Russell’s strength the decisive factor in Crash success
Near the front throughout, Crash was sent about his business going to the third last. Up the straight, however, the heavily-backed Lambro, 9-4 to 13-8, was cantering all over the eventual winner and it looked a question of when Paul Townend pressed the accelerator.
Townend, though, didn’t go for everything until rather late and he finally ran out of time, with Crash still a short head to the good at the line.
Michael Hourigan, who trains the Gigginstown House Stud owned winner, said: “I was sure he was done.
“He is a nice horse to look forward to, but I don’t know where he will go next. He has the scope to make a chaser and, I’d imagine, that’s what he will be doing next season.”
Russell and Gigginstown were on the mark earlier with the Mouse Morris trained Four Commanders in the Holy Cross Maiden Hurdle.
Best for money in the ring, the full-brother to Kicking King made all of the running to beat Shifa cosily.
“He is a horse for next season, over fences”, reported Morris.
The layers began their afternoon with a delightful result, the Liam Kenny-trained Galant Ferns going in at 66-1 in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Mares’ Beginners Chase.
Partnered by Brian O’Connell, she forged past the flattering Back Me Up heading to the last to score going away by nine lengths.
Kenny looked a trifle stunned at the outcome and said: “We have no plans, she had lost her way a bit and I decided to try her over fences.”
Willie Mullins’ Killultagh Queen, odds-on throughout the morning, was a big drifter in the ring, finding 6-4. She was withdrawn at the start, lame.
Some major wagers were landed by Gordon Elliott’s Martin Scruff in the Littleton Handicap Hurdle.
Handicaps, by their very nature, are supposed to be competitive, but this was won with ridiculous ease by a five-year-old who used to be in the care of Mick Quinlan in England and was having a first outing for Elliott.
He was taken as high as 11-4 in the morning and was strong on track as well, finding 5-4. Truth to tell, he was never out of first gear, strolling ahead coming away from two out to win with his head in his chest for Paul Carberry.
“Everything went according to plan and he will run again at Punchestown next Wednesday”, said Elliott.
Martin Scruff will have just a mandatory 4lbs penalty to carry there and we can be certain will go up by substantially more than that in the future.
Stowaway Pearl left a poor effort at Tramore well behind when storming away with the Tipperary Handicap hurdle for lady riders.
“I thought she wouldn’t get beaten at Tramore, but came home rotten”, said trainer, Shark Hanlon.
Stowaway Pearl was partnered 21-year-old by Rachel Blackmore from near Fethard, Co Tipperary. It was her fourth ride on the track and her first winner.
Gentleman Jim came back to his best with a game effort for in-form Tom Doyle in the Horse And Jockey Handicap Chase.
Always near the front, he rallied in fine style on the flat to get back up and grab Wicklow Lad to the tune of three lengths.
Doyle was in regarding his use of the whip and was found guilty of using it with excessive frequency and suspended for one day.
A little gamble went astray on Christy Roche’s Code Of The West. Supported from 9-1 to 6-1, he was challenging strongly when falling at the final fence.
Edward O’Grady’s well-touted newcomer, Cash And Go, powered clear early in the straight for Corky Carroll to win the Bumper by seven lengths.
O’Grady indicated he had no definite plans for this half-brother to the stable’s Catch Me.
