A star is born as Townend guides Pace to land a major Galway Hurdle gamble
The Midleton youngster, enjoying just his fourth success over jumps, gave the John Kiely-trained gelding a magnificent ride to beat Eagle’s Pass by a length.
Attached to the Willie Mullins yard, Townend has been learning his trade riding on the flat and only recently graduated to the more demanding game.
“This is unbelievable”, he exclaimed. “I wasn’t sure I was going to win, but he was always getting there. I found a bit of trouble on the far side, but it was nothing to worry about.”
For the Dungarvan maestro Kiely it was a second victory in the race, having saddled Black Queen to score ten years earlier.
Top weight Bobs Pride made a lot of the running, but coming away from three out Cloone Rocket shot away, grabbing a sizeable advantage.
But that’a long way out here and Charlie Swan’s charge was never going to get home. Eagle’s Pass led off the turn in, but Townend had now worked Indian Pace into a challenging position, quite beautifully.
Eagle’s Pass still held the call over the final flight, but Indian Pace was gradually closing and was nicely on top through the last hundred yards.
Oslot cost the layers a bundle in the Plate on Wednesday and Indian Pace was a huge touch as well.
Available as high as 20-1 ante-post, he was a 14-1 shot on the eve of the race. That all dried up and he was a big mover throughout yesterday morning. And he was rather popular on track as well.
For the shrewd Kiely it was the culmination of a plan he had since Indian Pace finished sixth behind Barker in the Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown way back in January.
He did not run the seven-year-old over flights in the meantime and thus preserved his handicap mark.
“After the Pierse, I had this in mind”, admitted Kiely. “It’s a great race to win and lovely to be part of it.
“Paul gave him a fine ride, he is an up-and-coming young rider. I decided to put blinkers on the horse after he ran here on Monday night. It was the first time he has worn blinkers for me.
“Paul’s claim (5lbs) and the blinkers made the difference. I have no plans, but he could go chasing towards the end of the year.”
Indian Pace is owned by the Lawless By Nature Syndicate, who are essentially Michael and Liz Kelly from near Moate in Co Westmeath.
The Syndicate is managed by Brian Gleeson of RTE. Gleeson, who described Kiely as “a genius”, confessed to having backed Indian Pace each-way at 20-1.
Eagle’s Pass, third a year ago behind Farmer Brown, ran another smashing race and may just have hit the front a trifle early.
Northern Alliance went off a heavily-backed favourite and stayed on dourly to fill third, but, as Ruby Walsh feared, lacked the speed to get in a real blow at the principals.
Liam McAteer’s Tasman, having a first spin since April, ran way with the Guinness Beginners Chase.
Sent about his business by Barry Geraghty going to two out, he stretched clear to easily beat Beautiful Vision.
“He’s been tricky to train, but has been sound this year”, said McAteer. “Andrew Lynch has been schooling him extensively, we’ve been trying to get the horse to relax. I don’t know where he will go next, we will just enjoy the day.”
Uncle Junior went off a strong favourite, 7-4 to 11-8, to redeem the promise of his debut run over fences at Killarney.
But he got low at several fences and a particularly nasty blunder three out, when cruising on the heels of the leaders, was the end of him.
Barry Cash gave Davy Fitzgerald’s Skip Two a dashing drive to complete a hat-trick of successes in the Guinness Novice Chase.
There were six in with a chance approaching the second last, but Cash powered his charge ahead coming away from the final fence to hold Dreamy Gent by a hard fought length.
“I’m not surprised, but was worried about the trip being on the short side”, reported Fitzgerald.
“He’s an improving horse and will have to have a crack at the Kerry National (Listowel) now. He’s shown he can come up the hill and the plan is to come back next year for the Plate.”
The James Motherway-trained Define was given a splendid ride by Denis O’Regan to take the St James’ Gates Novice Hurdle.
O’Regan produced him with impeccable timing to collar No Panic, in front heading to the turn in, close home to score by a short head.
“He has to come late and Denis gets on brilliantly with him, he found lots of cover”, reported Motherway. “I have no plans, but hope he will still be around at Listowel-time.”
Lucky Wish was a big order in the ring, 9-4 to 13-8. But he was lathered in sweat, before and during the contest and, after running prominently, had no more to give once taken on by the eventual second.
Miranda’s Girl, trained by Tom Cleary and partnered by his son, Rory, became the first horse to win for the second time this week.
Successful on Monday night, the three-year-old finished with a real flourish to cut down Dermot Weld’s tail-swishing front-running Fictional Account.
“I gave her a bit of work yesterday morning and thought she was even better than Monday”, revealed Cleary senior.
And then Maundy Money followed his win here on Tuesday night with a game display to land the Arthur Guinness Handicap.
A credit to trainer, David Marnane, and again powerfully handled by Colm O’Donoghue, he outbattled Billy Dane, who was also second to him three days ago. It was a third of the week for Marnane.
The Bumper saw Noble Commander get the best of a driving finish with Eirinn’s Rock and well-supported favourite, Persian City, the verdict two short heads. Partnered by Andy Duff, Noble Commander was a first Festival winner for Co Meath handler, James Halpin.
Harry Rogers enjoyed a welcome turn when 25-1 shot Tin Town Boy and Martin Harley proved too good for Noubian in the Guinness Surge Handicap.
The attendance was an astonishing 46,186. That was marginally down on last year’s 46,637, but given that it rained for much of the day, it had to be regarded as hugely satisfactory.
The tote was €1,768,252, as against €2,071,682 last year. The layers held €3,526,710, which was €887,173 less than a year ago.
