Homer at home on testing ground
It was the biggest National Hunt win of rider Davy Condon’s career as Homer Wells survived a stewards’ inquiry, after the principals had bumped halfway up the run in.
The nine-year-old, not the biggest horse in training, had always hinted a major prize like this was within his capabilities.
But Homer Wells has been held back by indifferent jumping and there was the suspicion he had begun to lose the plot.
The surface was terribly testing, however, and he revelled in it and the lack of real pace, understandably, through the contest meant there was less pressure put on his technique!
He carried the colours of Madeline McMahon, mother of well-known racecourse bookmaker, Luke.
“My father (Paddy) is very ill and mum is at home with him,” said McMahon. They are jumping up and down, this is a great tonic.''
The layer is not adverse to a tilt at the ring and admitted: “I had a few quid on each-way at 33-1 and 25’s.”
Homer Wells jumped well in the main and was full of running approaching the third last. He was in front coming away from the obstacle, as Livingstonebramble began his challenge.
It was the winner, however, who showed the greater resolution and he forged clear on the flat for Condon.
Well Tutored stayed on for third in front of English challenger, Kitski, who held every chance before the straight, but was soon struggling.
“I had a slight preference before the race for Livingstonebramble over Homer Wells,” admitted Mullins.
“Davy gave him a great ride and he absolutely loves that ground. I will try to keep him to races where the ground is heavy.
“He will be entered in handicaps at Cheltenham and may possibly travel. He loves a trip and the race I would really like to run him in is the Irish Grand National. But it would all depend on the ground being suitable.”
Said Condon: “He jumped like a buck. The other horse came alongside him, but my fellow stayed on really well.”
The stewards went through the motions of inquiring into the apparent improvement in form of Homer Wells and accepted the explanations offered.
Ruby Walsh got a terrific reception after he had partnered Snowy Morning to victory in the Irish stallion Farms' EBF Novice Chase, adding to the Mullins gains in the Thyestes.
This appeared to be his 100th winner of the season, but he has lost one of his successes, so remained on the 99-mark. Walsh rode Bobs Pride to score at Fairyhouse and Dermot Weld’s charge lost the race on Tuesday on a technicality.
In any case the pilot showed grim determination. He drove him ahead before the second last and though Snowy Morning tended to hang towards the stands heading to the final fence, he stayed on strongly to hold Ponmeoath.
“He’s a tremendous jumper, who would like better ground,” remarked Mullins. “I am delighted with the way he did it on that ground. He will be entered in the SunAlliance and the four mile at Cheltenham.”
If we thought that was the end of the Walsh story, however, we could not have been more wrong. He immediately booted home the next winner, Bluestone Lad for Pat Fahy, in the Ashkalani At Coolmurry Stud Carey’s Cottage Handicap Chase.
Gamble of the contest was Robert Tyner’s Another Nation, who was thumped in to 2-1 from 3’s. He looked set to land the touch when Barry Geraghty eased him into the lead going to the third last.
But Another Nation — he was, arguably, beginning to run on empty anyway — hit the final fence and Bluestone Lad soon took control.
Said Walsh: “This is my second century in Ireland, but it has come a good bit faster than the other one.”
Celestial Wave, in theory a good thing, had to dig deep to win the Alo Duffin Memorial Galmoy Hurdle.
Brilliant at Leopardstown previously, this was a case of raw courage and a refusal to be beaten seeing her through.
She made every yard of the running, but guessed at the second last and Conor O’Dwyer had to go for everything.
Celestial Wave tended to hang as well, but picked up as only a high-class horse can and powered five lengths clear of Studmaster.
“I’m delighted, Conor gave her a great ride,” commented trainer Adrian Maguire. “He’s riding better than ever and that’s why he was on her today.
“No horse wants that ground, that’s glue. I wasn’t as confident as Leopardstown, I thought she couldn’t do it in that style again.”
William Hill make Celestial Wave a 12-1 shot for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham, with Black Jack Ketchum the 8-11 hot-pot. Paddy Power tightened her from 12-1 to 10’s. Cashmans left Celestial Wave at 16-1, with Black Jack Ketchum on 4-5.
Regarding the Festival, Maguire remarked: “I will be sitting down watching Black Jack Ketchum at Cheltenham on Saturday.
“We won’t be taking any chances with our mare, she is too good to risk unless the ground is suitable there in March.”
Said O’Dwyer: “She’s a hell of a mare to be able to make all like that. She's very tough and I'm delighted to have got on her.”
Jim Culloty enjoyed his second success as a trainer when Madroos took the PJ Foley Memorial Maiden Hurdle at odds of 20-1.
Conditions were particularly tough for these youngsters and it was the Medicean colt who was best equipped to cope. O'Dwyer, initiating a treble, eased him ahead early in the straight and Madroos maintained the gallop to score by ten lengths.
“I bought him because I knew he would handle this type of ground,” said Culloty.
“I haven’t spoken to Conor yet, but have slightly pencilled in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham. Maybe, I’m dreaming, but think he would come up the hill.”
Market-leader Shazand was very disappointing, running prominently and then dropping right out well before the home turn.
Johnny Levins took a fall from Katalak and was removed to hospital with possible neck and elbow injuries. The subsequent x-rays were clear, though, but he was stood down for seven days.
The evergreen O’Dwyer completed his spectacular 909-1 treble on his three rides for the day, on the Kieran Purcell-trained Cogans Lake in the S and N Auctioneers’ Handicap Hurdle.
He was the last to play his hand and Cogans Lake battled to grab Molly Massini close home and score by a length.
Philip Fenton’s Singh On Song got the best of the battle with Arkendale and Stradbrook in what was a real slog for the Bumper.
