Wednesday, November 25, 2009
YESTERDAY’S action at Gowran Park, rescheduled from Saturday, provided further proof that Willie Mullins’ string has firmly clicked into top gear as Doctor Deejay, Enterprise Park and Don’t Turn Bach provided the champion trainer with another treble.
Owned by a partnership spear-headed by leading greyhound trainer Paul Hennessy, Doctor Deejay made it third-time-lucky over hurdles when coasting to an odds-on victory in the opening Green Fee Vouchers 3-Y-0 Maiden Hurdle.
Confidently handled by Ruby Walsh, the Hawk Wing gelding, successful on the flat when trained by Michael Halford, beat Our Nana Rose comfortably by two and a half lengths, prompting Mullins to sum up: "He’s improving nicely and jumped a bit better today. He’ll go for a winners’ race over Christmas."
Ruby Walsh completed a double and provided Mullins with the second leg of his treble when Enterprise Park, winner of a bumper on the track last April in his only previous start, justified 4/6 favouritism in the first division of the Porters Saddlery Maiden Hurdle.
Always close to the pace, the five-year-old Goldmark gelding took command between the last two flights to beat Misala effortlessly by eight lengths.
And Mullins didn’t hide the high regard in which he holds the five-year-old: "He’s probably one of the nice horses I have at the moment. He’s from a really good staying family - his dam is a half-sister to the dam of The Listener - and I can see him going the whole way."
"It’s great that he managed to win over two miles, because he’s a real stayer. And his future lies over further. But I have so many nice staying novices that, after winning his maiden over two miles, I might chance this fellow again, in a ‘winners of one’ over two miles. Long-term, he’ll be a smashing three-mile chaser."
Mullins rounded off another excellent day at the office when Don’t Turn Bach, having his first run for the yard, ran out an impressive all-the-way winner of the bumper.
Ridden by Patrick Mullins, the Bach gelding dictated the pace and, turning for home, was challenged by the Noel Meade-trained Medical Card, the winner’s chief market rival.
Nina Carberry was soon hard at work on Medical Card while Mullins was oozing confidence. And, as the pair stretched a whopping 30 lengths clear of the third Dapper Dan, Don't Turn Back was firmly in command, staying on strongly through the heavy ground to triumph by five and a half lengths.
Willie Mullins declared: "He’s a fair beast, a horse with a big engine. Being by Bach, I wasn’t sure how he’d handle that ground. But he got through it well and is a nice prospect. He’ll probably go for a winners’ bumper. But I see him as a real chaser in the making."
Gallant Light continued the fine run of Jessica Harrington’s string when landing the second division of the Porters Saddlery Maiden Hurdle, the Robert Power-ridden Golan gelding apparently having the measure of Taking Stock when his rival appeared to hit a false patch of ground and slipped up 50 yards from the finish.
Gallant Light was left clear to beat longtime leader Black Alpine by 11 lengths, to the delight of his trainer. "His last run, at Punchestown, was encouraging. It was a sign that he was on the way back. He’ll go for a winners’ race somewhere, rather than going handicapping. And he should make a lovely chaser."
In the handicap action, the Liam McAteer-trained Nans Best, raised a total of 7lbs for creditable recent placed effort, earned his reward when landing the Thomastown Handicap Hurdle in the hands of Mick Darcy, staying on resolutely to keep Bob Will Fix It at bay.
The three-mile Gowran Park Racing Club 2010 Handicap Hurdle developed into a real slog. And the test of stamina clearly suited the Liam Burke-trained Grange Alainn which got up close home to foil gallant front-runner The Flying Dustman, rewarding Paul Townend for his perseverance.
* Saturday’s meeting at Wexford has been abandoned due to a waterlogged track.
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