Kicking King has plenty in hand
Cashmans kept the six-year-old at 5-1, behind 5-2 fancy Thisthatandtother. Victor Chandler went 4-1 from 9-2 and Grahams reacted by shortening him from 6-1 to 7-2.
Mossy Green tried to make all, but was stalked throughout by the winner. When Mossy Green made a mistake at the third last, Barry Geraghty soon eased Kicking King ahead. They were in the air together two out, but Kicking King quickly asserted and was in front off the home turn. He ran away to his left over the last, but had plenty left and forged clear to beat Central House, who made a couple of minor errors, a cosy three and a half lengths.
“I am very pleased, his jumping was clever”, commented Taaffe. “He wasn’t as fresh today as I would have liked. Thankfully, we now have seven and a half weeks to Cheltenham and I will be able to let him down and then pick him up.
“He’s a better horse than that. It’s the first leg over and if he goes to Cheltenham in the same order as he was here at Christmas then we’ll see what can beat him.”
Noel Meade’s Watson Lake produced a sparkling show to trounce Away Home in the betfair.com Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle.
Paul Carberry missed the ride, having been stood down until Wednesday with a sore back, sustained in a fall at Naas on Saturday.
Meade turned to his number two, Ian Power, and he did a fine job, because Watson Lake is a horse who takes a real pull. Away Home eased ahead two out, but Watson Lake powered past going to the last to score with any amount in hand.
“He’s class, but the trouble is to get him relaxed”, said Meade, whose horses are back firing on all cylinders.
“Ian said he picked up the bridle down the back and wanted to run, he has an engine. The Deloitte and Touche back here in two weeks is a possibility.
“He will be entered in both races at Cheltenham (Supreme Novices and SunAlliance) and it is a lovely problem to have.”
It will be a surprise, however, if the SunAlliance isn’t the final choice and Cashmans went 14-1, from 25’s. Grahams tightened him to 6-1 from 20-1.
Edward O’Grady’s John Oliver, first leg of a double for Geraghty, was a strong favourite for the Saltan Properties Maiden Hurdle, but was all out in the closing stages to beat market rival, Poachin Again, a head.
Poachin Again tried to make all, but John Oliver looked set for a comfortable victory when cruising ahead early in the straight.
The winner hesitated at the final flight, however, and Poachin Again hit back. In a dour struggle to the line, it was John Oliver who just stayed on the marginally the best.
The stewards inquired into possible interference after the last, where the winner edged across towards Poachin Again, but, as was generally anticipated, the result was allowed stand.
Said O’Grady: “Cheltenham is the idea and if he is as good as the horse (Back In Front) who won this race last year then he’ll be alright.
“We will give the Deloitte and Touche at Leopardstown serious consideration, or he could go the same route as Back In Front and head for Limerick.”
The stewards had a busy time after this event. They decided J P Ennis, who rode fourth placed Nassaro, had made insufficient effort and he was suspended for seven days.
Upton Gem, who took ninth, also caught their attention. The decision was that the racecourse had been used as a training ground and trainer, John Murphy, was fined €800, the horse suspended for 42 days and rider, Willie Callaghan, suspended for seven days.
David Russell breathed an almost audible sigh of relief after he had riddden Bennie’s Pride to success in the Clarkson Financial and Property Handicap ’Chase. It was Russell’s first winner since he parted company wth Ferdy Murphy.
The eight-year-old stayed on dourly to grab Fiery Ring, in front three from home, half way up the run in. It was only the second time Bennie’s Pride has run for the Michael O’Brien yard and he was represented by assistant, Denis Cullen.
Said Cullen: “Michael has a plan for this horse, but hasn’t told me what it is. I’d imagine it could be either the Galway Plate or the Irish National.”
Paddy Mullins’ newcomer, New Field, carrrying the colours of J P McManus, was always a short-priced favourite in the Bumper.
He could only manage third spot, after hanging towards the stands in the straight.
Victory went to Noel Chance’s Supreme Leisure, who got a dream run to lead inside the furlong pole.
“He did it well and is a nice horse”, said Chance. Supreme Leisure was ridden by William Kennedy, son of trainer, Vivian.
Fran Flood, out of luck aboard Georges Girl in the feature, had a measure of compensation when Shivermetimber swept ahead over the last to foil a big gamble on Donie Hassett’s Model Son in the McCarthy Inurance Group Handicap Hurdle.
