Farouk D’alene just held off the late thrust of Vanillier in a war of attrition for the Lyons Of Limerick Jaguar Land Rover Novice Hurdle at Limerick on Monday.
It's a quick double for @jody_mcgarvey as Farouk D'alene wins the @LyonsLimerick Jaguar Land Rover Novice Hurdle. @gelliott_racing the winning trainer. pic.twitter.com/v87gt4wqOM
— Limerick Races (@LimerickRaces) December 28, 2020
The race was transferred from Sunday’s card – which was cancelled because of waterlogging – and while the going was still extremely deep, it was at least raceable.
It nonetheless made the two-mile-seven-furlong trip an extreme test for a field of novices who did not have that much experience to call upon.
Gordon Elliott’s Farouk D’alene took over from Costalotmore with a mile to run and appeared to have everything in hand under Jody McGarvey.
But turning into the straight, Darrens Hope looked a big threat before her stamina ran out between the last two.
It was left to Vanillier, who had been ridden patiently by Conor Maxwell, to keep the 2/1 favourite up to his work after the last – having lost a bit of momentum with a slow jump – but he was able to hold on by three-quarters of a length.
McGarvey said: “It is very tough work out there and it takes a lot of getting. It was my first time riding him – and he was super tough, jumped and travelled beautifully. He dug deep up the straight when I needed him and ground it out well to the line.
“I was confident he’d stay, but we went a nice enough gallop for the ground and it was going to be hard work – (so) thankfully I was able to save enough before the turn-in to get me home.”
McGarvey had earlier teamed up with Willie Mullins to win the Future Ticketing Maiden Hurdle on Ciel De Neige, runner-up in the Betfair Hurdle last season at Newbury.
After the favourite’s two-and-a-quarter-length success, at the prohibitive odds of 1/8, Mullins said: “He eventually got his head in front. He did what he was asked to do.
“He’s just a horse that makes life hard on himself. Hopefully he can go on now and progress from that.”
McMANUS DOUBLE
J.P. McManus, owner of Ciel De Neige, had a second winner on the card when The Long Mile (18/1) won the Grade B Tim Duggan Handicap Chase for trainer Philip Dempsey and jockey Niall Madden.
One of four McManus-owned runners in the race, The Long Mile eased alongside long-time leader Articulum approaching the second last fence, before stretching clear on the run to the last.
The Long Mile is the clear winner in the Tim Duggan Memorial Handicap Chase under @slippersmadden for trainer @jpdempseyracing pic.twitter.com/DOWePjTiRY
— Limerick Races (@LimerickRaces) December 28, 2020
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