Carberry strikes gold on return
The well-backed, Dessie Hughes-trained favourite was left in front when the leader Kicking King jumped left and crashed out of the race at the second last fence when enjoying a clear lead and coasted home 25 lengths clear of Anxious Moments.
Many observers believed the Barry Geraghty-ridden Kicking King would have triumphed. But winning trainer Hughes was among those who volunteered a different opinion, explaining, “Paul said he would have picked off Kicking King anyway because he had so much left in the tank.”
Having only his third outing over fences, Central House jumped superbly throughout under Carberry but was being nudged along to chase Kicking King when the second last fence claimed the leader.
Trainer Hughes was enthusiastic in his praise of Central House. “He’s a natural athlete and a great jumper. He has looked an chasers since we bought him in the Land-Rover Sale and we always felt that whatever he achieved in bumpers or over hurdles would be a bonus.”
Central House will return to Leopardstown for another Grade 1 ‘pot’, the Baileys Arkle Trophy, on ‘AIG’ day (January 25) en route to Cheltenham’s ‘Arkle’ in March.
Ted Walsh, who won the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham with Commanche Court, has another realistic contender for the four-year-old championship following the performance of Top Strategy in the Grade 2 Denny Juvenile Hurdle.
Confidently handled by Garry Hutchinson, Top Strategy encountered traffic problems approaching the second last flight and again early in the straight.
But, when Hutchinson switched him to the outside and asked him to chase hat-trick-seeking Al Eile, the response was immediate.
Top Strategy quickened well to get the better of the favourite and stayed on stoutly to triumph by three and a half lengths, the pair finishing clear of Berkeley Note.
Trainer Walsh explained: “It was Pat Shanahan who recommended him to me, after he won his maiden at Cork for Dermot Weld. Margaret O’Toole bought him for us (for €40,000) and he has improved with each run over hurdles.”
He added: “He’s a handy little horse, not the type I’d usually buy. But he ran well at both Punchestown and Fairyhouse and must be pretty decent to win the way he did. I’m delighted for his owner, who has horses in the yard since my father’s time.”
The rest of this first stage of the four-day Festival meeting belonged to trainer Tony Mullins, who saddled a spectacular 181/1 treble with McGruder’s Cross, Piercing Sun and Alphazar.
A dual bumper-winner last winter but disappointing in his two outings over hurdles, McGruder’s Cross proved the first leg of a double for in-form jockey David Casey in the opening Denny Waifos Maiden Hurdle.
Always close to the pace, this 7/1 shot looked destined for third place behind Field Marshall and Beechcourt as they turned for home but closed to take the lead at the last before forging clear to beat Field Marshall by three and a half lengths.
“This horse needs soft ground and, for that reason, probably won’t be a Cheltenham horse. He has been a bit disappointing but this was more like what we know he’s capable of. I’ll look for a ‘winners of one’ for him now, maybe at the Thyestes meeting at Gowran.”
And Mullins has earmarked the IAWS-sponsored ‘Thyestes’ at his local track as a possible target for Alphazar after he registered his second win from three outings over fences in the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Handicap Chase.
The top-weight, a “great jumper” according to winning rider David Casey, looked in trouble when Victor Boy loomed up to challenge between the last two fences. But a good jump at the last clinched victory for Mullins’ charge before pulling clear for an emphatic win.
“I know running him in the Thyestes would mean stepping him up sharply in trip,” explained Mullins, “But he’s such a good jumper and stays so well, that it might work for us.”
Earlier, Piercing Sun, ridden by Pa Murphy, provided Mullins with the middle leg of his treble when outpointing favourite Cane Brake in the Kerry Spring Maiden Hurdle.
Mullins has no firm hurdle plans for this progressive four-year-old but intends exploiting his current flat mark in two mile handicaps over the summer months.
Barry Geraghty salvaged something from Day 1 of the meeting when Honest Yer Honour, trained by Robbie Osborne, romped to a smooth success in the Charleville Cheese Handicap Hurdle.
The 3/1 favourite paid his Fairyhouse conqueror Brave Inca, current favourite but not a certain runner in the Pierse Hurdle, a handsome compliment.
Edward O’Grady introduced a promising newcomer in the bumper when Overbury Affair, owned by J P McManus and ridden by Kevin Power, triumphed at the expense of long shot Bold As Brass.
