Ruby at the double
Ninth behind Bobs Worth in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham, Allee Garde got up in the dying strides to deny On The Way Out by a short-head in the three-mile www.gowranpark.ie Hurdle.
Mullins said: “He’s a real chaser, from the same family as Clan Royal. All he does is stay. He had a hard enough race today but, as long as he’s okay, he’ll run in the three-mile Grade 2 ‘novice’ on the second day of Punchestown.”
The Mullins/Walsh double had been initiated when Shifa, ridden in her previous four outings over hurdles by Patrick Mullins, justified 11/10 favouritism in the Goresbridge Mares Maiden Hurdle.
Edward O’Grady matched Mullins’ double achievement, saddling 5/6 favourite Torphichen to win the Ballyhale Chase under Andrew McNamara before Miss Nomer made a successful debut in the second division of the four-year-old bumper.
In the absence of his two likely market rivals, Torphichen appeared to have a straight-forward task but, having slipped into a clear lead after the fourth last, he was hard-pressed on the run-in to hold the challenge of longshot Idarah by a neck.
O’Grady said: “He wouldn’t want the ground any quicker than it is today but he’ll probably have to turn out again in the novice handicap at Fairyhouse next Monday.”
Ridden by Stephen Byrne, the home-bred 16/1 shot Miss Nomer complete the O’Grady double in good style, staying on stoutly to beat River Sava by three lengths after Annus Maximum dropped away tamely, having looked the likely winner turning for home (subsequently reported to be lame).
The first division of the bumper, the Inistioge Pro-Am Flat Race, produced the most impressive performance of the day as the Jessica Harrington-rained Jenari built on his very creditable debut second to high-class Waahed at Leopardstown to justify 9/10 favouritism in good style.
Ridden by Mark Fahey, Jenari triumphed convincingly by two and a half lengths from promising newcomer The Young Offender, completing an across-the-card double for his trainer.
