Double Seven completes spectacular four-timer in Munster National
Brassil is best known as the trainer of Numbersixvalverde, who won the Irish National at Fairyhouse for him in 2005 and then the following year took the English version at Aintree.
“I put a stick on this horse the other day and he is exactly the same height as Numbersixvalverde”, said Brassil.
Mark Walsh gave the winner a tremendous drive, producing him with a sustained challenge in the straight.
Double Seven edged ahead coming away from the second last, looking to have the measure of well-backed favourite, Spring Heeled.
But the winner then got in tight to the last, before picking up in fine style to score going away by two lengths.
“That’s fantastic”, exclaimed Brassil. “It is amazing what confidence can do for a horse.
“He struggled all last year on the ground and began to dislike racing on it. He had to win a couple before he started to believe in himself. The ground (good) is the key, but I was surprised at how well he travelled through the race.
“He could be an Irish National horse now and, maybe, the other one as well (Aintree).”
Indevan, so disappointing at Galway last time, revealed his true colours with a fine display to win the Fergus O’Toole Memorial Novice Hurdle.
Ruby Walsh realised shortly after the start that there was going to be no pace in the race and allowed his charge to bowl along.
Indevan made the rest, finding plenty all the way up the straight to easily beat Lots Of Memories, who made a couple of minor errors through the contest.
“No one wanted to make it”, reported Walsh. “He jumped nicely in front and quickened up well.”
Eddie O’Connell, fresh from a treble at Tramore the previous Thursday, was again seen to real advantage when taking the Dunraven Arms Hotel Hurdle on Roja Dove.
The daughter of Jeremy made every yard of the running, with O’Connell getting the fractions exactly right.
Said O’Connell: “I got five or six lengths out of the gate. He loves jumping and galloped them into the ground.”
Massini’s Trap went off favourite, but lost all chance when blundering badly at the fourth last.
Danequest struck for the Rodger Sweeney yard when landing the Oakbruce Properties Handicap Hurdle.
The winner and favourite, Montrel, emerged as the principals in the straight, with Adrian Heskin driving the winner clear to score by a length and a quarter.
Colman Sweeney represented his father and said: “Adrian gave him a good ride. The horse has been working well and we freshened him up a bit. He will now go to Dundalk on the 25th (October) for a mile and two.”
There were just five runners listed for the Grade 3 PriceWaterhouseCoopers Chase, but only two of them met the engagement.
Tofino Bay came out because of the ground, Rockshandy (stone bruise), while the certain favourite, Benefficient, was a late withdrawal, reportedly coughing.
That left long odds-on (1-5) Far Away So Close, despite a hairy moment or two, to stroll home 42 lengths clear of New Phase.
Davy Russell, who was originally scheduled to partner the other Gigginstown House Stud runner, Tofino Bay, switched to the winner.
Said Russell: “He’s a character and has to be left completely alone. I squeezed him at the ditch both times and he put down. I’m around long enough to know better!”
Piece D’Or was an unlucky loser of the modest mcmahons.ie Building Provider And Home Improvements Mares’ Maiden Hurdle.
She was kicked clear by Sean Flanagan down hill to the home turn and went to the last with a couple of lengths advantage.
The five-year-old made no effort to get to the other side of the obstacle, however, leaving David Casey to drive Emily Gray out to beat Sensing.
Casey completed a double when powering Arthur Moore’s Pass The Hat to a hard-earned defeat of Dushybeag in the STL Logistics EBF Beginners Chase.
Commented Moore: “He got a good ride, everything was perfect today, the trip and the ground were right for the horse.”
Finally, the stewards inquired into the late withdrawals of two Tony Martin horses, Benefficient and Gift Of Dgab - coughing offered as the reason. Martin was fined €600 and cautioned concerning his future responsibilities.
