A CAREER that began for the late Dessie Hughes at Kilbeggan in April 2014, reached a high for Phil’s Magic when he returned to the Co Westmeath venue to land the Midlands National Handicap Chase.
Hughes’ daughter, the now-retired Sandra, carried on the baton with the Fruits Of Love gelding. He won the Listed Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle for her at Naas in March 2015.
Here, on start three for the Tony Martin yard, and with Donagh Meyler up in the Lyreen Syndicate colours, gambled-on Phil’s Magic (6/1 into 7/2 favourite) touched off Mr Boss Man by a head.
Noel Meade’s pair, Net D’Ecosse and Tulsa Jack, both shaped as possible winners, but ultimately had to settle for third and fourth. It was an admirable effort from Tulsa Jack, hero of the hour in the midland venue’s seasonal highlight in 2016.
“He’s a nice horse, jumps away safe and gallops away. Lucky enough a nice race like that came his way,” said Martin.
“We put the (cheek)pieces on him to see if they would help him a bit earlier (in the race) and our jockey was excellent on him. He popped him out sharp and smart down the inner and was holding his position fifth or sixth down the rail.”
Elsewhere Willie Mullins registered a first and last race double, initiated by the impressive hurdling bow of the Rose Boyd-owned and Paul Townend-ridden 4/11 shot Mystic Theatre in the Tom McCormack Memorial Cup Mares Maiden Hurdle.
After the easy all-the-way seven-length win for the talented point-to-point and bumper performer – over second-favourite Gracemount – Townend commented: “She was entitled to do that I suppose and we’d have been disappointed if she hadn’t.
“It took me a while to pull her up and it’s a while since I rode a winner around Kilbeggan that I had to do that on.”
Beaten on her only previous start, at Clonmel last September, Court Artist brought up the Mullins brace under son Patrick in the Book Online For Discounts INH Flat Race.
Returned at odds of 7/2, the Court Cave-sired mare came together with a son of Court Cave, Court Tycoon (finished third), after they’d turned in. However, she stamped her authority on proceedings when scampering clear inside the final furlong for a five and a half-length verdict over market-leader Slippery Serpent.
“That’s fantastic. James Fenton, who is the head man of Blue Blood Racing (owners), picked her out. She was their first horse so they’ve had a good bit of patience with her,” revealed Mullins junior.
Mullins was advised by the stewards to ride with more care in future after the aforementioned incident.
Meanwhile, Jamie Codd, jockey of Pancrace (5/1), reported, after he beat only one home, that his mount hung throughout.
The Mullins team were also expected to take the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase with their 5/4 favourite Screaming Rose.
MEMORIES
For the Cavanagh family this two and three-quarter-miler will live long in the memory. At their local track, 7lb claiming amateur Simon brought home his father Richie’s Newsworthy (14/1) four and a half lengths in front of the ‘jolly.’
Ciaran Murphy assists Dot Love in the training role with this Presenting gelding and he remarked: “Simon gave him a lovely ride and took the bull by the horns today and he left nothing to chance.
“He’ll be a lovely staying chaser and there will be something nice for him in the spring. There is a nice race in him I’d say.”
With Barry Geraghty and Mark Walsh sidelined, Jody McGarvey is making the most of his opportunities. He could hardly combine with a more in-form outfit than he did when triumphant on Monarch for Joseph O’Brien in the Like Us On Facebook Maiden Hurdle.
Backed from 15/8 into 6/4 favouritism, the Galileo gelding, a useful flat performer, brought to an end a sequence of three second placings over flights. Not always fluent over his hurdles, Monarch still comfortably got the better of Canny Tom by four and a half lengths.
Monarch wasn’t the only J.P. McManus winner on the evening as Whatever It Takes (14/1) scored by no less than nine and a half lengths in the Michael Moore Car Sales Mercedes-Benz Handicap Hurdle.
Seven-pound claimer Donie McInerney steered Whatever It Takes, and the previous course and distance winner assumed command of the big-field marathon from the last ahead of Uptake.
“Donal gave him a great ride. He rode a winner for me a couple of months ago on Tay Lane. He’s a nice fella and rides a bit of work for me so it’s nice to give him a ride,” stated successful handler Niall ‘Boots’ Madden.
“It’s always great to train a winner for that man (Mr McManus) as without him a lot of us would be out of business.”
Joint market-leaders Queeny (11th) and Itsallhappening (pulled-up) disappointed. The former was said to have never acted on the ground.
Itsallhappening had blood on his nose post race as a result of exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage.
In-form trainer/rider Denis Hogan got what would turn out to be a great weekend, off to the right start, with short-head victor Mezajy (4/1) in the Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey Handicap Hurdle.
JRM Racing Syndicate’s first-time blinkered five-year-old made all, and with the favoured inner berth to help he just held on from the strong favourite, Zanjabeel.
“The lads have been patient and John Mahon is a great owner. He’s a Longford man who is based in New York,” disclosed Hogan.
Hogan picked up a three-day whip ban for his efforts though.
ACTING STEWARDS
J.T. Hunt, F. Clarke, R. McSharry, H. Lappin, Mr S Quinn.
HORSE TO FOLLOW
ZANJABEEL (G. Elliott): He was conceding a lot of weight to Mezajy and only just lost out in the two-mile handicap hurdle.