Braxton advances his Gold Cup claims
Dessie Hughes’ eight-year-old stable star proved too strong for the favourite Knife Edge, who was just preferred at the head of the mark.
Colonel Braxton set out to make all the running under Kieran Kelly, and despite jumping badly to his left most of the way responded well to a couple of cracks of the whip to provide Kelly with his fifth winner of the weekend, having recorded his first ever treble at Punchestown on Saturday.
“That was a good performance though he didn’t like it in front. They were going too slow so Kieran had to go to the front,” observed Hughes, who plans to send the Buckskin gelding for the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown early next month.
Colonel Braxton was the second winner of the afternoon for Hughes and stable jockey Kelly had better luck as Liscannor Lad dead-heated in the opening Kehoe Ceilings & Partitions Maiden Hurdle.
Liscannor Lad, who had been short-headed by Mullacash at Leopardstown last month, had to share the honours with the 10-1 chance Emmet, with Timmy Murphy deputising on that horse for the injured Norman Williamson.
Williamson suffered a badly bruised ankle in a fall from Fondmort at Kempton on Saturday and will be resting for a few days at least according to the Turf Club’s medical officer Walter Halley.
In his absence Murphy made the most of the spare ride on Emmet to finish strongly and share the spoils with the even money favourite Liscannor Lad.
James Bowe, trainer of Limestone Lad, looks to have another smart prospect in Florida Coast who took the Mulhuddart Novice Hurdle at the first time of asking over timber.
Off the course for more than a year with a leg injury sustained in the middle of 2001, Florida Coast showed the benefit of a decent piece of work on the Flat at Gowran Park alongside Limestone Lad on Thursday as he romped to victory in the hands of locally born claiming rider Robert Power.
Despite drifting out to 5-1 in the betting, Florida Coast was always travelling nicely in the hands of a confident Power who waited until the second last before allowing his mount to go clear.
Florida Coast eventually had five lengths to spare over Numbersixvalverde with the always prominent Poker Pal collecting third money ahead of the favourite and top weight Azur Tonic
“This horse always promised to be good and I have waited so long to get him right as it’s nice to see him show what he can do,” said trainer’s son Michael.
“He may go to Naas next Saturday for the Bank of Ireland hurdle now that we have decided not to run Limestone Lad there and wait a day for Leopardstown instead.”
