Layers divided over Snowy’s Cheltenham prospects
The Ladbrokes.com Ten Up Novice Chase was dominated by Hear The Echo and Romek for much of the three-mile trip, with Walsh happy to take up a watching brief in behind aboard 100-30 shot Snowy Morning.
Turning for home it was a four-horse race with favourite Gazza’s Girl also launching her challenge, but Hear The Echo was the first to crack when taking a heavy fall at the third-last.
With Romek fading out of it, that left Gazza’s Girl in front but Walsh was not to be defeated, driving Snowy Morning up to challenge.
The Willie Mullins trained seven-year-old duly found a little bit more to pull away by four lengths and earn a 20-1 quote from William Hill for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Cashmans were not so impressed, however, and make Snowy Morning a 33-1 chance from 50s.
Mullins said: “He will go for the SunAlliance now. He’s in a few races at the Festival.
“We all think our horses will be better on better ground but at least this horse has won a bumper on good ground.”
Young Desperado (10-1) had to dig deep to take the Kevin McManus Flyingbolt Novice Chase and initiate Walsh’s near 47-1 brace.
The Robert Tyner-trained gelding took up a prominent position in the two-mile contest as Blueberry Boy made the early running, with Walsh kicking on before the turn for home.
Young Desperado quickly took a couple of lengths out of the field but after pecking badly at the second-last, King John’s Castle launched a renewed challenge on the inside.
Walsh’s mount proved up to the task though, and held the 11-8 favourite by three and a half lengths. Hills cut the winner to 40-1 from 66-1 for the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy but Tyner is aiming for the Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase instead.
He said: “We changed the tactics today, we were going to make the running but we thought that might have played into the hands of the other runners.
“We always thought he wanted more of a trip but he won so well at Naas over two miles last time.
“He will go to Cheltenham now for the Jewson. I was thinking about not running today but he wouldn’t have got in if we hadn’t.”
Sweet Kiln (8-13 favourite) produced a gritty display to take the Grade Three McCabe Builders Boyne Hurdle for the Bowe family.
Trained by James Bowe, the eight-year-old mare followed in the footsteps of former stablemate and top stayer Limestone Lad, who lifted the two-mile-five-furlong race in 2000 and 2001.
Sweet Kiln looked likely to come off third-best as long-time leader Emotional Moment and Rosaker were travelling the better three flights from home.
However, Davy Russell challenged between the two and Sweet Kiln kept finding more to pull clear of Emotional Moment coming to the second last.
Rosaker stayed on again to snatch second but he was some eight lengths adrift of the winner.
Michael Bowe, the trainer’s son, said: “I didn’t give Davy any instructions, he knows the mare so I left it up to him.
“He’s a genius and he knows her inside out and can almost read her mind.
“I don’t know what’s on the cards for her now. I think we may have to wait until Fairyhouse or Punchestown.
“I would have liked there to have been something in two weeks time but there isn’t.”
