home straight and maintained that advantage for a one and three-quarter length defeat of Ardera Cross.
The favourite Broughtons Star came to grief at the last. Peculiar Genius is owned by Manverton Limited, headed by Jim Coffey, who is also the yard’s sponsor and “a massive supporter with eight or 10 horses,” according to the trainer’s brother and assistant James.
Nolan continued: “It’s been a quiet Christmas for us, so it’s nice to get a winner over the festive period. This place and a light weight in a handicap suited him so, maybe, he’ll come back here again.”
Barry John Foley thwarted Mullins’s bid for a four-timer when donning the maroon and white silks of Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud for the first time to take the Waterford & Tramore Racecourse Supporters Club Rated Novice Chase with 10/1 shot Catalaunian Fields, from the Mouse Morris stable.
The Fair Mix gelding was in the first two throughout and headed market leader Motown Bob at the second last to collect by a two-length margin. Foley said: “That’s my 11th winner and he jumped great and travelled great. He seemed to handle the track fairly well.”
Gigginstown’s Berry Des Aulmes once again proved costly to follow in the Ryan’s Racecourse Services Maiden Hurdle when no match for the same owner’s Brightest Flame, with Ger Fox in the saddle. Both horses were under pressure coming down to the second last, but Noel Meade’s representative Brightest Flame jumped it in front and drew clear before the final flight to master his opponent by 20 lengths.
Fox commented: “The first-time blinkers were a big help to him, as was the softer ground and the stiffer track. The undulations just sweetened him up a bit and he travelled well most of the way. He’s a pure galloper who’ll get further in time – he stayed on up the hill really well.”
GOOD STORY
As his name would suggest, there was a good story behind Jarlath Fahey’s 12-length Ani-Pets Veterinary Clinic 80-109 Handicap Hurdle winner Returntovendor.
His trainer revealed about the 5/2 favourite: “His owner/breeder Pat McCarthy, who is from Kilcock and a great supporter of ours, sold the dam, carrying this lad, but got a phone call a couple of days later to say the sale hadn’t gone through.
“So he took her back and foaled her at home! His faith has been repaid and hopefully he’ll go on and make a chaser. He’s been very consistent and we knew there was another day in him. He’s given us our last winner in 2016 and our first of the new year.”
Bandon trainer James Dullea has a great strike-rate at the seaside venue and saddled 20/1 longshot Line View for a clear-cut eight and a half-length victory under fellow Corkman Paul Townend in the Tom Carroll Memorial 0-95 Handicap Chase.
The race turned into a real bookmakers’ benefit, with the hot-pot Paper Lantern falling two out and Dullea observed: “I thought my luck wouldn’t hold up today, with the ground the way it was, but Paul was brilliant on him and his jumping probably won it for him.
“He’s been unlucky to run into a couple of good horses in the past, so deserved to win one. He’s owned by a bunch of West Cork lads (the Line View Syndicate) and one of them, Jerry O’Donovan is laid up at the moment, so this will be a bit of a boost for him. The horse will probably get a short break now.”
Acting Stewards:
P. Ronan, Ms D. Brophy, P. Coveney, N.P. Lambert, M.F. O’Donoghue.
HORSE TO FOLLOW:
CHAMPAGNE WEST (H. de Bromhead) He could be on a roll, now that his jumping has finally come together, and looks set to make an impact in the major conditions races in the weeks ahead.