Newmill rolls back the years
Four years earlier the veteran also won this race, as a prelude to his greatest day when subsequently taking the Queen Mother Two Mile Champion Chase at Cheltenham.
Eddie Power dropped Newmill out at the back for much of the trip, but then made a really bold move on the approach to the sixth from home.
He swept right through the field, allowing Newmill to lead and beginning what was a particularly long surge for home.
Ruby Walsh was alive to the tactic on heavily-backed favourite, Snowy Morning, but hard as he tried his charge could never get in a decent blow and was three lengths adrift at the line.
“That was welcome”, exclaimed Murphy. “He’s been in good form this season, but I didn’t think would go on the ground.
“I’m not sure what’s next, but will talk to the owners and see what they want to do.”
Newmill is now a 12-year-old and this was his first victory since scoring over flights at Gowran Park in February of 2007.
Paul Nolan’s French-import, Politeo, won the Moycarkey Hurdle, but had a large slice of luck on his side.
Jimmy Mangan’s newcomer, Asymmetric Sam, was upsides, and looking as if he was travelling the better, when falling at the last.
Reported Nolan: “This horse’s work at home was good and I’d have been very disappointed if he hadn’t run well.
“We will stick him in a winners’ of one now and see where we go from there. He jumped quick and loves jumping.”
Russell was on the mark as well when guiding the Charlie Swan-trained Cool Duke Luke, 2-1 to 11-8, to a smooth success in the INH Stallion Owners’ EBF Novice Hurdle.
Like Politeo, owned by the Gigginstown House Stud, Cool Duke Luke came from behind to sweep clear in the straight and beat West Ship Master by five lengths.
Commented Swan: “It’s great to win, that’s my first of 2010. He’s a grand horse, stays well and will make a nice chaser.”
Russell then completed a fine treble when giving Philip Rothwell’s Tally Em Up a superb drive in the Grade 3 Septimus Coolmore National Hunt Sires EBF Mares Novice Hurdle.
He refused to follow what was a furious pace, but gradually worked into the contest, before sending the winner to the front coming away from two out.
“I’m thrilled, she is way better as a chaser than a hurdler”, said Rothwell. “Davy was amazing.
“I was worried about her staying two and a half on the ground and with a penalty. I now have a mares’ novice chase at Uttoxeter in mind for her the week after Cheltenham.”
Paddy O Dee, initiating a double for Rothwell, redeemed the promise of his fourth behind Prince Of Fire at Leopardstown when taking the opening Maiden Hurdle.
Driven ahead between the final two flights by Shane Jackson, he was left clear when The Recovery fell at the last when attempting to mount a challenge.
Rothwell indicated that Paddy O Dee would now have a break and then come back for races early in the summer.
Jimmy Mangan, fresh from his terrific success with Whinstone Boy in the Thyestes at Gowran Park a week earlier, scored again when Rudi Trucker took the Arctic Tack Stud Hunters Chase.
Always in the first two, Damien Murphy eased Rudi Trucker ahead going out into the country for the final time.
A tendency to jump away to his left could have proved costly for the eight-year-old, but he held on through the last hundred yards to beat Cloughmile by half a length.
“He would be suited to going left-handed and could join Whinstone Boy at Aintree”, revealed Mangan.
Glenview Leader, absent since being pulled up at Navan in November, was an easy winner of the Leugh Handicap Hurdle.
Powered to the front going to the last by Ruby Walsh, he stretched away to beat Nans Best by five lengths.
The stewards inquired into the performance of sixth placed Vinnies Friend, uneasy in the market, partnered by Davy Russell for Philip Rothwell. The matter was referred to the Chief Executive of the Turf Club for further investigation.
