Thinte looks star material
A strapping, old-style chaser, Royal De La Thinte was successful twice in the point-to-point field and runner-up to subsequent Grade 1 winner Bostons Angle on his chasing debut at Down Royal before coming into yesterday’s event.
Jumping superbly, he made every yard of the running and came home, unchallenged, ten lengths clear of Alpha Ridge, after favourite Some Target (probably set for second spot) made a dreadful blunder at the second last.
The French-bred winner carries the familiar Sizing Europe colours of Alan Potts. Trainer Dreaper subsequently admitted: “He’s a very talented horse, but he has his moments!” before explaining, “He refused to race in one of his point-to-points and can be tricky at home. I went to the start today to make sure everything was alright. He’s probably more intelligent than all of us.
“He’s not the quickest but, when he gets going, he stays going and he’s a smashing jumper. He’ll go to Naas for a Grade 2 three-miler next (January 15). And, because of the early entry stage for Cheltenham, he’ll be entered for both the RSA and the four-miler.”
Having her second start since joining Willie Mullins, Blazing Tempo followed-up her chasing debut win at Clonmel by recording a smooth success in the rescheduled Grade 3 Lombardstown Mares Novice Chase, originally scheduled for Cork on December 12.
Her win gave the Riccis a welcome boost after the odds-on defeats of Zaidpour and Mikael D’Haguenet at Leopardstown during the week.
Dropping back to two miles, the six-year-old daughter of Accordion travelled and jumped particularly well before outclassing her Clonmel victim Cool Quest (7lb. better off) in the closing stages to initiate Townend’s double.
Blazing Tempo coasted home a four lengths winner and a delighted trainer Willie Mullins explained: “She looked sharper and jumped better today. She had more respect for her fences than in Clonmel and Paul was very happy with her.
“Coming back to two miles didn’t seem to trouble her. I hope to find another nice mares race for her before she runs in some of the big novice chases.”
Mullins, whose Secant Star was later pulled up with a pelvic injury in the Follow Punchestown Facebook Hurdle, and Townend both completed doubles. Mullins’ brace was completed when his son Patrick gave 2/1 favourite Ceol Rua a typically confident ride to win the bumper. `The trainer commented: “She learned a lot from her last run in Naas, where all she did was stay. The extra quarter-mile today was a big help. She’s home-bred by her owner Fiona McStay and is from a good family. She’ll go jumping now.”
Paul Townend was part of a little piece of history when completing his double on Unaccompanied in the Festival Hospitality On Sale 3-Y-0 Maiden Hurdle.
Unaccompanied, a dual winner on the flat, was a first runner and winner over hurdles in the famous Moyglare Stud Farm colours, carried to so many big race triumphs on the flat. Always travelling well, the Danehill Dancer filly made her move at the third last flight and, in command turning for home, strode clear to win easily by nine lengths from Virgil Earp.
Winning trainer Dermot Weld, having saddled his third winner from four runners this week, stated: “She did it as expected. She jumped extremely well, although she was a little bit green at the last. She’ll go for a graded hurdle in a few weeks and has the potential to be very good over hurdles. She’s a lovely dual-purpose mare and will go back on the flat next summer.”
Edward O’Grady and Andrew McNamara, in double form at Leopardstown on Thursday, were back in the winner’s enclosure after Jumbo Rio, in the colours of Paddy Wilmott, held the late challenge of On The Way Out by a neck in the Follow Punchestown Facebook Hurdle.
McNamara believed that he hit the front a bit soon on the five-year-old, which was idling on the run-in. But the performance pleased O’Grady, who was completing a quick across-the-card double following Goban Saor’s win at Tramore.
O’Grady said: “We’ll have to consider the Galmoy (at Gowran Park on Thyestes Day) for him now. But he won’t be going to Cheltenham — he doesn’t like hills and is a better horse on a flat track. We’ll probably go back to France with him in the summer.”
Another very smart hurdler Luska Lad, third behind Hurricane Fly and Solwhit in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown on Wednesday, made a quick reappearance under top-weight in the Buy Your Ticket On Line Handicap Hurdle and, dictating the pace, made a gallant effort to make all.
With amateur Brian Hayes claiming 7lb. off his burden of 12-0, John ‘Shark’ Hanlon’s charge was still in front when a little untidy at the final flight, which provided nearest pursuer Four Chimneys with a chink of hope.
Strongly driven by Andrew Leigh, Four Chimneys stayed on stoutly and got up to nail Luska Lad, from which he was receiving a massive 31lb., in the last few strides to score by a head.
Four Chimneys is trained by Willie Austin, who intends mixing it over hurdles and fences with the seven-year-old while winning rider Andrew Leigh was subsequently found guilty of using his whip with excessive frequency and suspended for three racedays.
