Morning rules supreme for Walsh

By Pat Keane

Monday, March 15, 2010

MORNING SUPREME kept her unbeaten record over jumps intact with an effortless victory in the Listed Dawn Omega Milk EBF Mares’ Novice Hurdle at Limerick yesterday.

This was her third straight success, but the daughter of Supreme Leader still has a huge amount to learn about jumping.

It was sketchy to say the least, but there is certainly little wrong with her engine, as she made all the running, giving Ruby Walsh the perfect send-off to Cheltenham.

For Bill, who came into the contest never having tasted defeat, did her best to stay with the winner, but that took it’s toll and it was left to Blazing Tempo to chase home Morning Supreme.

Commented Walsh: "She’s a very good mare. She jumped alright down the back, but was terrible in the straight.

"I’d say she found the easyfix hurdles too solid and will do better over normal flights."

Maureen Danagher’s Ikidunot slammed market-leader, Glenlo Abbey, to the tune of five and a half lengths in the Mother’s Day Maiden Hurdle.

Lenny Flynn allowed the winner to lead over the third last and the Definite Article gelding was soon striding well clear.

Said Danagher: "That was a long time coming, he wants even better ground than today.

"He will probably go to Punchestown and will run through the summer. This is a summer horse, I shouldn’t have run him in the winter."

Co Dublin trainer, Garvan Donnelly, enjoyed his biggest success to date when Inistioge won the Grade 3 ITBA Fillies Scheme EBF Dawn Run Mares’ Novice Chase.

Dashingly handled by Andrew Leigh, she made all the running, holding Cara Mara and Hello Kitty with a degree of ease in the straight.

Said Donnelly: "This was tailor-made for her, although she wouldn’t want the ground any better. I don’t know what will be next, today was the plan."

Clarkey, having his first outing since early December, landed the Charleville Cheese Handicap Chase for the Christy Roche yard.

Clarkey and Four Chimneys had it between them jumping the final fence, but the former powered clear on the flat in the hands of Alan Crowe.

Roche and Crowe completed a double when well-backed Silent Creek put up a good display to make a winning debut over fences in the Mullins’ Electrical Beginners Chase.

He jumped really well, finding plenty for Crowe pressure to lead going to two out and beat King High cosily.

Said Roche: "He has given leg trouble, but ran well up the north (Down Royal) the last day over hurdles, against better horses. It was his first time over fences here, but I had fair faith in him."

Roche’s Tooman Lane, 9-4 to 7-4, was the one punters wanted in the Ballynoe Stables Pre-Cheltenham Handicap Hurdle.

He arrived with every chance over the final two flights, but was no match for Go On Ya Boya, who only had to be nudged out by Robbie Moran to score with a nice bit in hand.

Those who fancy Edward O’Grady’s Shot From The Hip for Cheltenham received a timely boost when Acey landed the Kevin Frost Memorial Bumper.

Acey had previously finished third to Shot From The Hip at Leopardstown and won this with lots in hand, under a typically confident Robbie McNamara drive.

He was eased to the front three furlongs down and McNamara never had any cause to get animated in the closing stages.

Trainer, Tom Nagle, reported: "We think he’s a good horse, but were worried about the ground. He could be left off now, or else go to Punchestown."

This appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Monday, March 15, 2010