All options now open to Quevega
Trainer, Willie Mullins, was saddling his sixth winner of the week, he later made it seven, including a remarkable four Grade 1’s.
Mullins, however, was keeping his options open for Quevega and was in no hurry to commit her to crossing swords with Big Buck’s.
“She will be entered for the mares’ hurdle and the stayers at Cheltenham and will have entries through the season at two miles”, revealed Mullins.
Paul Townend, deputising for the injured Ruby Walsh, enjoyed an armchair ride. Quevega settled and jumped beautifully for him and it was always only a question of when he pressed the accelerator.
Karabak led four out, but Quevega was cantering all over him early in the straight. Townend soon let out an inch of rein and the mare quickly bounded to the front to beat Bensalem and Mourad with any amount in hand.
Continued Mullins: “The way she finished up the hill at Cheltenham told me she had the stamina for three miles.
“Paul said he was always confident, she was going easy at all stages and the trip was no problem.
“I will probably give her the same type of preparation next season as this one and she could go to Cheltenham without a run, or with just one.
“I am conscious that she suffered an injury and wouldn’t want to aggravate it. I don’t know if she will go to France.
“If she does it will be for the Champion Hurdle, there is fantastic prizemoney over there.”
Bensalem’s trainer, Alan King, said: “I am absolutely thrilled with that. It is a great way to end the season and the winner is an exceptional mare.
“We will have to think about what to do next season, as he’s on a good mark over fences. If we decide to go down that route the Hennessy (Newbury) would be an option. But this has opened up other options and he could stay hurdling.”
Mullins was more than pleased with the performance of third placed Mourad. “He’s only five and I think lost second because he tried to stay with Quevega.
“I’m looking forward to him next season. I don’t think he’s a real winter horse and will give him a run or two on the flat.”
Quevega was quoted at 7-1 by William Hill for next year’s World Hurdle at Cheltenham, with Big Buck’s on offer at evens.
Boylesports gave Captain Cee Bee a quote of 14-1 for the two mile Champion Chase, after an impressive succcess in the Ryanair Chase.
Eddie Harty’s charge went to Cheltenham with high hopes, but trailed in eighth behind Sizing Europe in the Arkle, after bursting blood vessels.
“That was worrying me on the build-up to this race”, admitted Harty. There was no cause for concern, however, after Tony McCoy produced him to head Let Yourself Go heading to the last to win snugly by four lengths.
Said Harty: “I would have hated for him to finish the season without an accolade, but he’s got his Grade 1 now.
“Let’s enjoy today, but he’s a proper horse and the Champion Chase is the plan.”
Katie Walsh, fresh from a magnificent Cheltenham with two winners, did it again when guiding Battlefront to a 25-1 victory in the Ernst and Young Handicap Chase.
Battlefront is trained by her father, Ted, carried the colours of her mother, Helen, and was 4lbs wrong at the weights.
He made a mockery of his rating, however, bounding away to score by en easy eight lengths.
Said Ted: “If I knew he was that good, I would have had a couple of hundred quid on! He loved the ground and Katie got a great tune out of him. He’s a sound horse and has been a good servant to us.”
Our Gar, who won a moderate maiden in style at Navan, stepped up in class to take the Aon Insurances Hurdle. Partnered by Barry Geraghty for in-form Prunella Dobbs, the winner stayed on strongly, despite edging left at the last, to beat Awakward Moment and disappointing favourite, Ainama.
“He loves good ground and will probably go for the Galway Hurdle”, reported Dobbs. “He’s a very genuine horse, but has been hard to train and chasing will be his forte.”
Enda Bolger won his third race of the Festival when L’Ami, under an inspired John Thomas McNamara, dug deep to beat stable companion, Freneys Well (Nina Carberry) at the end of the four miles and three furlongs of the La Touche Cup.
“I’m delighted for L’ami to win such a prestigious race, he has often been the bridesmaid”, remarked Bolger. “I was happy coming to the last, I didn’t mind which one of them won.
“We are back here again on Saturday with Freneys Well and maybe it could be Nina’s day then.”
It was an extraordinary 12th win in the race for Bolger - in 13 runnings - and a fifth success for McNamara.
The magnificent seven for Willie Mullins arrived in the Emerald Bloodstock.com Bumper when Bishopsfurze, seventh at Cheltenham, justified favouritism.
He was always getting the best of the battle in the final furlong, beating the wide-running newcomer, Go All The Way.
Said Mulllins: “Things happened too fast for him at Cheltenham. He will go out on grass now and come back over hurdles.”
Bobby Molloy, who has been banging in a couple of winners of late, was again seen to advantage when powering Prince Rudi clear early in the straight to land the Naas Court Hotel Handicap Hurdle by nine lengths.
The attendance was 15,515, down from 16,193 last year.
