Townend drives Golden Silver to surprise victory for Mullins
He went off the 9-1 outsider of four, but there were plenty who helped themselves and clearly believed they knew more than what the form book was telling them. The seven-year-old was a 25-1 shot ante-post and that price eventually dried up. He was far from unbacked on course as well and did the business under another inspired Paul Townend drive.
Trainer, Willie Mullins, expressed his amazement at the huge gap in the prices of the winner and his stable companion, Jayo. Said Mullins: “I saw Jayo at 2-1 and Golden Silver at 25-1 and thought that couldn’t be right. I’d imagine some of the stable punters helped themselves to the 25-1.”
Jayo set off to make the running, but was effectively out of the contest when making an horrendous blunder at the second. Another terrible error three out finished him off. In the meantime, Golden Silver and Forpadydeplasterer went toe-to-toe up front and they jumped the last locked together.
On the flat there was nothing to choose between them until near the line, as Golden Silver found enough to score by a head.
Mullins indicated that both Golden Silver and Jayo were likely to be put away now for the Arkle at Cheltenham. Cashmans slashed Golden Silver from 66-1 to 16’s, while he is also a 16-1 shot with Boylesports and William Hill.
Mullins completed a double when yet another of his newcomers, Mostly Bob, dug deep to take the Bumper. As short as 1-2 in the morning, fears about his ability to handle the deteriorating surface saw him touch evens on track, before lodging at 9-10.
He managed to go through the ground well enough, finding plenty for Patrick Mullins to sweep away from Chargen in the final furlong.
Commented Mullins senior: “I am very happy, that would not be his ground at all. I don’t see him carrying a penalty in a bumper, he is a small horse. He could run in a maiden on the flat and then head over hurdles.
“I don’t know if he will go to Cheltenham, the owners are from England and, maybe, they will want him to travel.”
Alexander Severus, carrying the colours of Limerick owner Paddy Wilmott, and a €75,000 purchase at Saint-Cloud, battled on strongly to win the Frank Conroy Memorial Maiden Hurdle.
Manor Park got a smashing run up the inside turning in and looked all over a winner for most off the straight. But Andrew McNamara timed his challenge to perfection and Alexander Severus gradually got there to score by a neck.
“I told Andrew to follow the favourite, thank God he didn’t”, exclaimed winning trainer Edward O’Grady.
“He’s not a Triumph Hurdle horse, but could go to Cheltenham for the Fred Winter.”
Time Electric went off the heavily-backed market-leader, 9-4 to 6-4, and was tucked in behind the leaders when falling four from home. Jessica Harrington’s Roberto Goldback was a shock winner of the Grade 2 Synergy Security Solutions Novice Hurdle.
A maiden beforehand, this was a very decent effort, under a totally confident Barry Geraghty drive. The winner cruised ahead off the home turn and then dug deep to beat Weapon’s Amnesty, who came from off the pace to throw down a big challenge.
Harrington was represented by Eamon Leigh, who reported: “That’s a bit of a surprise, he lacked the experience of some of the others. We schooled him on Friday morning and he jumped quick and well. He wouldn’t be a horse for the hustle-and-bustle of Cheltenham and will go to Punchestown. He should make a great chaser next season.”
Ruby Walsh rode one of his trademark whirlwind finishes to grab the Foxrock Handicap Chase on Willie Austin’s Conem. The son of Oscar had it all to do early in the straight, but found plenty for pressure to touch off Major Sensation.
Commented Austin: “He is far better this season for whatever reason. We decided to drop him out, he loves to pass horses.”
Walsh was desperately unlucky not to add to his gains on Brave Inca and Conem aboard Ross Accord in the Stillorgan Handicap Hurdle. Tony Martin’s charge seemed to struggle in the bad ground for much of the trip, but literally came from the clouds up the straight to fail by a fast diminishing head to Chateau D’eau.
Noel Meaade’s gelding was giving Paul Carberry his first winner since returning from injury, having hurt his shoulder in a fall at home last week.
The attendance was way down on last year, 6,299, from 9,196. The layers too suffered, holding €1,018,708, as against €1,882,550.
