Double delight for Russell
Successful in even more demanding conditions in Galway nine days earlier, Best Served Cold, trained by Michael Hourigan for Russell’s boss Michael O’Leary of Gigginstown House Stud, followed-up when getting the better of market-rival Pickapocketortwo in the three-mile INH Stallions Owners Novice Hurdle. A half-length separated the pair at the line.
Hourigan said: “He won in Galway a week ago and it was my call to run him again. He’s a nice horse. He jumps and stays and is one to look forward to over fences. The ‘Dorans Pride’ at Limerick (a Grade 3 novice hurdle over three miles) is a possible target for him.”
Russell had initiated his double when My Murphy, trained by Liam Burke, got the better of Roarke’s Cross and Sheer Genius in a tight finish before surviving a Stewards Enquiry.
A five-year-old Presenting gelding, My Murphy carries the colours of Hans Zindel, who was praised by Burke: “His owner is from Switzerland, but lives in Lismore. He’s a great owner to have in these economic times.
“My Murphy is a decent horse, one for the future. He was unlucky in his first point-to-point, when he fell at the last. But he won the next day. We’ll stay in the novice hurdling ranks for now. But chasing will be his game next season.”
Russell now leads by 15 in the title-race, his nearest pursuer Barry Geraghty having won yesterday’s opener, the 60th Anniversary Of Racing At Wexford Maiden Hurdle, on the Edward O’Grady-trained hurdling debutant Cash And Go, which scored emphatically to justify 9/4 favouritism at the expense of Scots Gaelic.
“It’s a case of job done and Barry was impressed,” said O’Grady. “He’s a half-brother to Catch Me and we can dream for the moment that he’ll be as good.”
The most valuable event on the card, the MW Hickey Memorial Handicap Chase went to uneasy 11/8 favourite Groody Hill, who followed-up a win at Punchestown last Wednesday under a confident ride by Alan Crowe.
Raised 12lb for his Punchestown win , and carrying only a mandatory 6lb penalty Groody Hill stalked the leaders throughout before coming through to head Westmeath Bachelor before the last and eased clear on the run-in to score by almost four lengths.
Frank Berry, representing winning owner JP McManus, said: “He had to run again after going up 12lb for his Punchestown win. He did it nicely.’’
The McManus colours were back in the winner’s enclosure after the frustrating Lismakeery got the better of favourite Tico by a half-length in the Whitford House Hotel Beginners Chase.
Winner of a Clonmel bumper for Mick Butler on his debut in November, Lismakeery was a 21 race maiden over obstacles going into yesterday’s race.
Delighted trainer Conor O’Dwyer explained: “He’s the first winner I’ve trained for JP and it’s been a long time coming. I thought I was being sent a star after he won his bumper. But he has been very disappointing all along. JP has been very patient.”
A beaten favourite in the handicap won by Carutomark at Punchestown recently, the James Motherway-trained Munsaab bounced back in style to land the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap under Robert Jones.
Sent off 9/2 favourite, the Alhaarth gelding travelled strongly on the heels of the leaders all the way and was allowed stretch clear in the closing stages to beat Little Barney by 12 lengths.
Trained by Roy Wilson near Larne, County Antrim, Yes Way Hosay made the long journey south worthwhile for Belfast owners Seamus and Patricia Casey when gaining an unlikely win in the bumper, the Spawell Pro-Am Flat Race.
After the Declan Queally-ridden Tornado In Milan got the better of front-running Blue Bicycle, he wavered briefly inside the final furlong before Yes Way Hosay and Chris Cully, apparently set to finish a modest third with a furlong and a half to race, swept through to take command and score by two lengths.
