Sesenta set to pay penalty for easy win
Ruby Walsh was in no hurry with the diminutive mare, but she came there swinging on the bridle approching the home turn.
Walsh let out an inch of rein going to the second last and Sesenta powered ahead. She flicked over the last and eased away to beat Perfect Reward, doing his best work at the end.
Trainer, Willie Mullins, said: “She will go back to the flat now. She could go for the Irish Cesarewitch, but had a hard race today and that will probably come too quickly.
“It may be better to wait for the Leopardstown November Handicap. This has been the plan all year, but she’s not the biggest and will be weighted out of handicaps in the future.”
Walsh only had two rides for the day and duly completed a double when taking the Low Low EBF Mares Handicap Hurdle on top weight, Vale Of Avocia.
She won the race as well last year and was stepping up on her recent outing at Cork, eighth of eight behind Heavenly Blues.
Walsh hunted her round out the back, until sweeping up to lead between the final two flights to beat the flattering Garrai Ard.
“We gave her a long break after Leopardstown at Christmas and the plan was always to come back here”, reported trainer, Willie Codd.
“She had a run at Cork and came on a ton for it. The plan now is to go to Cheltenham for the November meeting.”
Noel Meade’s French import, El Fontan, made it two from two over flights when taking the O’Callaghan Family Hotels three-year-old Hurdle.
The deep ground was very testing for such young horses and it was no surprise when Paul Carberry waited until late before producing his charge.
El Fontan, whose jumping left plenty to be desired, and the patiently ridden as well Hampstead Heath, emerged as the principals early in the straight and it was El Fontan who was much the stronger coming away from the final flight.
Commented Meade: “He stays really well and we worked him on grass the other morning and thought he would handle the ground.
“We bought the horse in France, cut him and let him out, he has the make and shape of a jumper.”
Charlie Swan’s Boulavogue cost bookmakers, on and off course, a bundle when winning the Kerry Spring Water Hurdle.
He was taken as high as 11-4 in the morning and was a strong order on track as well, finally lodging at 11-10.
David Casey took him to the front heading to five out and Boulavogue found plenty for pressure in the closing stages to hold his stable companion, Dr Willie Martin.
Said Swan: “He stays well and will probably go chasing now. He deserved that, having been second six times last season. He is very genuine, but has just been beaten by good horses.”
Alain Cawley was seen to good effect when taking the Brandon Hotel Maiden Hurdle on Paul Nolan’s Alpha Ridge.
Cawley, who was subsequently suspended for one day for using his whip with excessive force and frequency, went on over the fourth last and saved enough to hold the staying-on run of well-backed favourite, All Diamonds, by a length.
“Hopefully, he will improve for that”, said Nolan. “He’s for sale and should make a decent chaser, he jumps fences better than hurdles.”
Austin Leahy’s newcomer Clogher Lass, owned by J P McManus, got the best of a desperate three-way tussle with Financial regulator and Onzo Mor in the first division of the Bumper, the verdict two short heads.
“I have her seven or eight weeks”, said Leahy. “There is no plan, but she’s a nice mare, given time.”
Patrick Mullins partnered Financial regulator and gained immediate compensation when guiding Charles O’Brien’s newcomer, Special Occasion, to victory in the second division of the same contest.
The 16-1 shot forged away inside the furlong pole, battling on to beat Run For Charlie a length and three parts.
