Twinlight lucky to land massive gamble
Twinlight, a massive gamble all day (from 5/1) and sent off a strong 5/4 favourite, proved a very fortunate winner of the Grade 3 Weatherbys Ireland GSB 4-Y-0 Hurdle.
Held up well off the pace by Ruby Walsh before encountering some traffic problems at the third last, the French import appeared to be struggling in fifth place when the complexion of the race changed dramatically at the second last flight.
The leader Chaperoned (Robbie Power) appeared full of running and in control when crashing on landing. Her nearest pursuer Fearless Falcon (Andrew Lynch) fell independently and third-placed Devils Bit (Sean McDermott) was brought down.
Left in second spot, Twinlight soon headed Birzali and, driven clear going to the final obstacle, kept going to beat Rocky Wednesday by three lengths, prompting Willie Mullins to admit: “I suppose we were a bit lucky, but you must always take your luck when you get the chance.”
Mullins added: “This horse has shown a lot at home and I was surprised that he was struggling, so far off the pace, turning for home. Hopefully, he’ll improve from today and we’ll find something for him at Punchestown next week.”
The Mullins double was completed when Lambro, the stable second string, got home by the minimum margin over Mackeys Forge in a thrilling finish to the Grade 2 Coolmore NH Sires Ask & Getaway Novice Hurdle.
Owned by Byerley Thoroughbred Racing, Lambro was building on a facile maiden win at Naas, prompting Mullins to admit: “I don’t really know how good he is. He won his bumper and his maiden hurdle and we came here hoping rather than expecting. But he’s improving all the time and could be a good horse.”
Mullins confirmed that, like most of his good horses, Punchestown is now on the agenda for Lambro with the three-mile Grade 2 novice hurdle his likely target.
Lambro was given a strong ride by the trainer’s nephew Emmet Mullins, who subsequently received a severe caution for his use of his whip while Roger Loughran, rider of the runner-up, was suspended for one day for “excessive force and frequency”.
Idarah provided Paul Cashman with the biggest win of his training career when proving a shock winner of the Dan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase.
The 25/1 shot, in the colours of Liam Mulryan, got the better of the flattering Osana by a length, with longtime leader Dev, also owned by Mulryan, eight lengths away third.
Cashman commented: “I’m delighted for Liam and for Philip (Enright). He gave the horse a super ride.
“They went a proper gallop and he was very cool and took his time, because the ground is on the slow side.
“He’s a lovely horse and came from Mick Quinlan’s in England. We’re still learning about him. He seems versatile groundwise and Philip says he should stay two and a half miles. Liam is a proud Galway man so we’ll think about having a crack at the Galway Plate.”
Charles Byrnes rounded off what he described as “a great week” at Fairyhouse when Jack Cool, ridden by Davy Russell, captured the valuable www.thetote.com Handicap Hurdle at the expense of Action Master.
Byrnes was full of praise for Russell’s enterprise: “He stole it at the start. I couldn’t believe the start, the way two horses were allowed get away on the others. You wouldn’t see it at the start of a four-mile race. It was a brilliant ride, different to the one the horse got in Aintree.”
Jack Cool tracked front-running Carpenter until easing into the lead approaching the second last. The posse closed, but only Action Master was able to threaten the winner, going down by three-quarters of a length.
The Cork combination of trainer Rodger Sweeney and rider Richie Harding landed the Ratoath G.A.A. Joseph O’Reilly Memorial Hunters Chase with 10/1 shot Salsify, which readily reversed recent Gowran form with hot favourite Viking Splash.
The favourite raced prominently throughout but had little to offer when tackled between the last two fences. Three lengths separated the pair at the line.
A delighted Rodger Sweeney said: “We’ll see how the horse comes out of this before we decide about Punchestown.”
The Paul Nolan-trained debutante Rising Time, in the colours of her owner Jim Halligan, scooped the €59,000 winner’s prize in the Tattersalls Ireland Sales Bumper, getting the better of the well-backed favourite Theatre Guide, representing British trainer Colin Tizzard, which travelled strongly and looked set to score before being outbattled by the Andy Duff-ridden winner.
Nolan admitted his surprise and delight at the victory of the Old Vic mare: “She must be a hell of a mare to beat the gelding first time up. Her dam is the closest living relative of Dawn Run. So she’s worth a fortune after winning today.”
Paul Carberry notched his fourth win of the three-day meeting when 9/1 shot Another Palm, a third of the week for in-form trainer Noel Meade, outpointed Rocco’s Hall in the Irish Daily Mirror Novice Handicap Chase.
* Andrew Lynch was removed to hospital with a broken left wrist and a suspected broken right arm following his fall from Fearless Falcon in the juvenile hurdle.
* Two riders were in trouble with the Stewards for their whip use in the bumper.
Richard Johnston was banned for 21 days for using his whip when out of contention on Brother Two while Mark Fahery picked up a three-day ban for excessive force and frequency on Kilbixy.
