Walsh’s winner-fest continues with four-timer

RUBY WALSH continued his phenomenal run of success when recording a superb four-timer at Wexford yesterday, brining his tally for the last seven racing days to an amazing 16 winners.

Willie Mullins, also enjoyed a purple patch, supplied the champion’s first two winners, long odds-on shots Tawaagg and Fiveforthree, which gained convincing wins.

But Ruby was seen at his strongest and brilliant best when getting Holly Tree home in front in the Micheal O Murchadha Memorial Chase and when scoring on Martin Brassil’s Monte Cinto in the Pinnacle Novices Handicap Chase.

The equine star of the show was Fiveforthree, courageous winner of the ‘Ballymore’ at Cheltenham 12 months ago and off the track since running twice at the Punchestown festival last April.

Ridden positively, the grey, sent off at 4/9, edged past Coolcahsin at the third last before drawing clear readily to beat Splurge by seven lengths.

Willie Mullins explained: “He had some training problems and took time to come to hand. We had intended to go chasing this season but, after the hold-ups, decided to stay over hurdles. He’ll go to Aintree for the two-and-a-half miler and then on to Punchestown. And he should make a smashing novice chaser next season.”

Tawaagg, beaten twice at Thurles, opened his account in the Curracloe Maiden Hurdle, seizing the initiative between the last two hurdles to beat Bangonform by four lengths.

“We decided to make more us of him today,” said Mullins. “I told Ruby not to be afraid to go on. The better ground helped. And he won well enough. We’ll try to find a ‘novice’ for him. And he could run on the flat during the summer.”

Holly Tree, without a win since last October, received the full treatment from the saddle to win the Micheal O Murchadha Memorial Chase at the expense of Steel Band, which made a costly mistake at the final fence.

Ruby had been stoking away on Holly Tree from the third last, produced him at the final obstacle and rove him clear on the run-in prompting winning trainer Dusty Sheehy to declare: “That’s why he is what he is. Brilliant”, expressing his admiration for the six-times champion.

Monte Cinto completed Ruby’s day in the Pinnacle Novice Handicap Chase, tackling Quintana at the last before being driven clear to record his first win since joining Martin Brassil. “Paul Nicholls used to train this fellow. But he had plenty of leg trouble. And his owners (the Hacketts) gave him plenty of time to recover and sent him to me. We’ll see what the handicapper does to him after this. And there’s another suitable race for him at Navan in a few weeks.”

Favourite backers got off to a good start when Robert Power delivered a well-timed challenge on Jessica Harrington’s No One Tells me to win the opening New Ross Maiden Hurdle at the expense of longtime leader Acclaimed Piper, the second winner on a memorable day for the trainer, who had a treble at Down Royal.

Tom Doyle partnered the Askwith to win the Saltees Island Novice Handicap Hurdle in good style for Gerry Keane, who commented: “We bought him from Lesley Young with leg trouble. He had to be ‘fired’ and given a year off. But this makes it all worthwhile. He was bought as a fun horse and he jumps a fence. So there should be more to come from him.”

And John Kiely continued his impressive strike rate in bumpers when Cott For Cash, a debutante by Supreme Leader, justified morning support in the mares bumper, scoring emphatically in the hands of Pat Crowley.

Kiely said: “I’m delighted for Pat - he’s been with me, off and on, for 20 years. She’s a nice, well-bred mare and jumps well.”