Angel wings in on debut
Making his hurdling debut, the Mouse Morris-trained Rogue Angel justified odds of 1/6 in the opening Corrib Oil 4-Y-0 Maiden Hurdle, forging clear on the run-in to beat Up Sluggarh by seven-and-a-half lengths and prompting his trainer, not a fan of Easyfix Hurdle, to state: “He’s a chaser, Full stop! He couldn’t do any more than that today and will improve from the run. We’ll take it steady with him.”
Russell carried the colours of Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud to victory again when Shrapnel, formerly trained by Charles Byrnes and having his first run for Gordon Elliott, proved too strong for front-running Rory O’Moore in the CCTV Venue Control Maiden Hurdle.
In the absence of Elliott, the champion-jockey commented: “They found an abscess in his joint when he went to Gordon’s, which probably caused him to lean left before, which didn’t help going right-handed. But there was no sign of it today and he won well.”
Russell completed his treble when Lastoftheleaders, trained by Arthur Moore and better known as a chaser, made a successful seasonal debut in the SanServ Handicap Hurdle, making all for an emphatic win over Delphi Mountain.
Moore said: “That was a nice way for him to start back and a nice pot to win. He’ll go back chasing now and will run in the Ballyhack Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse, a race he won last year, in early December. He didn’t stay in the Irish National and will stick to short trips this season.”
Ruby Walsh made virtually all on Twinlght to win the Grade 3 feature, surviving a couple of mistakes before justifying 15/8 favouritism at the expense of four-year-old Argocat.
Walsh commented: “He was a bit keen early and recovered after a couple of mistakes. I tried to hold him together when Bryan’s horse came at me. It’s a long way up that hill in bad ground. This horse keeps surprising me. It was a good performance.”
The bookmakers got a result when 14/1 shot Free To Dream, trained in Athenry by Martin Cullinane and ridden by local claimer Bran Cawley, swooped late to foil joint-favourites What’s Happening and Skibabe in the Barna Waste Novice Hurdle.
