Mullins out on his own
It was an inspired decision and the new relationship was cemented at Gowran Park yesterday when the Wylies’ On His Own lived up to his name, taking the Goffs’ Thyestes Handicap Chase by a whopping 13 lengths.
He was dashingly handled by David Casey, described by Mullins as “a super-sub’, who was winning the race for a third time.
Said Mullins, who ran four in the race: “Shakervilz and Some Target were slowly away and I thought I now have two left.
“Then Quadrillion made a couple of early mistakes and I was left with this horse. David got some fantastic jumps from him the whole way.”
Bob Lingo made the early running, but the eventual winner was never far away. At the seventh from home Casey allowed On His Own to hit the front.
And from that point this was essentially a procession, as the further they went the stronger the imposing eight-year-old got.
He bounded into the straight and then winged the last three fences to beat Tullintain and Jadanli.
Continuing, Mullins said: “He jumps and stays all day and has to go to Aintree for the National.
“I wasn’t confident, because he disappointed at Leopardstown at Christmas. He missed the break then and I just told David to get him away today.”
Commented Casey: “He jumped like a buck and having a light weight helped. He landed half a length in front at the ditch and I let him fill his lungs. I then gave him a breather and that helped.”
Paddy Power offered On His Own at 33-1 for Aintree, while Boylesports were more conservative and went 20-1. On His Own was bred by Margaret Treacy from Killeagh, Co Cork.
Ruby Walsh gave Mullins’ Zaidpour a quite brilliant drive to beat Voler La Vedette in the Grade 2 John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle.
Walsh made much of the running, setting a slow pace for the most part and that totally unsuited Voler La Vedette.
She took a long time to settle, was constantly pulling against Andrew Lynch and it told in the end.
Walsh made his move off the home turn, kicking on, and Voler La Vedette, hard as she tried, was always fighting a losing battle and still a length down at the line.
“Tactics won it, that was a very sharp ride by Ruby”, said Mullins, with more than a hint of realism.
“He is likely to go to Cheltenham for either the World Hurdle or the Champion Hurdle. Mind you that wasn’t much of a trial, they went no gallop.”
Bookmakers began their day with a screamer when Kieran Purcell’s Burrenbridge Lodge, a 10-1 shot, took the five-horse P J Foley Memorial Hurdle.
Driven into the lead over the final flight by Tom Doyle, he found plenty to hold front-running One Cool Shabra. The winner did seriously impede the second close home, but an alteration to the placings was never a possibility.
Purcell, said: “I don’t know where he will go next, maybe for a Grade 1 at Leopardstown, but that could come too soon. He is a big, honest horse, if he had a good trainer, what would he be like?’
There was a sting in the tail for Doyle, who was found guilty of careless riding and suspended for three days.
Tom Foley’s Snow Spell won the Four Star Langton House Hotel Maiden Hurdle at odds of 14-1, but was far from neglected in the market, after 25-1 had been taken in the morning.
Veteran rider, Tommy Treacy, sent her for home well before the turn in and she easily shrugged off the challenge of Primroseandblue from the last.
Said Foley: “She’s well-bred and we had high hopes for her from the word go, but has had a lot of problems.
“She is a half-sister to a Group 1 winner, so will be nice for breeding, and will jump a fence in time, if we want her.”
Gentle Alice outclassed her rivals with a stylish success in the Netwatch Handicap Chase. Beautifully handled by Declan Bates, she travelled powerfully in the straight, led at the last and surged away to score by 11 lengths. She is trained by Donie Murphy at Midleton, Co Cork, and he said: “I’m not sure what will be next, she might go back over hurdles.”
Brian Hamilton’s Moscow Mannon, ridden by Declan Lavery, was hugely impressive in winning the Bumper, overpowering Willie Mullins’ Morning Royalty over a furlong down.
Said Hamilton: “He keeps improving all of the time. We might consider going to Cheltenham, but that would only be 50-50. It mightn’t be the right thing to do, the alternative is to run him in some decent novice hurdles for experience.”
The talented Matty Bowes gave concrete And Clay a fine drive to land the modest Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.
Trained by Charles O’Brien, the winner was produced to lead two out and soon eased clear of Ghareer.
