Russell excels on Tiarella
Russell, enjoying easily his best ever season, is in third spot, just 12 adrift of Ruby Walsh and 11 behind Barry Geraghty.
Riding at the top of his game, he produced the daughter of Supreme Leader with impeccable timing to lead two out and beat Molly Massini.
Tiarella carried the colours of 25-year-old Aoife Hickey, a medical scientist from Killeagh, Co Cork. She is trained at Dungourney, Co Cork, by Denis Ahern, who said: “I think she would be better on nicer ground. A Listed race for mares back here on March 19 is the plan. We haven’t schooled her over fences yet, but will be doing that and she is likely to go ‘chasing next season.”
Mouse Morris brought Cheltenham Gold Cup candidate War Of Attrition and two mile Champion ‘Chase aspirant Fota Island for a racecourse gallop to Gowran Park yesterday morning, before saddling Hidden Talents to land the Shaun McManus Fundraiser Maiden Hurdle.
Conor O’Dwyer rode War Of Attrition, but felt unwell afterwards and was replaced on Hidden Talents by Paddy Flood. He proved an admirable substitute, easing J P McManus’ gelding ahead off the home turn to score with plenty in hand.
Flood was subsequently stood down until tomorrow, having aggravated an old ankle injury. Commented Morris: “This horse was always going to be a ‘chaser and that’s what he will be doing next season.”
Morris was thrilled with both War Of Attrition and Fota Island and questioned as to how War Of Attrition, in particular, went, he responded: “Let’s say Conor had a smile on his face.”
Bookmakers enjoyed a healthy start to the day when Willie Mullins’ 14-1 shot Josephine Cullen easily won the Sin Bin Nite Club Maiden Hurdle. A half-sister to the trainer’s former Cheltenham Bumper winner, Joe Cullen, the mare scampered ahead at the last to beat German import, Salt Lake, trained by Edward O’Grady
Salt Lake, backed as high as 8-1 in the morning and returned at 3’s, eased ahead before the turn in, but had no answer to the challenge of the eventual winner.
Josephine Cullen was partnered by 19-year-old Richard Kiely, who was enjoying a seventh success and comes from Dungarvan.
Mullins arrived late and missed seeing the race, but later reported: “It wasn’t a surprise, the only surprise was her starting price. She will mix it between hurdles and the flat.”
Nine O, up 17lbs for scoring at Thurles previously, shrugged that off with the minimum of fuss in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap ‘Chase.
Confidently handled by Brian Byrnes, the winner made a couple of minor errors, but cruised ahead early in the straight to again score with plenty in hand.
“He will come back here on the 19th for another handicap ‘chase’”, said owner-trainer, Seamus Braddish.
Maureen Danagher, who trains just five minutes from the track, saddled her first winner at Limerick when Little Alou made all for David Flannery in the ladbrokes.ie Handicap Hurdle.
She did win a race here last year with Just Cassandra, but that mare then lost the contest on appeal.
Commented Danagher: “This fellow will come back here on March 19 for another handicap. But the way he jumps you can see he is an out-and-out ‘chaser and will go over fences next season.”
Paul Carberrry took no prisoners on Colm Murphy’s Allez Petit Luis, who justified favouritism in the National Students’ Raceday Challenge Beginners ‘Chase.
He made most of the running and was much too good for Wills Wilde in the closing stages. “I’m delighted with him, he jumped for fun”, said Murphy.
Market-leader Lost In Lavey shot away two furlongs down to easily beat Sorrentina in the Bumper.
