Forget The Past squeezes home on seasonal debut
You would have to say fortune smiled on him, however, because he appeared destined for second spot approaching the final fence.
Light On The Broom, fresh from a solid effort behind Taranis in the James Nicholson at Down Royal on Saturday, rose to the obstacle with a fractional advantage, but seemingly travelling much the better.
He hit the top of the fence hard, however, and Andrew Lynch quickly asked Forget The Past for a renewed effort.
To his credit, Michael O’Brien’s gelding buckled down in good style and was always getting the best of the fight through the last hundred yards.
Commented O’Brien: “It is hard to know where we stand with our horses, they are sluggish and in a bit of a rut.
“This fellow was sluggish and only his jumping kept him in it. He could go for the Paddy Power (Cheltenham), but that mightn’t be the right thing to do.
“The Clonmel Oil Chase would be an alternative. He is a Grade 2 horse, not a Grade 1, but if you had five or six like him it would be grand.”
Rindoon toyed with the opposition on the way to landing the Killinan Beginnners Chase by a whopping 16 lengths.
Ruby Walsh allowed him stride on over the second and Rindoon shrugged off Albanov before the home turn to score with a lot in hand.
“We discussed tactics before the race and Ruby said he would take a lead for as long as he could”, reported trainer, Dusty Sheehy.
“Ruby felt he was lovely and relaxed in front and thinks he has loads of scope and speed. He will now go for a €60,000 race (Craddockstown Chase) at Punchestown later this month.”
Jessica Harrington introduced a nice newcomer, Direct Exit, to take the Bumper with plenty in hand.
He was hardly out of second gear in the closing stages and certainly seems to be one for the future, in a yard which houses lots of talent. It was a fourth success for 17-year-old pilot, Sean Byrne.
Commented Harrington: “So many horses were fancied, I started to get cold feet. He could run in a winners’ race, but is a big horse and we may head on over hurdles with him. He will be a chaser down the road.”
Optimus Prime proved an obliging favourite in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Beginners Chase, but had a large slice of luck on his side.
Dreux, in front five out, was several lengths clear and travelling strongly when falling at the third last, bringing down Charlies First in the process. Paul Carberry grabbed his chance to send Optimus Prime ahead at the second last and Adrian Maguire’s charge eased away to beat Bold Fortune.
The six-year-old is now a possibility for the Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse.
The John Hassett-trained High Oscar, whose form figures were hardly inspiring, was far from neglected in the ring for the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase, 12-1 to 13-2, and duly obliged.
Giving Martin Ferris a welcome turn, High Oscar stayed on stoutly up the straight to hold Sportivo by a length.
Hassett’s Lough Ferrib, in the Holycross Handicap Hurdle, was also the medium of major support, finding 5-2 favouritism from 8-1.
But this gamble was sunk without trace, as he trailed in a poor fourth behind 20-1 shot Pipers Blaze, driven out in fine style by Ken Whelan to beat the dead-heaters, Peregino Gold and Crested Pochard, by three parts of a length.
Tony Seymour’s Good Thyne Diva, who had promised to deliver for a while, did just that in the Templemore Mares Maiden Hurdle. Sweeping ahead early in the straight for Eddie Power, she carried far too many guns from the final flight for the flattering Whispering Wind.
