Seefood enters Royal Bond calculations
The Kahyasi gelding, completing a hat-trick, travelled and jumped well and possessed a vital change of gear to stretch clear of fellow-joint favourite Sizing Gold between the last two flights to triumph by three-and-a-quarter lengths.
“He was impressive again,” stated trainer Hughes in the winner’s enclosure. “He does everything quick — he travels well and jumps very quick. We’ll keep him to novices,” before admitting that he might be tempted to drop back to two miles with Seefood in the Grade 1 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle back at Fairyhouse on December 2.
Victory on Seefood provided a welcome boost for his rider Bryan Cooper, who endured a nightmare ride on the Tony Martin-trained hot-pot Wingtips in the opening fairyhouse.ie Maiden Hurdle.
The 2/9 favourite, travelling strongly on the heels on the leaders, was denied a clear run from the turn-in and jumped the final flight in fifth spot before finishing strongly to take third, beaten a neck and a half-length behind the Willie Austin-trained Blacklough.
The Andrew Leigh-ridden winner, a four-year-old King’s Theatre gelding, was building on a debut win in a bumper at Killarney’s May meeting and described by his trainer as “a nice horse that will come on plenty for the run.”
The Stewards held an enquiry into the running and riding of Wingtips, in which Bryan Cooper explained that, in trying not to hit the front too soon, he suffered interference, made a mistake at the last and was “possibly an unlucky loser,” while trainer Martin said that the horse “was very unlucky and the race just transpired against him.” The explanations were noted.
The most impressive display of the day was produced by the Noel Made-trained debutant Owen Mc, a four-year-old son of Oscar, in the bumper. Easy-to-back (drifted from 11/8 to 2/1) in the face of strong support for Tony Martin’s newcomer Quickpick Vic (3/1 to 2/1), Molly’s Affair (5/1 to 7/2) and Captain Lob (a strong 4/1 shot) Owen Mc, confidently handled by Nina Carberry, toyed with his five rivals, easing past fellow joint-favourite Quickpick Vic before sprint clear in the final furlong to score by eleven lengths.
It was undoubtedly a spectacular display and Meade admitted: “I thought he was fairly useful. He has only done three pieces of work and it got better and better, although he has never been asked to do anything, even today. So this was no surprise.
“His owner (Chris McDonnell) spent many years in Canada and brought this fellow’s dam with him when he came home. I have to discuss plans with him but this horse is only four and has a lot of speed so he doesn’t take much out of himself. I’d say he might go for at least one more bumper.”
Gordon Elliott has the Racing Post Hurdle (formerly the Greatwood) at Cheltenham on November 18 as a target for Galway Hurdle runner-up Cause Of Causes following his victory over front-running Si C’etait Vrai in the Follow Fairyhouse on Twitter Hurdle.
The mount of Davy Condon, the four-year-old had too many gears for the gallant runner-up from the second last, although only a half-length separated them at the line.
Elliott confirmed: “Davy said he blew up after the second last. But he’s a gross little horse and needed a run before we head for Cheltenham. The only negative is that he picked up a 5lb. penalty.”
Colm Murphy, who will reintroduce both Voler La Vedette (Lismullin Hurdle) and Big Zeb (Irish Form Book Fortria Chase) at Navan on Sunday, saddled Aladdins Cave to justify3/1 favouritism in the Fairyhouse Premier Jump Racing Weekend Handicap Hurdle.
Owned by the northern Treasure Hunters Syndicate, the Robbie Power-ridden eight-year-old got the better of Shesonlyahorse by three-quarters of a length, prompting Murphy to state: “We were a long time waiting for that. On his flat form, he was entitled to win, but he has been very, very frustrating over hurdles. Robbie gave him a lovely ride, because he doesn’t like being in front too soon. I had no plans for him beyond today, but he might get into the bottom of a decent handicap now.”
Lady Olwyn, trained for the Glasvale Syndicate by John McConnell, notched her third win of the season and bounced back from a dismal run at Tramore last time (her trainer suspects it might have been caused by a palate problem) to win the Follow Us On Facebook Handicap Hurdle.
Barry Geraghty set sail for home on the seven-year-old mare at the third last and she stayed on tenaciously up the straight to keep Tillargon at bay by a length and three-quarters. McConnell subsequently commented: “She travelled and jumped and Barry said she’d enjoy jumping fences in time. I’m certainly glad she’s not in foal!”
