Hands-on Russell keeps Tofino Bay going to land Troytown
The nine-year-old, having only his third run over fences, held the late challenge of Like Your Style by a half-length as champion-jockey Davy Russell kept his mount going by using his right hand instead of his whip, which he dropped as the leaders bypassed the final fence. He later reported: “My hand is in bits.”
Tofino Bay’s big-race success crowned a tremendous day for Michael O’Leary and Gigginstown House Stud, also successful with high-class novices Don Cossack and Sword Of Destiny. The trio provided champion jockey Davy Russell with a superb treble.
Always close to the pace in the Troytown, Tofino Bay joined front-running Glenquest turning for home and edged ahead early on the long run-in before being tackled by Like Your Style, which made a mistake at the final obstacles.
The Tony McCoy-ridden challenger looked set to sweep past Russell’s mount. But, having idled in front, Tofino Bay pulled out more in the last hundred yards to score by a half-length, with Glenquest eleven lengths away third.
“That was a good performance by a novice,” said the winning trainer, savouring his first Troytown success. “He jumps and stays well and, while very few horses like really heavy ground, he loves it. He should keep improving with experience, although he mightn’t be a Grade 1 horse. But there should be another big handicap in him.”
Earlier, Don Cossack, sent off a red-hot 30/100 favourite, impressed when making a successful hurdling debut in the INH Stallion Owners Maiden Hurdle, the five-year-old drawing clear of only serious rival Sizing Gold on the run-in to score by nine-and-a-half lengths.
Delighted trainer Gordon Elliott stated: “That’s a relief. He’s a good horse and Davy was happy, which is all that matters. He was idling a bit in front, but did it well. He’ll be stepping-up in trip and will probably come back here next month for the Grade 1 (the €70,000 Navan Novice Hurdle n Deember16).”
Don Cossack, described by Russell as a horse “with huge scope” received an 8/1 quote from Stan James for both the Supreme Novices and Neptune at Cheltenham while Boylesports offer 10/1 about him for the latter event.
Unlucky on his fencing bow at Punchestown, Sword Of Destiny completed the Russell/Gigginstown treble when getting the better of Darwins Fox in the Irish Stallion Farms Beginners Chase.
Under a confident Russell ride, the strapping grey eased clear on the run-in to triumph by six lengths, with third-placed Alderwood (Tony McCoy) slipping up inside the final furlong.
“He’s a gorgeous horse and, after what happened in Punchestown and with the ground so bad, we decided to drop him back in trip. I’m always telling Davy to take his time on these horses and he listened to me today.
“I think he’s a hell of a horse. The plan was to win at Punchestown and go for the Drinmore. I’m not sure where he’ll go now — he’ll probably go somewhere over Christmas.”
Sword Of Destiny was completing a double for Meade, initiated when the Paul Carberry-ridden Busty Brown got the better of Seefood and Bonisland in the Grade 2 Irish Form Book Monksfield Novice Hurdle.
Meade explained: “He was only touched off over three miles in Cork. He just stays galloping and seems to be improving. He used to be desperately free, but is more settled now. He could go back to Cork in a few weeks for the Grade 3 three-mile novice.”
John Kiely stated: “You can’t beat pedigree,” after Colin Motherway brought Joanna One (from the family of Aries Girl) with a well-timed challenge to record an emphatic win over Fickle Fortune in the listed mares bumper.
“She was a bit unlucky in Mallow, when she didn’t get the gap when she needed it. But she’s a lovely mare and we’ll have to decide where to go from here.”
Earlier, Enda Bolger quipped: “I don’t know when I trained a winner over hurdles last,” after the Martin Ferris-ridden Drawn N Drank emerged from the fog to land the INH Stallion Owners Maiden Hurdle at the expense of Kashline and favourite Torn Asunder.
“He won two point-to-points two years ago, but broke his knee in a banks race in Punchestown. It has been a long road back,” explained the trainer. “He’ll go for a long-distance novice somewhere and he’ll be heading to Punchestown in the spring, for a different discipline.”
