Loosen My Load makes impressive chasing debut
The strapping six-year-old, carrying the familiar colours of Alan and Ann Potts, emulated his high-class stable-companion Sizing Europe by winning this novice event and, although slow to compare the two horses, trainer Henry de Bromhead declared: “That was brilliant. I’m delighted with him. It’s great to start him off like that.”
Confidently handled by Andrew Lynch as Trembellina stretched clear and set a strong pace, Loosen My Load gradually closed and was poised to challenge as they turned for home with two fences to jump.
The 7/4 favourite edged past the gallant front-runner at the final fence before easing clear to score readily by three and a half lengths. De Bromhead commented: “Andrew gave him a lovely ride. He got him jumping well and didn’t have to have a hard race. It was a lovely introduction.
“I’ve always expected him to improve for fences and I’ll have to talk to Alan and Ann about plans, but I expect he’ll be going out to grass after this. Everyone is comparing him with the other horse (Sizing Europe). But they’re two very good, but different horses. Europe was a Grade 1 winner over hurdles but this fellow could be very good as a chaser.”
Trainer Ronnie O’Leary declared: “He’s been keeping the ship afloat,” after David Casey brought 14/1 shot Schelm with a storming late flourish to foil front-running veteran Kahuna in the www.motivatechallenge.com Chase, in which favourite Coolcashin flopped, being pulled up soon after halfway and subsequently found to be lame.
O’Leary added: “When he’s in the mood, he’s a fair horse and has been a great servant. He’s given us a great couple of years. He’s not very big, so we can’t overface him. We’ll take our time and try to find another good ‘pot’ for him.
“The key to him is fast ground and, after his fall here last month, his run over hurdles in Killarney gave him confidence. He has to be produced late and David (Casey) gave him a great ride.”
A succession of withdrawals, caused by a mysterious change in the official going description from “good, good to yielding in places” at declaration time to “good, good to firm in places” yesterday, saw many of the races cut up badly.
The Jessica Harrington-trained Sandymount Lady was probably a beneficiary, justifying 11/2 favouritism in the two-mile maiden hurdle, from which there were twelve withdrawals.
A first winner since his recent return from injury for Barry Geraghty, the five-year-old mare got the better of front-running Split The Beans at the final flight before holding off debutante stable-companion Common Alliance by a head.
The winning trainer’s daughter Emma Galway explained: “It’s great to get a win under her belt. Eugene (owner Eugene Bergin) has leased her for the season from Ronnie Wood. She’ll mix it, flat and hurdles for the summer. I’d say she’ll be heading for all the festivals.”
Geraghty was expected to complete a double on the Eoin Griffin-trained odds-on favourite Lucky Wish in the Motivate Challenge Supported By Failte Ireland Hurdle. But the 8/11 shot proved a huge disappointment behind 20/1 shot Swift Marc, trained by Dessie Hughes for the Wexford-based Corlican Syndicate.
The seven-year-old, formerly trained by Colm Murphy, was used as a pacemaker for Brave Inca in last year’s Toshiba Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown. And, as trainer Hughes declared, “You know as much about this horse as I do,” before explaining, “He’s a nice horse and had some good form for Colm Murphy, but his two runs over fences were poor. That’s what I intend doing with him, going back over fences.”
Jessica Harrington completed a double when Bullock Harbour, ridden by his owner Barry Connell, won the bumper. Running keenly, the Second Empire gelding made the running, was headed and outpaced on the home-turn by newcomer Mickelson before rallying strongly and getting up close home to score by a neck.
Emma Galway commented: “Barry bought him last September and we were disappointed with his run in Navan, when he couldn’t handle the soft ground. He’ll probably keep going for the summer and head for a winners’ bumper somewhere.”
