Bishopsfurze survives blunders
Bishopsfurze beat Skorcher by seven lengths, after surviving a near disastrous blunder at the second last.
The winner has a serious engine, but his technique leaves a lot to be desired. He jumped into the lead four out and was literally in second gear early in the straight.
Then, however, he made little or no attempt to get to the other side of that penultimate obstacle, but picked up in a flash.
The drama wasn’t over, though, and Bishopsfurze proceeded to plough through the final flight. In the end it all worked out fine and he eased to the line comfortably clear.
“Paul (Townend) said he was idling in front'', reported Mullins. “I thought he was gone, he was fortunate to stand up. I have no plans for either of my horses.”
Townend is now the clear leader in the jockeys’ championship on 56 winners, one ahead of Andrew McNamara and Paul Carberry.
Mullins was on the mark again when heavily-backed Dooneys Gate ran away with the Kilcash Chase.
Giving Patrick Mullins his first ever success over fences, Dooneys Gate powered clear from the second last to beat Northern Alliance by 13 lengths.
“He improved from the last day (Leopardstown) and appeared to jump great,” said Willie Mullins. “We will try and find a similar type of race and he could go for the Topham at Aintree.”
Tommy Stack’s Magen’s Star, who created such a positive impression first time over flights at Thurles in November, treated much better rivals with equal disdain in the Kilsheelan Mares’ Novice Hurdle.
Davy Condon had her in front from the start and she was soon bowling away merrily, with the opposition struggling to keep tabs on her.
It was over a long way out and the capable Condon allowed Magen’s Star to pop the last two and score with her head in her chest.
“She’s not too bad,” said Stack, with more than a hint of understatement. “She loves that ground and we’ll see where we go next.
“She was off for a while with an infection in a joint behind and had to stand in her box for two weeks.”
Some decent wagers went astray on the Philip Rothwell-trained Rathlin in the first division of the Fethard Maiden Hurdle.
Taken as high as 11-4 in the morning, he was backed from 15-8 to 11-10 on track and looked sure to score for most of the straight.
Rathlin got in tight to the last, however, lost momentum and had nothing left as Bryan Cooper drove Dessie Hughes’ Definite Class past to score by a length.
Said Hughes: “She’s consistent and was entitled to win. She’s won two now and another one would be a bonus!”
The second division of the same contest was taken by a street, 28 lengths to be precise, by Mags Mullins’ Down In Neworleans.
He had been frustrating to follow, but made every yard of the running and was in complete control throughout.
The six-year-old was partnered by Mullins’ son, Danny, enjoying his second success over jumps.
Commented Ms Mullins: “This is a big weak horse, who is only coming to himself. Fences are what he wants and will go chasing next season.''
The Rodger Sweeney-trained Salsify, dashingly handled by Ciaran Fennessy, easily beat Island Peak in the Demesne Maiden Hunters Chase.
For Fennessy it was a fifth winner on the track, while Sweeney nominated another hunters chase for his charge. Returned at 12-1, Salsify paid over 24-1 on the tote.
Tequila Lord was switched late by Eddie Power to grab the flattering Seamies Dream in the modest Munster Handicap Hurdle.
