Martin strikes again with Artful Artist
“That was unreal, like watching Kinane or Murtagh”, exclaimed Martin, enjoying his fourth success of the festival.
Martin was exaggerating, of course, but it was still an impressive display by an obviously talented Corby.
Dermot Weld’s Show Court went off market leader and looked all over a winner approaching the home turn.
But Corby had other ideas and he soon swept Artful Artist through with a beautifully timed challenge to lead inside the furlong pole.
Artful Artist ran a shocker when favourite over hurdles on Monday night, but is clearly far more effective on the level.
Continuing, Martin said: “He disappointed on Monday, he let us down, but doesn’t have the stomach over hurdles.
“He seemed alright on Tuesday and Wednesday, so we decided to have a whack and it has paid off.”
Weld, however, took his total for the week to six when Massinga easily won the Guinness EBF Maiden.
The progressive daughter of Selkirk was available as high as 13-8 in the morning, but was strong through the day and finally lodged at 8-11.
She was always coasting for Pat Smullen, who allowed her to lead before the turn in and Masssinga never showed any signs of stopping to beat Awesome Star by three lengths.
Said Weld: “She did it nicely, handled the ground well and won like the good filly we think she is.
“A Stakes race will be next, I was a little concerned about the trip, she doesn’t have to go a mile and a half.”
Winner number seven for Weld soon arrived via the hugely impressive Forgotten Rules, who provided one of the highlights of the week in the mile and six Guinness race.
He made a big impression when winning a bumper first time up at the Punchestown festival, but this represented an altogether tougher test.
Forgotten Rules rose to the occasion in style, though, powering ahead up hill to the straight for Smullen to beat solid yardstick, Shu Lewis, by eight lengths.
“He’s very good and was always travelling so easily”, reported Weld. “He is a high-class racehorse.
“We will see how he comes out of this and how he matures in the coming weeks, but the Irish St Leger is on the agenda.”
Maxim Gorky, who had been terribly disappointing, benefited from a terrific Paul Townend drive to take the Guinness Handicap Hurdle.
Orgilgo Bay went off the well-backed favourite and his partner, Jonathan Burke, displayed plenty of patience, until allowing his charge to ease ahead going to two out.
It appeared to be the decisive move, until Townend produced the winner with impeccable timing to grab the leader close home.
The Gigginstown-owned gelding was yet another for Noel Meade, who recently reported that the water he had been using was contaminated and there has been a major upswing in his fortunes since he changed his well.
“My brother keeps texting me to say we’ll bottle it (the new water)”, cracked Meade. “He got a peach of a ride from Paul.”
Townend completed a double with another fine performance aboard Steve Mahon’s Aranhill Chief in the Guinness Galway Blazers Handicap Chase.
In winning, Aranhill Chief became the first horse this week to score twice at the festival, having taken a beginners chase on Thursday.
He travelled really well through the contest, but had to get the full Townend treatment in the closing stages to beat Usuel Smurfer by a head.
Commented Mahon: “This was the hardest decision (to run the horse so quickly) I have ever had to make.
“If he didn’t win, I would have been going home with my tail between my legs. He had a swim this morning, there is more to these horses than just galloping them.”
J P McManus, fresh from enjoying a first success in the Plate on Wednesday with Road To Riches, struck on the flat when his Fit For The Job, trained by David Wachman, lived up to his name with an easy win in the Guinness EBF Median Auction Maiden.
The 9-4 and 2-1 dried up in the morning and he was a strong order on the track as well, returned at 11-8.
Ridden by Fran Berry, it was all rather straightforward, as he forged into the lead early in the straight to score by three lengths.
Said Wachman: “He’s like his brother, Hidden Oasis, who won this last year, and loves and ease in the ground.”
Harry Rogers’ Botanical Lady, second here on Monday, made no mistake in the Arthur Guinness Handicap.
Ridden by in-form Leigh Roche, this was his 20th of the season, the daughter of Moss Vale was soon in front and made all to record a comfortable victory.
“She deserved that”, said a delighted Rogers. “She is very hard to settle, so we decided, if pulling hard, we’d let her stride on. She will run again over seven furlongs at Naas on Monday.”
