Trifolium stakes Festival claim
Having tracked front-running Rory O’Moore, Trifolium eased into the lead at the third last flight and, clearly in command turning for home, ran on strongly to slam Simenon by nine lengths with Caalaneoin a similar distance away third.
Trifolium is trained for Gigginstown House Stud by Charles Byrnes, who stated: “You’d have to be very happy with that. He’d prefer better ground and will probably go for the Supreme Novices at Cheltenham now.
“He got a nice lead and settled better today so he had more energy to finish out his race. When he learns to settle properly, he could be a very good horse. He’s improving all the time, and getting stronger, and will be a nice horse next year.”
The five-year-old’s improvement in recent outings is at least partly attributed to a combination of cheekpieces and ear-plugs by his trainer.
Trifolium was cut for the Supreme Novices by all firms, Boylesports offering 25/1 (from 33) while Stan James go only 14/1 (from 40).
The Marice Phelan trained grey Portrait King, winner of his only point-to-point, registered the first racecourse success of his career — at the thirteenth attempt — when landing the Dobbins & Madigans Grand National Trial in good style under Davy Condon.
The seven-year-old, travelled well throughout and challenged, full, of running, between the last two fences before beating Up The Beat by three-quarters of a length, prompting trainer Phelan to explain: “He always looked like being a fair horse. I always believed what he wanted was fences and a trip. He was a bit unlucky the last day (at Fairyhouse) and deserved a change of luck.
“He’ll appreciate going even further and might go across the water now, for the Eider (at Newcastle), if he gets into it.”
Scotsirish, confidently handled by Patrick Mullins, justified 4/9 favouritism in the Glenfarclas P P Hogan Memorial Country Chase, recovering from an untidy jump at the last to master Tally Em Up and beaten veteran Garde Champetre by two lengths.
“I thought he made hard work of that,” said Willie Mullins afterwards. ” I imagine both himself and Uncle Junior will go for the cross-country race in Cheltenham now.”
Mullins had initiated a double when red-hot favourite Allure Of Illusion had to settle for a dead-head with King Vuvuzuela in the opening maiden hurdle.
Ruby Walsh made most of the running on the 1/5 shot. But, having run keenly, he didn’t pick up when challenged and had to dig deep to earn a share of the spoils with his Robbie Power ridden rival, which was giving trainer Paul Nolan a welcome change of luck.
The Pertemps Qualifier produced a shock when the John Berry trained Cootamundra, produced to lead at the last by Robbie Moran, got the better of Really Unique and top-weight Sargent Guibs.
The nine-year-old, owned by the Turbine Syndicate, jumped left at the final flight, slightly hampering his two nearest rivals and survived the subsequent Stewards Enquiry.
Debutant Morning Assembly provided trainer Pat Fahy with a welcome winner when, ridden by the trainer’s son Conor, the Shantou gelding, apparently struggling at halfway, stayed on stoutly to get the better of odds-on favourite Mister Hotelier.
Trainer Fahy said: “I was bit frightened down the back when he was struggling to keep in touch, but he came home well. He has always worked well but is still very green and should improve plenty. Ger Hogan bought him and we might freshen him up and go for another bumper.”
