One Cool Cookie’s jumping too much for rivals
A brilliant jumper, he powered across fence after fence and had the majority of this field in trouble a fair way from home.
The exception was his closest pursuer throughout, Knight Legend, who tried his case coming away from the second last.
But Russell had saved plenty and One Cool Cookie soon eased a cosy length and three parts to the good.
“The handicapper can’t put him up after that, Knight Legend and himself ran to their marks”, said Swan.
“There are plenty of these conditions races and he will go for one of them. He will probably have an entry as well in the English National. Davy gave him a grand ride, he jumped well and got into a great rhythm.”
Earlier in the day Swan exclaimed: “that’s a relief, my horses have been running terrible”, after his Curragower had landed a gamble in The Make Betfair Your New Year Resolution Maiden Hurdle.
Curragower, making his debut over jumps, was taken from a little 7-2 to 7-4 favourite and did the job nicely for David Casey.
Produced to lead over the penultimate flight, he found plenty to easily beat the always prominent Ardglen.
“He is a good, honest horse, who stays well”, said Swan. “We will now try and find a winners of one down the country for him.”
Arthur Moore’s Port La Chaine was best for money in the WLR FM Maiden Hurdle, 2-1 to 11-8, and landed the bets with the minimum of fuss.
Initiating a double for Russell, the winner swept up to lead over two out and put this to bed in a matter of strides.
It was certainly a good start to the New Year for Russell, having missed most of Leopardstown due to dehydration and he was suspended on Wednesday.
Hazeymm, following a solid start over flights at Gowran Park, was put in a short-priced favourite, but drifted in the face of the support for the eventual winner. He disappointed, failing to pick up to any great degree when asked by David Casey.
Fermoy trainer, Liam O’Brien, enjoyed a welcome turn when 20-1 shot Porto Calero ran away with the David Flynn Construction Novice Handicap Hurdle.
Partnered by Pierce Gallagher, the mare powered ahead over two out and quickly scampered six lengths clear. It was a 22nd success for the rider.
Porto Calero is owned by Joe Burke, who is well known on the tracks of Ireland, and indeed further afield, as Cashmans’ Bookmakers on-course representative.
Molton Rock, a long way adrift at Downpatrick previously, defied top weight in the Curran South East Cleaners Handicap Hurdle.
Well handled by David Splaine, this was his sixth success, the winner made all and had no trouble holding well-backed runner-up, Her Courtesy.
The six-year-old was returned at 14-1, but paid in excess of 20-1 on the Tote.
Willie Mullins’ Cru, she went off market-leader, was a desperately unlucky loser of the Kent Bros Beginners Chase.
The contest went to Beroni and Andrew Lynch, but Cru was challenging strongly, and clearly travelling much the better, when blundering at the last. Rallying well on the flat, she was still a neck down at the line.
Takeyourpick, successful at Downpatrick previously, was all the rage in the Tom Carroll Memorial Handciap Chase, 5-4 to corresponding odds-on.
Held up at the back for most of the journey, he arrived to hold every chance at the second last, but was soon outbattled by the Derek O’Connor-partnered Highglen.
