Exciting Bullet hits the target
Ridden by in-form Bryan Cooper, the Tom Taaffe-trained grey hit the front at the third last before scoring cosily by two lengths from Gates Of Rome and First Impressions, an excellent effort by the five-year-old, having only his third run over hurdles.
“That was a fair effort in his first handicap,” commented Taaffe. “He’s a lovely horse, has been schooling well and loved that ground. I must discuss plans with Alex Cole (Racing Manager to the owners, the Hays), whether he’ll go to Punchestown or go out for the summer.”
“At Punchestown, he would have two options, the two-and-a-half mile novice or the valuable handicap over the same trip. And he’ll definitely go chasing next season.”
Champion trainer Willie Mullins arrived in time to see Indevan justify odds-on favouritism in the second division of the bumper, the Jackie Tyrrell & Glanbia Pro- Am Flat, final leg of a fine treble for the stable.
Indevan, narrowly beaten on his racecourse debut on this track, got up late under a strong ride from Patrick to beat It’s High Time by a head, prompting his trainer to state: “He timed it better this time and he definitely prefers that better ground.
“He could do with a break, but I’m not sure what we’ll do with him. I’m tempted to go jumping with him in the new season.”
Davy Russell provided Mullins with his two earlier winners, Midnight Oil and Toostrong, both in the colours of Gigginstown House Stud.
Odds-on favourite Midnight Oil landed the opening Brian Cody & Aidan O’Brien Novice Hurdle in convincing style, beating Sizing Jo’burg by seven and a half lengths after the only other runner Umpact (also Gigginstown-owned) broke a leg at the third last and had to be put down.
Mullins later suggested the Motivator gelding might be aimed at the Guinness Galway Hurdle.
Toostrong got off the mark over fences when landing the weak-looking beginners chase at the expense of Chino Valdez. The French-bred gelding will also be campaigned through the summer, as Russell indicated: “He needs that ground and jumps much better on it.”
Curragh trainer James Leavy enjoyed a welcome change of luck when the highly- regarded Ebazziyr made a successful debut in the first division of the bumper, getting up late to foil Patrick Mullins on Afatcat.
“He’s a very good horse,” declared Leavy. “We’ve just been waiting for the ground. He has always worked well. But they have to come to the track and do what they do at home. He won’t go to Punchestown and will probably go to the Curragh next month.
And we’ll probably go for a mile-and-a-half maiden on the flat.”
Local trainer Eoin Doyle quipped: “We got him over the line eventually,” after Barry Geraghty partnered his 9/10 favourite Belle Weir to victory in the JJ Delaney & Kilkenny City & County Vintners Maiden Hurdle.
Doyle added: “Barry said that’s the ground he wants. And he jumped better today. He obviously needs a trip and might stay further.”
