Alpha Ridge looks a future star
He produced a scintillating display of power-packed staying to slam Glenquest by 25 lengths and stamp himself a possible star of the future.
Alain Cawley wasted no time taking the winner into the lead and the imposing six-year-old proceeded to run his rivals ragged.
He surged clear from the fourth last and kept up a powerful gallop in the straight to complete a hat-trick, giving the impression there is a lot more to come.
Said Nolan: “He is going to stay over hurdles this season, but is a chaser in the making and I just hope stays healthy. We won’t be rushing him.”
Nolan and Cawley completed a double with Sinatra Bar in the paddypowertrader.com INH Stallion Owners’ EBF Maiden Hurdle.
Cawley pushed Sinatra Bar ahead going to two out and he battled on doggedly to resist long-absent Coast.
“He is a horse who seems to have plenty of gears and we have always thought a bit of him”, said Nolan.
“I told the lads (owners) to have a few quid on each-way and now he has gone and won.!
The National itself ended in controversial circumstances. Operation Houdini beat Alicakado a short head, but the placings were reversed following a stewards’ inquiry.
The inquiry centred on an incident at the second last fence when Operation Houdini jumped away to his right, clearly hampering Alicakdoo.
Operation Houdini headed the flattering A New Story coming away from the final fence and then held on in a driving finish, as Alicakdoo tried to close him down.
An inquiry was inevitable and equally inevitable was the decision by the stewards to promote the second.
Having seen the head-on of the incident at the second last, and considering there was the minimum margin between the pair at the line, the stewards had no other option.
Alicakdoo is trained locally by Tom Nagle, who saddled Aka Jake to finish runner-up behind Mattock Ranger in the National a year earlier.
Sean Flanagan, who partnered Operation Houdini, and Stephen Grey, who rode Alicakdoo, were both found guilty of using their whips with excessive frequency and suspended for three days and two days respectively.
Lethal Weapon stamped himself the best juvenile in the country right now with a smooth success in the paddypowerbingo.com three-year-old Hurdle.
Formerly a useful sort on the level for David Wachman and owned by J PMcManus, he has taken to jumping in fine style since joining Christy Roche.
The son of Hawk Wing made an impressive start over flights at Clonmel and was even better here, tanking throughout and jumping superbly, Alan Crowe allowed him stride on going to the second last and Lethal Weapeon bounded clear of Seenya.
Said Roche: “He’s a horse J P has always liked. Physically, he has improved and will be grand when improving mentally.
“The plan is to go to Cheltenham later this month, as long as the race doesn’t come too quickly after this.”
Cashmans introduced Lethal Weapon at 33-1 for the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.
Tranquil Sea, who rounded off last season with a comfortable success in a Grade 1 over hurdles at the Punchestown Festival, made a smashing start over fences in the EBF Novice Chase.
He jumped beautifully and cruised through the contest to beat Baltiman with any amount in hand for Andrew McNamara.
Trainer, Edward O’Grady, said: “He has a great appetite for a fence and the Drinmore (Fairyhouse) is now the logical next step.
“That was as good as we could have hoped for. I am a little concerned he jumped to his right in the straight, but apart from that he was very good.”
Michael Hourigan, who ended a barren spell with a winner at Clonmel on Thursday, was on the mark again when Mystical Breeze took the paddypowerpoker.com Handicap Hurdle.
Given an enterprising drive by Tom Doyle, the winner led before the straight and galloped on strongly to beat Mantell Gail.
“He got a leg a couple of years ago, but stays well and loves that ground”, reported Hourigan.
Bookmakers got a screamer when 33-1 shot Booley Lad proved too strong for Bobs Display in the Bumper.
It was a first winner for Kilkenny trainer, John Clifford, while pilot, David Splaine, was enjoying a sixth succcess.
