Magnificent seven for Mullins
A first winner for Willie Mullins in the colours of Alan and Ann Potts, the Dr. Massini mare, long-odds on in the morning, drifted on-track to 6.4 before comfortably beating longshot Caitlin Brook by seven lengths.
Dr. Machini was a seventh consecutive bumper winner for Willie and an eighth for Patrick since December 27.
The winning trainer commented: “She’s living up to her name. We didn’t think much of her at the start but her work has kept improving. I was very worried about how she’d handle that bad ground. But she won well and will be much better on better ground.”
And he added: “She seems to be getting stronger and improving. Patrick is suggesting that the mares bumper in Aintree might be the race for her.”
Having his fourth run over fences, the Mouse Morris-trained Rathlin produced an impressive display of jumping to justify 6/4 favouritism in the visit Fairyhouse.ie Beginners Chase, making most of the running to score by seventeen lengths, a margin significantly increased when nearest rival Aitamtov pecked at the final fence, when well held by Davy Russell’s mount.
Rathlin is trained for Gigginstown House Stud by Mouse Morris, who explained: “We got his wind done since his last run in Thurles and it has made a big difference to him. He seemed to enjoy himself today and jumped well.
“He should come on for the run-confidence wise. He’s a horse that needs a trip and should have no problem with three miles, if he learns to relax.”
The Noel Meade-trained Mickelson opened his account, at the seventh attempt, when making all under Paul Carberry to foil free-running favourite Caolaneoin by three-quarters of a length in the opening Racegoer’s Package Maiden Hurdle.
The winning trainer admitted: “I though he was the best bet of the day on St. Stephen’s Day, when he went to the north. But he ran like a hairy goat and I still don’t know why.
“We decided to change tactics today. Paul gave a brilliant ride in front, he’s always worked like a decent horse but has been very disappointing. He’s a better ground horse and it helped that it was the first race, that the ground hadn’t been churned up.”
Trainer Michael McElhone, who is based in Strandhill,, County Sligo, declared, “It’s my life’s ambition to have a runner in Cheltenham,” after Dooney Rock made all to land the Costa Coffee Dock Rated Hurdle from Good Fella, “He finished fifth in the Pertemps Qualifier in Leopardstown and it would be great if he got into the final.”
McElhone added, “This is a wonderful little horse. He’s an outdoor horse and never comes in. He is out of Cormac Lady, my first winner as a trainer. I’m not entitled to any of the credit for this win - my wife Ann rides him out every day.”
Claimer Shane Crimin registered his second career success (his first was on Aon Sceal in Wexford last July) when Changing Times won the Fairyhouse Membership Maiden Hurdle, completing a double for the rider’s boss Ollie McKiernan.
Always close to the pace, Changing Times stayed on stoutly in the closing stages to hold Mazuri Cowboy by a half-length, with uneasy favourite, It’s the Ice I Like (4/7 to 10/11) twelve lengths adrift in third spot.
Earlier, Profit Margin landed the Martinstown Oportunity Handicap Chase in dogged style, after a bad blunder at he second, outstaying brave front-runner Lusiad in the closing stages to triumph by three and a half lengths, prompting McKiernnan to comment: “This horse has been unlucky a few times, but did it well today. Ger (Fox) gave him a grand ride - it was the first time he sat on the horse.”
It was also a day to remember for Drogheda-based trainer George Kingston and Galway Hurdle-winning rider Stephen Gray, who savoured a welcome change of luck when they combined to win the Hone Of The Ladbroke Irish Grand National Handicap Hurdle with 14/1 shot Ros Brin.
Kingston was saddling his first winner since March 2009 while Gray, who rode three winners during a sojourn in Australia, was notching his first success since scoring on Mr Clyde on this track eleven months ago.
