John Durkan Memorial

Punchestown Chase (Grade 1)

THE brilliant Min began his season with his traditional enthusiasm and indomitable will to win as he bagged an historic third triumph in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase.

A record-equalling seventh win in the race for Willie Mullins and the first horse to win this race three times, last season’s Ryanair Chase winner was sent off the 13/8 favourite under the trainer’s son Patrick Mullins as he attempted to notch up the seventh Grade 1 success of his career.

Pitted against him were a field of quality rivals headed by the likes of Battleoverdoyen and Chris’s Dream but, as he tends to be at this level, Min was just too good and he has never been beaten on his seasonal debut for Mullins.

A fog bound Punchestown meant that visibility for this race was down to an absolute minimum but as the runners approached the straight, the winner’s stablemate Tornado Flyer was in the process of laying down a strong challenge.

Indeed, the latter’s jockey Bryan Cooper reported that he went half a length up on Min before the last. Just as he did 12 months ago, the Susannah Ricci-owned Min let fly at the last where his bold jump enabled him to regain the initiative and he went on to triumph by a length.

Tornado Flyer finished six and a half lengths in front of Melon in a Mullins one-two-three with Battleoverdoyen a further 15 lengths back in fourth.

Exhibition

“I’m raging you couldn’t see it properly as he gave an absolute exhibition of jumping and at every jump on the final circuit he seemed to be gaining a half a length or a length,” reflected a delighted Patrick Mullins.

“When I needed him to, he just winged the last and I’d love another go on him at some stage.

“Early on in his career he was maybe a bit overshadowed by Altior and some people may have regarded him as something of a nearly horse but the longevity he has shown at the top level is a very rare thing. He’s just a top class horse.”

Willie Mullins indicated that his charge would build towards a repeat bid in the Ryanair Chase, while Bryan Cooper was delighted with the efforts of the champion trainer’s runner-up, Tornado Flyer.

“He ran very well and I probably went around half a length up on Min coming to the last but I always felt he would come back at me,” stated Cooper. “He jumped great and ran very well and he should have no trouble holding his own in this division.”

Fogbound

It turned out that the Durkan Chase was to be the last race run on the card after deteriorating visibility due to the fog meant that the last four races fell by the wayside.

The meeting survived several fog-related inspections over the course of the morning, the latest coming at midday, but conditions were getting noticeably worse by the time the big race was run and all involved were left with little choice but to abandon the rest of meeting.

After consultation with the clerk of the course Brendan Sheridan, racecourse manager Conor O’Neill, the judge Jennifer Walsh, the jockey’s representative Robert Power and trainer’s representative Martin Brassil, the stewards used their powers under Rule 10 to abandon the rest of the fixture.

Bargain Sky proves an ace in the pack for Hanlon

THE extraordinary tale of Skyace yielded yet another remarkable success as the Shark Hanlon-trained mare continued her incredible progression in the Listed Voler La Vedette Mares Novice Hurdle.

After winning a Down Royal Grade 3 at 66/1 in late October, the Birdinthehand Syndicate-owned mare was, remarkably, the 28/1 rank outsider this time but now there can surely be no doubt that this mare is graded class.

The £600 purchase was once again ridden by Jody McGarvey and she looked better than ever in this two-and-a-half-mile affair.

Skyace improved to tackle the odds-on front-runner Finest Evermore approaching the straight and quickly stamped her authority on the race.

She was nicely clear by the time she reached the last and a good jump at that flight put the seal on a convincing five-length triumph over The Sliding Rock, with Finest Evermore third.

“She’s improving. She jumped and travelled well and she stays well so I was happy to let her stride on at the turn in,” reported McGarvey.

“She’s won her maiden on the bridle and a novice hurdle on the bridle, she won at Down Royal and I don’t know what more she has to do to prove herself.”

Followed up

The Willie Mullins-trained Power Of Pause (6/1) continued his progression over timber as he followed up last month’s Clonmel maiden success in the Irish Racing Industry Fundraiser For Children’s Health Foundation Crumlin in Memory Of Pat Smullen Rated Novice Hurdle.

The Margaret Masterson-owned son of Doyen coped well with a drop back to two miles and he finished strongly after the last to collar the favourite Crosshill who had attempted to take charge of this race turning for home. At the line, the David Mullins-ridden Power Of Pause had two and three quarter lengths to spare.

“He’s improving and I’d say going jumping has helped him. He had enough pace for that trip but David felt two and a half miles would be no problem to him.

“If he keeps progressing there’s no reason why he shouldn’t win again over hurdles,” stated the trainer’s representative David Casey.