Shrapnel the highlight of Russell treble
Shrapnel, winner of his maiden hurdle on this card last year, landed the featured, Grade 3 Faber Audiovisuals Ballybrit Novice Chase with a fine display of jumping to beat Clar Na Mionn and follow his recent fencing debut win in Fairyhouse.
Having jumped to the front five from home, the Gordon Elliott-trained seven-year-old was in command starting the gruelling uphill run-in but idled in front before scoring by two and a half lengths, prompting Russell to comment: “His jumping was the difference. It was a long was up the hill but he won well.”
Very Wood, winner of bumper at the Punchestown festival for Gordon Elliott, but now trained by Noel Meade, made a pleasing start over hurdles when justifying 2/11 favouritism in the opening Corrib Oil Maiden Hurdle, beating Blow The Doors Off readily by three and a half lengths.
Meade, also successful with Ange Balafre in the opener in Wexford, stated: “We’ve been waiting for the ground to change and I haven’t overworked him. He should come on a ton from the run and will go for a novice next.
“He jumped well and will make a lovely chaser in time.”
Middle leg of the Russell/Gigginstown treble was supplied by Philip Fenton, courtesy of Band Of Blood in the Barna Waste Rated Novice Hurdle, the five-year-old King’s Theatre gelding powering up the hill to beat Paudie The Punter more easily than the eight lengths winning margin might suggest.
“His future lies over fences — he has the technique to jump them well, but that won’t be until next season,” said Fenton, before adding: “I hope the handicapper won’t be too hard on him after this.”
On a day when J P McManus registered a treble in Wexford, the Dessie Hughes-trained Nearly Nama’d proved another winner for the familiar green and orange colours when making all under Bryan Cooper to land the SanServ Handicap Hurdle at the expense of Holeinthewall Bar and the flattering Maxim Gorky.
Local trainer Martin Cullinane, successful with Fantastic Gold in Thurles on Thursday, struck again when Georgie, patiently handled by Danny Mullins, justified hefty support in the Renvyle House Hotel Handicap Chase, his trainer commenting: “He likes it around here and handled the ground better than I expected.”
Helped by a wind operation, the Michael Hourigan-trained Aerlite Supreme (Adrian Heskin) belatedly opened his account in the CCTV Venue Control Maiden Hurdle, prompting Hourigan to declare: “Chasing will be his game and he’ll go over fences sooner rather than later.”
Noel Meade was denied a third success on the day when favourite Couleur France, ridden by Nina Carberry, had to settle for the runner-up berth in the bumper, beaten a length and a half by Back To Backa, ridden for Noel Kelly by Noel McParlan.
