Turban too competitive for favourite
Ridden by Ruby Walsh, the seven-year-old, in the colours of Un De Sceaux’s owner Eddie O’Connell from Glanmire, travelled smoothly, took command between the last two fences before forging clear to complete a double for the champion trainer.
And Willie Mullins, a critic of the decision to move the Dan Moore from its traditional Easter slot in a swap with the Normans Grove, admitted: “I’m not in favour of the move, although I’m the beneficiary today. It’s too early in the season for a race like this. I ran the two top-weights last year, but looked for horses with a different, less exposed profile this time. And I’d imagine this was Turban’s Gold Cup for the year.”
“To be fair to the horse, he loves this ground and is a hell of a jumper. He had a great run (over hurdles) in Cork and this is a very nice prize to win. If he keeps improving, he’ll probably have to go for graded races now, possible the Newlands (at Naas on February 23).”
Mullins had earlier saddled first and second in the Grade 3 Solerina Mares Novice Hurdle as well-backed four-year-old Gitane Du Berlais, a listed winner at Aintree last time and enterprisingly ridden by Paul Townend, proved five lengths too strong for the Ruby Walsh-ridden Vicky De L’Oasis, which was conceding 11lb. to the winner.
“That was a good performance, even with the weight allowance,” said Mullins. “She loved that ground and the extra trip. And, judging by the way she jumped the last two, there was plenty left in the tank.
“She’ll be entered everywhere, but the ground in Cheltenham will probably be too fast for her. She might go for more all-age races over a trip. And, because of the ground, I’m looking at bringing her back to France.”
After a bleak day at Naas on Saturday, the layers got a result in the opening Fairyhouse Schooling Races Maiden Hurdle when 11/1 shot Waxies Dargle, trained by Noel Meade for J P McManus and ridden by Tony McCoy, upstaged market-leaders Daneking and Le Vent D’Antan.
Daneking (Ruby Walsh) made most of the running and held a narrow advantage when colliding with Le Vent D’Antan at the second last, his rival losing significant ground. And, joined by the winner, Ruby Walsh’s mount pecked badly after landing at the last, handing Waxies Dargle the initiative for a one and three-quarter length victory.
“He’s tough and hardy and likes that ground. He was in such good form I was almost tempted to back him,” said the winning trainer, “His jumping was a bit sketchy in his first two runs over hurdles, but he was better today.”
Henry de Bromhead explained how a “different formula” proved the key to 5/4 favourite Grand Jesture’s all-the-way victory over market rival Hit The Headlines in the Follow Fairyhouse On Facebook Beginners Chase. “Alan (Potts) and myself decided to try Davy (Russell) and a change of tactics and give it a go. Maybe it was a low-grade race, but it worked out well. He has done a lot of cross-country schooling at home, with a view to running at Punchestown in two weeks but, after this, we might look at the novice handicap at Navan (a €50,000 event on March 16).
Paul Carberry posed for photographs in the winner’s enclosure wearing a cowboy hat after partnering the Gordon Elliott-trained 9/4 favourite Hold Em Cowboy to victory in the Ward Union Hunt Gathering Handicap Chase.
The blinkered ten-year-old edged ahead between the last two fences and stayed on to beat In Great Form by four and three-quarter lengths, prompting Elliott to comment: “He was a cheap horse and has been a good servant — that’s three he’s won. He travels and jumps better with the blinkers and Paul gave him a lovely ride. We’ll look for another little handicap for him.”
Elliott looked set to complete a double with the Stephen Clements-ridden favourite Lord Scoundrel in the bumper. But he was overhauled late by 25/1 shot Grand Partner, a first winner since the Galway Festival for trainer Tom Mullins.
“He’s grown up a lot mentally since his last run,” explained trainer Mullins, who also paid tribute to the winning rider, his son David, “This horse only cost €1,600. He’s a bit of a lazy horse and the plan was to pass horses up the straight. David gave him a lovely ride.”
Earlier, Tidy Zag, trained in Toomevara, Co. Tipperary by Ray Hackett, completed a hat-trick when, ridden by Andrew McNamara, he landed the Fairyhouse For Fundraisers Handicap Hurdle.
