Brassil’s number comes up
The margin of victory was a short head and when the result was called it left most observers scratching their collective heads in mild bewilderment.
Numbersixvalderde crossed the line locked in combat with Kymandjen. The latter made most of the running and it appeared as if he had held on, albeit by the narrowest of margins.
The layers, usually the best judges of all, were convinced that was the case and went 3-1 against Numbersixvalverde in the picture. They had few takers.
Rider, Niall Madden, 19-years-old and one of our leading amateurs, was also enjoying his greatest success to date. Said Madden: “My horse kept battling, kept finding, he never gave up. Thank God I got there before the line.”
Kymandjen, who has never won except when travelling right-handed, made a tremendous attempt from the front. He jumped for fun for John Cullen and battled like a lion up the straight.
Heading to the home turn Bizet was moving sweetly on the heels of the leaders. He was a major ante-post gamble, a big order morning prices and strong on track as well, going off the 4-1 market leader.
He landed upsides Kymandjen at the last, as the eventual winner came between horses to challenge. Bizet was the first to crack and it was left to Numbersixvalverde to grab Kymandjen in the final stride.
“That was too close for the heart,” exclaimed Brassil. “He loves jumping fences, things don’t happen as quickly as they do over hurdles.
“He’s a real ’chaser, who needs plenty of individual attention at home. He likes to spend time on his own.
“I’m not sure where he will go next, but he will certainly get an entry in the Irish Grand National.’
Alan Crowe broke his collar-bone in a fall from Calladine, while Davy Russell was badly shaken, and stood down for the rest of the day, having taken a tumble from Ride The Storm.
Emotional Moment, who produced a powerful display to score at Leopardstown at Christmas, was equally good in the Alo Duffin Memorial Galmoy Hurdle.
Barry Geraghty took him into the lead from the start and the eight-year-old never saw another horse. Homer Wells chased him for most of the journey, but it was bar a fall from four out, with Emotional Moment crossing the line an unflattering 25 lengths to the good.
“He’s just getting better and didn’t really have a race today’, reported in-form trainer, Tom Taaffe.
“He will now go for the Boyne Hurdle at Navan on February 13 and then it will be Cheltenham after that.”
Ladbrokes tightened Emotional Moment’s Cheltenham World Hurdle price, the firm sponsor the race, from 20-1 to 14’s. Cashmans offer 20-1 from 28’s.
Edward O’Grady’s Dalton was all the rage in the morning for the Dinn Ri Maiden Hurdle, all the 7-4 and 6-4 quickly disappearing.
The confidence was well placed, evens was best on track, as the son of Bering did the business, despite some indifferent jumping, in the hands of Geraghty.
He led two out, he was less than impressive here, and then survived a bad blunder at the last, before staying on to beat Strides Of Fire.
“I am disappointed with his jumping, but they went too slow for him early on,” reported O’Grady. “He will get an entry in the Triumph Hurdle, but will go nowhere if he keeps jumping like that.”
Geraghty completed a treble when taking over from Davy Russell aboard Lord Alphieross for Liam Burke in the Ashkalani at Coolamurry Stud Carey’s Cottage Cup Handicap ‘Chase.
Given a positive drive, Lord Alphieross led five out and made the rest to easily beat Jordans Lad. “He’s a decent horse and the softer the ground the better,” commented Burke.
Jessica Harrington’s Carrigeen Victor, having only his third race, could be a star of the future, following a fine display to land the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Novice ’Chase.
He was eased to the front by Robert Power heading to four out and stretched clear in the straight to beat stable companion, Pay It Forward, unextended by ten lengths.
“I think I put him in the PJ Moriarty at Leopardstown and he’s entitled to take his chance after that,” remarked Harrington,.
She confirmed the intention to run two in Sunday’s Arkle at Leopardstown, Ulaan Battar (Timmy Murphy) and Strike Back (Robert Power).
Barry Geraghty, who might have been expected to partner one of them, has instead opted for Thomas O’Leary’s Scarthy Lad.
Loughanelteen, who ran well for a long way in the Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown, redeemed the promise of that effort when taking the Melville Developers’ Handicap Hurdle.
It was a good performance, considering Loughanelteen survived a dreadful error at the last and was then able to pick up and go away from Welcome Sunset.
“I left him too short going for the Pierse and he didn’t get home,” said trainer, Philip Rothwell.
Robert Tyner’s Slim Pickings, best for money and ridden by Derek O’Connor, powered ahead over a furlong down to win the Bumper.
