Persian gets 40/1 Ballymore quote after easy win
One doubts, however, that the firm will be bowled over in the rush. There was no doubting how impressive he was, but Persian City does represent Willie Mullins, who has far more highly-rated horses from which to choose.
He coasted through this test for Paul Townend and it really was only a question of when the youngster pressed the button up the straight.
The six-year-old was in front at the final flight and stretched away on the level, without having to be asked any sort of question.
Commented Townend: “He did it well, the ground is very soft, but he never came off the bridle.”
Conor O’Dwyer’s Uncle Tom Cobley, who fell when in front here at Christmas, redressed the balance with a decent effort in the opening maiden hurdle.
He made every yard of the running for Niki O’Shea, having little trouble shaking off the persistent effort of the second, Mickey Blue Eyes.
“I was gutted when he fell here the last day”, revealed O’Dwyer. “He is immature in ways and we will be taking our time with him. He should make a nice horse next season.”
O’Dwyer completed his first double as a trainer when Ar Aghaidh Leath landed a tasty gamble in the UL Bohemians RFC Raceday Maiden Hurdle, 25-1 to 7-1. “It’s an easy game, isn’t it?”, quipped the delighted handler.
O’Shea again did the driving, easing his partner to the front over the fifth from home. Chicago Grey tried his case up the straight, but was still four lengths adrift at the line.
“This is a horse I bought from John Berry”, said O’Dwyer. “He disappointed us at Down Royal in a bumper, but jumping is his forte.”
Andrew McNamara’s The Dashing Doctor, who had been chasing of late, made a successful return to flights in The Sporting Limerick Handicap Hurdle. Pushed ahead before the home turn by Eoin McCarthy, he survived an error two out to easily hold The Thirsty Brickey.
“We will mix it with him and try and pick up another race”, said McNamara. “Eoin had never ridden for me before, but gave that a great drive.”
The grey Jack Absolute is developing into a real course specialist, taking his third race at the track - he’s never won anywhere else - when landing the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase.
Given a powerful drive by Eddie Power, Jack Absolute led over the second last, battling on doggedly to shrug off top weight by half a length over Publicize.
Pulled up in his previous contest, that was readily explained by trainer, John Joe Walsh, who reported: “He had muck in his throat at Punchestown. He will run in another handicap in a couple of weeks.”
Wexford trainer, Pat Sinnott, has a decent sort in Byrnes Cross, who was far too good for the opposition in the Kevin Frost Memorial Bumper.
A promising second at Naas previously, the dual point-to-point winner was capably handled by fellow Wexfordman, Mark Scallan.
Byrnes Cross edged ahead fully seven furlongs down and pulled out plenty through the last quarter mile to score by two and a half lengths.
For 23-year-old Scallan it was a second success on the track, to go with twenty two between the flags.
Horner Woods was best for money in the Greenmount Beginners Chase. The wagers reaped a dividend alright, but it took all of Robert Power’s strength to force Jessica Harrington’s gelding home in front.
He looked to be struggling to get to grips with the leaders down hill to the turn-in, but found enough to hit the front heading to the last to beat the running-on Turtle Time Lucky.
