Successful chasing debut by Sizing Europe
The Henry de Bromhead-trained seven-year-old, winner of the AIG Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown last season, jumped fluently for Denis O’Regan, taking the lead at the fifth fence and won readily, by four and a half lengths, from Tinakellylad.
It was a satisfactory, if not spectacular, fencing debut by the Pistolet Bleu, a solid performance in unfavourably heavy ground.
And de Bromhead expressed both his relief and delight at the performance: “That was good, wasn’t it? He settled great and jumped great. And Denis said his jumping was electric. I was very worried about running him over two and a half miles in such heavy ground.
“I'm not sure what we'll be doing with him next. He has done so little this season. I’ll have to speak to Alan and Ann (Potts) before deciding whether he’ll run again or have his summer break straight away.”
“He needs more experience, but there aren’t too many options for a horse like him at this time of year. Two and a half miles is a maximum for him and he’ll probably drop back in trip.”
O’Regan echoed de Bromhead’s comments: “We were worried about him in that ground, over two and a half. So I had to get him settled. I tried to drop him in bit after jumping a few, decided we would be safer in front. But I kept hold of him and he popped away well. He was good.”
Noble Prince, confidently handled by last season’s champion conditional rider Alain Cawley, landed the Punchestown For Exhibitions Hurdle at the expense of Uimhiraceathair, confirming form behind Jessie’s Dream at the Punchestown Festival.
The five-year-old, owned by Des Sharkey, travelled well throughout and, having cruised up along side the runner-up between the last two flights, had to be shaken up by Cawley to assert on the run-in.
Noble Prince drew clear to triumph by three lengths, prompting Nolan to comment: “He probably travelled too well, but he was very good. He’s a nice progressive horse. And the way he moved tells me he'd be better on better ground. He’d jump better too.”
The Willie Mullins-trained Deutschland, taking a significant drop in class, notched his third win over fences when justifying 8/11 favouritism in the opening Go Racing In Kildare Chase.
Ridden by David Casey, the six-year-old had to be shaken up to brush aside the challenge of front-running Holly Tree before staying on stoutly to score by five lengths.
Odds-on punters struck again when Paul Carberry guided An Innocent Man to victory in the KSPCA Maiden Hurdle over three miles, beating Val O’Brien’s newcomer Valley Of Thrushes by four lengths.
Frank Berry, racing manager for winning owner JP McManus, said: “He was well entitled to do that. If the ground stays as it is, Noel (Meade) might find another hurdle for him. If not, he’ll go on his holidays. And he’ll go chasing next winter.”
Katie’s Jem, trained in Gortnahoe, Co Tipperary by Tim Cleary, provided the shock of the night when landing the three-mile Ireland For Horses Handicap Hurdle in the hands of Eddie Power, beating favourite Flemensford by a length and a half.
Unplaced on his hurdling debut behind stable-companion No One Tells Me at the Festival meeting, Black Coffee, ridden by Robert Power, outpointed the Willie Mullins-trained favourite Alexander Castle in the www.punchestown.com Maiden Hurdle.
Black Coffee is trained by Jessica Harrington, who " supplied favourite Summit Meeting for the bumper. But he could finish only fourth behind impressive winner Last Draw, trained by Charlie Swan for the Trotters Ind. Trading Syndicate, which previously enjoyed tremendous success with Over The First.
Ridden by Nina Carberry, Last Draw, withdrawn at the start at Wexford recently, stretched clear inside the final furlong to slam long time leader Definitely Marble by eight lengths.
* This evening’s meeting at Sligo is subject to a precautionary inspection at 10am.
