Hughes at the double on another bad day for odds-on punters
On a day when Waaheb (1/4) and Sizing Chile (9/10) brought to 11 the number of odds-on favourites beaten in Ireland in eight days, Art Of Logistics appeared to appreciate the drying ground as he landed the opening Visit fairyhouse.ie Special Offers Hurdle at the expense of Midnight Oil.
Odds-on favourite Waaheb’s jumping lacked fluency. But he was in front turning for home before succumbing to Bryan Cooper’s move on Art Of Logistics between the last two flights. Winning trainer Hughes commented: “He’s a fair horse and looked it from the day he won his bumper. He has a flat pedigree and would prefer better ground. He’ll probably come back here at Easter for a novice hurdle.”
The Hughes double was completed when the Johnny King-ridden Apache Jack, a full-brother to Black Jack Ketchum, won the bumper beating favourite Sizing Chile by a length with the flattering Waylander third. “He needed every yard of that trip (two and a half miles)” said Hughes. “You know his pedigree and he’ll make a lovely staying hurdler next season. I’m not sure if he’ll go for another bumper, but he won’t run again over hurdles until the autumn.”
Winning rider King was subsequently suspended for one raceday for using his whip with excessive frequency.
James Motherway saddled his first winner for J P McManus when Corbally, pipped by World Citizen in Punchestown last time, got the better of front-running Kilmainham in the Follow Us On Twitter Novice Handicap Hurdle.
Mark Walsh produced the five-year-old to lead between the last two flights before scoring by a length-and-a-quarter. A relieved Motherway said: “He was a little unfortunate the last day and we just freshened him up since. It’s grand to get one on the board for that man (McManus) — he’s been very good to me.”
The green and orange colours of McManus were back in the winner’s enclosure when Western Man, trained by Ronnie O’Leary, justified 7/4 favouritism in the Ladbrokes Punters Package Handicap Hurdle.
Tony McCoy’s sole winner from three rides, edged past front-runner Aldeimli approaching the final flight before beating Indubitably, prompting O’Leary to comment: “It’s great he got his head in front at last. He’ll stay hurdling for the moment and might win another little handicap. He has run well over fences and should win a beginners somewhere.”
After two solid placed efforts, Follow The Sign opened his account and continued owner-trainer Oliver McKiernan’s steady strike-rate when winning the Buy Tickets On Facebook Maiden Hurdle in the hands of Robbie Colgan.
Mc Kiernan commented: “I’m happy with that. Stepping-up in trip definitely helped him a bit. He was crucified with sore shins from his point-to-pointing days and it has taken time for him to come right. Today was the first time he looked right and felt right. We’ll look for a novice for him.”
Claimer Jody McGarvey partnered Royal Flight, in the colours of his sister Julie, to an emphatic win over New River in the Easter 31st March to 2nd April Mares Maiden Hurdle. The winner, a daughter of King’s Theatre, is trained by Christy Roche, who admitted: “She’s so bad at home it’s frightening. But she had run well twice, in Thurles and Clonmel. Alan (Crowe) said this was an ideal race for her, although I thought she’d want further.”
