Solerina remains firmly on course for SunAlliance
The brilliant mare with the brilliant attitude completed a six-timer, producing a sparkling front-running display to beat Hardy Eustace a cosy two lengths.
Paul Carberry took her straight into the lead and one by one she burnt off her rivals, with that inimitable power that her diminutive frame possesses.
Hardy Eustace emerged as the only danger from the second last and he gave everything to try and bridge the gap on the run to the final flight.
But Hardy Eustace, he was well held in any case, was none too good at the obstacle - indeed neither was the winner - and it was soon a one-horse race as Solerina swept clear.
John Bowe, who owns the mare, commented: “Paul loves her and said she jumped great.
“She should be a real help to Limestone Lad going to Cheltenham. She’s the only horse he has ever taken to.
“She’s improving in everything she does and might even run again in the Johnstown Hurdle at Naas on February 23. We will have to see, however, because she will have to carry a 10lbs penalty.”
Dessie Hughes wasn’t overly disappointed by the performance of Hardy Eustace, who will take on Solerina again the SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle.
“You cannot miss out a hurdle the way he did and win those type of races”, remarked Hughes. “As well as that the trip (two miles and two) was too short.”
Hardy Eustace’s jockey, Kieran Kelly, was suspended for two days for using the whip with excessive frequency.
Cashmans went 8-1, from 10-1, Solerina for the SunAlliance. She is joint second favourite with Edward O’Grady’s Pizarro, set to run at Down Royal on Wednesday, with John Joe O’Neill’s Coolnagorna 7-1 market leader. Grahams shortened Solerina from 12-1 to 7’s.
Odds-on punters, who ripped into Le Coudray in the Dr P J Moriarty Novice Chase, were left licking their wounds after he crashed at the final fence.
The sweet-jumping Barrow Drive tried to make all but Le Coudray, who also jumped really well, appeared to be holding all the aces from the third last.
Heading to the last, however, Barry Geraghty began to squeeze Le Coudray and though he hadn’t gone for it all, there was sufficient doubt to say the final outcome was touch and go.
The pair were in the air together but Le Courday, who jumped the fence perfectly, buckled at the back of it and paid the penalty. He got a horrible fall but, thankfully, got up relatively unscathed.
Said winning rider, Jim Culloty: “The other horse was a bit tired, I think we might have outbattled him.”
Said winning trainer, Tony Mullins: “I can’t wait to run this horse over the three miles and one off the SunAlliance. Staying is his main forte, he never gives up.”
Dessie Hughes began his day in style when the teak-tough Mutineer dug deep to repel Golden Cross in the Cashmans’ Bookmakers Juvenile Hurdle.
Sean Graham slashed Mutineer from 25-1 to 14’s for the Triumph Hurdle, but Cashmans took a totally different view of the performance and left him on 33’s.
The winner made most of the running, shaking off the flattering Newlands Gold at the second last.
Golden Cross soon ranged up as a major danger and appeared to be travelling better than Mutineer before the final flight.
But once Kieran Kelly got stuck into his charge Mutineer was always holding his rival and there was a head between them at the line.
It was a fine run on Golden Cross’ part, considering he came here under a cloud, having performed poorly at Leopardstown at Christmas.
Grahams shortened him from 25-1 to 16-1 for the Triumph, but Cashmans offered 33-1.
Commented Hughes of Mutineer: “He stays and has a turn of foot and my only worry was that they wouldn’t go a gallop. The only reason he wouldn’t go to Cheltenham is if the ground was real good.”
Edward O’Grady’s Sheltering heads for the Foxhunters at Cheltenham, following a smashing effort to land the Raymond Smith Memorial Hunters Chase.
He jumped for fun, made all the running and steadily drew clear from three out to beat mighty 14-year-old Dorans Pride by ten lengths.
Said O’Grady: “It will be straight to Cheltenham now, he and Gordon (Elliott) seem to be a very good partnership.”
Noel Meade’s newcomer, Dizzy’s Dream, eased ahead off the final turn to easily land the Bumper by eight lengths.
“He’s a nice horse, who hasn’t done much”, reported Meade.
“We’ll have to have a think as to whether he will go to Cheltenham now.”
Oliver McKiernan’s Healy’s Pub surged clear before the last to take the T C Matthews-Brintons Carpets Handicap Hurdle by eight lengths in the hands of Garrett Cotter.
The attendance yesterday was 16,612, while the layers held an all-time record for Leopardstown of 2,663,047.
That was up 507,000 plus up on a year ago.
