Townend back in business with double
The double increased Townend’s lead over Davy Russell (successful on Face Facts) to five, 78-73, in the race for the Jockeys Championship.
And the young Cork rider declared: “The shoulder feels perfect. A few more winners like that would be grand,” after Killultagh Queen belatedly opened her account, at the fifth attempt, when recording an impressive win in the Roundfort Stores Beginners Chase.
Having tracked the leaders, Toownend made his move going to the second last and, soon in front, Killultagh Queen readily drew clear to slam Rickardstown by nine lengths.
Earlier, Rattan, runner-up in his two previous starts, justified 8/15 favouritism in the opening Western People Maiden Hurdle, collaring trail-blazing Exit To Anywhere between the last two flights before beating Glenstar by three lengths.
Gary Davis, representing Mullins, commented: “He was entitled to win and seemed to enjoy the ground. He’s taking his racing well.”
The Mullins treble was completed when Bless N’ject, a first ride on the racecourse for Aaron Madden, got the better of Alhellal and Murchu, a significant morning gamble but easy-to-back on track.
The winning rider, from Kildare town, celebrated his 23rd birthday last Saturday, has been riding out for Mullins for a year and, in his only previous taste of competitive action got a fall in a Bennettsbridge point-to-point.
Trainer Michael Hourigan enjoyed a welcome change of luck when False Economy, ridden by Ruby Walsh, got the better of Final Victory in the Treacy’s Pharmacy Hurdle, from which the Noel Meade trained Joe Smooth was a late withdrawal due to ground conditions.
Hourigan said: “He’s a nice horse and will probably go to Killarney now. We like Killarney and the good handicap hurdle (Ladbrokes.com Handicap Hurdle) on the Sunday (May 22) will be his target. He’s a real summer horse and might be a Galway Hurdle horse some day.”
Pipped at Cork on Sunday and raised 5lb. by the handicapper, but running off his old mark, the Lorcan Donnelly-trained Old Theatre Royal defied top-weight in the Killeen Sports Grounds Handicap Hurdle.
But the 15/8 favourite, which had to battle to get the better of Aon Sceal by a length and three-quarters, was lame pulling up, dismounted by Brian O’Connell and led back to the winner’s enclosure.
A worried Donnelly admitted: “We could be in trouble,” before explaining, “The horse got kicked at the start but was fine during the race. Brian said he felt lame pulling up. So we’ll have to see how he is over the next few days. I was thinking of trying him in a beginners chase or giving a run on the flat. But we’ll have to put all plans on hold. He went up 5lb. for his run at Cork on Sunday, so we had to take our chance.”
Donnelly, who trains in Annacurra, near Aughrim, County Wicklow paid tribute to winning rider Brian O’Connell, stating: “He has a great clock in his head.”
Another winner for County Wicklow came when the Prunella Dobbs trained Face Facts landed a substantial gamble (5/1 to 11/4 favourite) in the Ba Morley Memorial Handicap Hurdle.
The six-year-old Luso gelding came from the rear under an inspired ride by Davy Russell to foil Like The Da on the run-in. Trainer Prunella Dobbs said: “He’s been knocking at the door and it’s lovely to win with him. But he needed Davy at his very best to get him home.
“He’s owned by a neighbour of mine Jim O’Neill and was bred by John Salley, the man who bred Our Girl Salley. Jim believes that Luso’s need plenty of time and he has been very patient with this horse. He’ll keep handicapping and should be a fun horse for the summer.”
Trainer Oliver McKiernan, foiled earlier when Aon Sceal finished runner-up to Old Theatre Royal, enjoyed better luck when Any Bets got the better of Davy Russell’s mount Mahrajaan in the P & D Lydon Plant Hire Handicap Chase.
Winner and runner-up challenged on the inside of front-running Rookery Rebel before the Tom Doyle-ridden winner asserted on the run-in to score by three-quarters of a length.
McKiernan explained: “The quicker ground, the track and a tongue tie all helped him. But I’d say the ground is a fair key to him.”
