Cooper’s decision to ride Trifolium pays rich dividend
Few pundits would have agreed with the choice, but his judgement proved spot-on, as Trifolium produced a brilliant display to beat Felix Yonger, with Mozoltov a well-beaten third.
“Bryan told me five or six days ago he was going to ride Trifolium”, revealed trainer, Charles Byrnes.
Defy Logic went off the warm favourite, but never looked particularly happy and when he ballooned the third last was beaten in a few strides. It subsequently transpired that he had burst.
Going to two out, Cooper made his move and Trifolium, taken from 9-1 to 7-1, cruised ahead and then powered clear to score with any amount in hand.
Boylesports slashed him from 20-1 to 8-1 for the Arkle at Cheltenham, while it was a case of 7’s from 20-1 with Paddy Power. Both RaceBets and Ladbrokes, however, offered 10-1.
Said Byrnes: “I knew he was in the form of his life, didn’t expect him to win, but thought would be there or thereabouts.
“His jumping was fantastic and I’m delighted. This horse is just coming, we couldn’t get anything to go right for him last season.
“It was looking dodgy as to whether I would be going to Cheltenham, but have an excuse now. He will head straight to the Arkle.”
Trifolium, of course, was giving Cooper his first Grade 1 success for Gigginstown, since his appointment as their number one rider. He was severely cautioned, however, regarding unnecessary use of the whip after the last.
Tony Martin’s Quickpick Vic, a remote third behind Double Irish on the track on his seasonal debut, stepped well up on that to easily take the Leopardstown Sports Lounge Maiden Hurdle.
Revelling in the testing conditions, he made every yard of the running, with Ruby Walsh able to sit motionless in the straight to beat Stuccodor by nine and a half lengths.
“I think he’s a very good horse, he had a nice run here at Christmas”, reported Martin. “He is good enough to be entered in all those good novice hurdles, we won’t be asking Noel O’Brien (handicapper) for a mark anyway.”
The third, Sir Abbot, a point-to-point winner, was a real eye-catcher. Trained by Robert Tyner, ridden by Tony McCoy and owned by J P McManus, he came from behind and was doing all of his best work at the finish.
The stewards inquired into the performance and noted the explanation that was offered.
Walsh was on the mark again aboard Willie Mullins’ Sure Reef in the Synergy Security Solutions Novice Hurdle, an outcome that seemed most unlikely off the home turn.
Sure Reef had dropped back to be last of the seven runners and appeared to be literally going nowhere.
And then, suddenly, he hit top gear and swept through to overpower the flattering Moonshine Lad on the run in.
“He did a fantastic bit of work during the week, he’s a fair sort”, said Mullins. Sure Reef will have a choice of engagements at Cheltenham and may return to the flat in the summer.
Walsh then completed a spectacular four-timer when driving Wrong Turn, like Quickpick Vic, trained by Tony Martin, to a last gasp win in the Leopardstown Racecourse Handicap Chase.
Wrong Turn came from off the pace and was greatly helped when the two horses in front of him, Tabhachtach and Knocklong, were none too clever at the final fence.
Davy Russell enjoyed a welcome turn when guiding Arthur Moore’s Treat Yourself to a smooth victory in the Sandy Ford Handicap Chase.
Going off the well-backed 2-1 favourite, the seven-year-old coasted ahead shortly after the last to beat Golden Ticket by nine lengths.
“It looks as if he going to make a nice chaser”, said Moore. “He will get a fair penalty for that and will have to step up in company now.”
Robbie McNamara, on his first day back after breaking a collarbone, won the Bumper on Dermot Weld’s Windsor Park.
The Galileo gelding made most, kicking right away in the straight to score by five lengths.
“Normal service resumed with Robbie, there’s only one Robbie”, quipped Weld. “We learned a lot from the last day, that he is a big, long-striding horse, and the plan was the make all. The Bumper at Cheltenham has to be a possibility.”
