Lucky break for Sir Des Champs
Initiating across-the-card big-race doubles for both trainer Willie Mullins and Gigginstown House Stud, the French bred five-year-old was a close second, with Emmet Mullins at work, when leader Knokfierna, ducked right and ran out at the second last fence.
Mullins later suggested: “I thought I had Knockfierna covered when she made her exit,” an opinion not shared by most observers.
After the mare’s exit, Sir Des Champs was left in command to beat Four Commanders, also in the Gigginstown colours, by seven lengths. A step-up in trip and grade now looks likely for the winner.
Knockfierna’s dramatic exit was the low-point of an otherwise good day for Niall ‘Slippers’ Madden, who completed a double, having the distinction of riding a winner each for Gigginstown and JP McManus.
Madden successfully adopted front-running tactics on 8/11 favourite Trifolium in the O’Kelly Bros. Hurdle, the four-year-old following-up an impressive maiden win in Cork for Knockfierna’s trainer Charles Byrnes, who has no big plans for the four-year-old, clearly improved by the addition of cheekpieces for his last two starts.
The Eddie Harty-trained Fahamore provided Madden with the second leg of his double, justifying 9/4 favouritism in the Guinness Handicap Hurdle and prompting his trainer to comment: “He’s been a bit unlucky a couple of times and jumped better today than in Wexford the last day.
“He’s only four and is a horse with a future. The longer trip helped him today and I see him as a nice chasing prospect. He’s not entered again soon - I won’t be in any rush with him.”
Having fallen twice and finished a good second at Gowran Park last time, Castle Wings opened his account over hurdles when bolting up in the opening Anglo Printers Maiden Hurdle.
The half-brother to Conna Castle is trained by Jimmy Mangan and was ridden to a twelve lengths defeat of Noble Pageant by his son Paddy.
Trainer Mangan was out of luck in the bumper when Kilcrea, ridden by his daughter Kane, had to settle for the runner-up berth behind Clonbanan Lad, trained and ridden by Mikey O'Connor, who commented: “He’s a fair horse and stays well. I had planned going for another point-to-point but the lads that own him wanted to go for a bumper. He’ll probably go for another now.”
The Signsplus Maiden Hurdle was run at a muddling pace. And Andrew McNamara was seen to effect, making the running on the John ‘Shark’ Hanlon-trained favourite Murchu, which kept going well in the closing stages to hold Changing Times by three-quarters of a length.
