Tuesday, February 9, 2010 Previous editions
Monday, November 23, 2009
BERONI, confidently ridden by Paul Townend, gave champion trainer Willie Mullins his first win in the prestigeous Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan yesterday.
Probably the best-backed horse in the race on-course (9/1 to 7/1), the seven-year-old came from well off the pace to lead at the second last fence before beating Casey Supreme comfortably by four lengths with Hold The Pin third and top-weight Florida Express fourth.
Beroni, formerly trained by Mags Mullins and Michael O’Brien, was having only his second run since joining Mullins, having won over hurdles for his new yard at Galway last month, and produced an authoritative display.
Mullins explained: "The Troytown is a good race to win. And it’s nice to add it to my CV. Beroni jumped fantastic and proved that he stays three miles, and more. The fact that he stayed so well opens up plenty of extra options for him.
"I suppose he’ll go up plenty for today’s win, which might rule him out of the ‘Paddy Power’. But the ‘Thyestes’ is a possibility, as his owner, Padraig O’Rourke, is a director of Gowran Park. Or we might look at the Welsh National. After this, we’ll have to think about it."
Mullins admitted that stable-jockey Ruby Walsh opted to ride Polmar in yesterday’s race, on the trainer’s advice, the champion-jockey’s mount running dismally before being pulled up with almost a mile to race.
Three horses - co-favourite Paddy Pub, Benefit Night and Selection Box - made their exit at the first fence while last year’s runner-up and co-favourite, Operation Houdini, was chasing the leaders when blundering and unseating Niall ‘Slippers’ Madden at the fourth last.
Beroni proved the first leg of a double for Mullins, completed when chasing debutant Sports Line, rated a likely ‘Arkle’ contender by his trainer, made a highly impressive start over fences in the Irish Stallion Farms Beginners Chase.
A dual-winner over hurdles, Sports Line made all, jumping fluently before making his only mistake three from home. Soon back on an even keel, the six-year-old Norwich gelding stayed on in great style to slam eye-catching Solstice Knight by nine lengths.
"I’ve considered him a possible ‘Arkle’ horse. And I saw nothing today that would change my view. He’s a bit hyper and, because of all the wind, he wore ear-plugs today, to help him relax. He looks a lovely prospect. And he’s unlikely to run again before the Grade 1 novice at Leopardstown on St. Stephen’s Day."
The Mouse Morris-trained The Hurl, runner-up to Judge Roy Bean in a recent ‘Grade 3’ on the track, convincingly turned the tables on Edward O’Grady’s 2/5 favourite in the Grade 2 Monksfield Novice Hurdle.
Niall ‘Slippers’ Madden gave the Supreme Leader gelding an astute, front-running ride, dictating a sensible pace in very testing conditions. A mistake three from home did little to hinder the five-year-old as nearest rivals Quietly Fancied and Judge Roy Bean gave chase and soon came off the bridle.
And The Hurl stayed on resolutely to triumph by a length and a half, prompting Madden to comment, in the absence of the winning trainer: "It was only two miles the last day and he doesn’t do a tap in front, so he got outpaced. He enjoyed it today over the longer trip and, every time I asked him, he kept finding more. This horse had his share of problems, but has always been highly-rated. I don’t know what the plan is, but I suppose he could end up at Leopardstown over Christmas."
Another winning trainer who missed the Navan action was Michael Winters, attending the funeral of his father Denis. But his exciting six-year-old mare For Bill extended her unbeaten record when defying a double penalty in the listed ITBA Fillies Scheme Mares Flat Race.
Ridden again by Mikey O’Connor, the daughter of Presenting, successful in the point-to-point field and in bumpers at Tipperary and Punchestown, seized the initiative early in the straight and stayed on resolutely to hold the late surge of Araucaria by a length and three quarters.
For Bill carries the colours of veteran owner Donie Sheahan who made a long and adventurous journey from Killarney (train from Killarney to Mallow, bus to Thurles, train to Dublin and car to Navan) to see his mare triumph.
If eligible, For Bill will run in another mares bumper at Punchestown on December 31. Otherwise, she’ll be seen next in a mares maiden hurdle.
Robert Power took the riding honours, completing a 389/1 double on Shanrod in the opening Athlumney 3-Y-0 Maiden Hurdle and Bostons Angel in the Navan Ford Maiden Hurdle.
Bostons Angel, disappointing on his hurdle debut at Thurles, got up late to thwart Cadspeed in a race which saw the Ruby Walsh-ridden runner-up look an assured winner between the last two flights, after the challenging favourite stumbled badly on landing at the second last, struck into himself and was soon pulled up, lame behind, by Paul Carberry.
Cadspeed jumped to his right at the last, three lengths clear, but soon came under pressure. And Bostons Angel came home well to lead close home and score by a half-length with The Kings Sword only a head away third.
Bostons Angel is trained by Jessica Harrington, who said: "He didn’t jump a hurdle in Thurles, but was still there at the second last. He’s done intensive schooling since then. And it showed out there today. He stayed on very well and will probably get two and a half miles on better ground. I have no idea where he’ll go next. But he'll be a lovely chaser."
Power’s double was initiated by the Michael Halford-trained 25/1 shot Shanrod in the opening juvenile hurdle, the Bachelor Duke gelding coming through to wear down Save My Blushes, who made a costly mistake at the second last, on the run-in.
"That was a pleasant surprise," said Halford. "He disappointed the last day in Dundalk. But he has been schooling really well and has taken to this game. I though they went very fast. And Robbie took his time and came from a long way back. He’s a big, scopey horse and should improve with this experience under his belt. He’ll go to Leopardstown now. And we’ll probably be brave and run him in the Grade 1 race there."
The William And Gladys Bourke Handicap Hurdle developed into a real slog in the heavy ground, victory going to the Andrew Lynch-ridden Danny's Vic, which stayed on courageously to see off Twelfth Of Never by a length and a half.
Danny’s Vic, runner-up to West Ship Master at Clonmel last time, is trained by Michael Cullen, who said: "She deserved that after a couple of good runs. We were worried that the ground might be too soft for her. But she’s tough and keeps going. She’ll go for another handicap somewhere. She’s not very big and I don’t think she’ll be going over fences."
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