Sky’s the limit for impressive Vautour
A hugely impressive winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in March, he led from the drop of the flag and gave Ruby Walsh an armchair ride as he won as he liked.
None of his 15 rivals could get close enough to give the 2-11 favourite a race as Willie Mullins’ five-year-old in the Rich Ricci colours scored effortlessly by eight lengths from Clarcam, who himself was second in a Grade One at Aintree last season.
“He jumped well and it’s nice to see him pass his first test. I don’t think he could have jumped any better,” said Mullins. “The fourth last was the only fence he got a bit close to and I’d give him the benefit of the doubt because of the sun. For a novice he handled it well.
“Ruby asked him after the second last and I was delighted the way he jumped the last after changing gear.
“The obvious thing is to go for the two-mile one Grade One novice chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.
“We’ll see if there’s something before that or whether we wait for that, I don’t know.
“His dam won from mile and a half to three miles and being Robin Des Champs there’s no reason why he won’t stay.”
Walsh said: “I thought he jumped super.
“He has loads of scope and only does what he has to do. I’m very happy.”
Milsean (2-11 favourite) duly landed the odds when making all the running in the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle but had to be driven out by Bryan Cooper to hold Snow Falcon by a length and a half.
Milsean then had to survive a lengthy stewards’ inquiry before the result was confirmed.
Mullins said: “It’s likely that he will step up in trip. He will improve a fair bit from that run as I thought he looked big coming here but we needed to get him out.”
Cooper was given a four-day ban for improper riding.
Mullins enjoyed his eighth winner of the weekend as Lyrical Theatre (11-8 favourite) gave him a treble on the card with a cosy success in the ITBA Fillies Scheme EBF Mares INH Flat Race.
Ridden by the trainer’s son Patrick, the five-year-old bounded home by eight and a half lengths from Twentytwo’s Taken.
Mullins senior said: “She is the real deal, and is improving all the time. She has never showed anything like that at home but her pedigree is coming out in her and she looks very smart.
“We’ll have to decide if we go jumping or wait until next season. We may think about the Cheltenham Bumper.”
Balbriggan put up an admirable front-running performance to land a big gamble in the highly-competitive Ladbrokes Troytown Handicap Chase.
Available at 14-1 in places in the morning, the Gordon Elliott-trained grey was sent off the 4-1 favourite and barely gave his legion of supporters an anxious moment.
Ridden with supreme confidence by 3lb claimer Kevin Sexton, Balbriggan saw off all-comers as he bounded to victory by a length and three-quarters from Omega Star.
Elliott, completing a double on the day, said: “He’s owned by two soccer agents (Lee Power and Willie McKay).
“We gave a good few quid for him but he’s paid his way now.
“I couldn’t believe the price he was (20-1 on Saturday and 11-1 on track). He’s in all the staying chases like the Becher (at Aintree) and the Paddy Power (at Leopardstown).
“He’d a nice light weight on his back and Kevin jumped him out and made use of it. He gave him a fine ride.”
Elliott also struck with Free Expression (11-10 favourite), who took the step up to Grade Two company in his stride as he maintained his unbeaten record in the ’Monksfield’ Novice Hurdle.
Mark Walsh brought the J P McManus-owned five-year-old into contention between the last two flights and scored by a length and a quarter from Shantou Flyer.
Elliott said: “He was very green and is still a big baby. He ran all over the place but he’s one for the future.
“He definitely wants two-mile-four plus and a faster gallop. He’s going to be a big chaser for next year.”
The Stuart Crawford-trained Glenquest (11-2), who had to miss an engagement at Haydock on Saturday due to travel problems, had compensation by taking the Navan Race Membership Club Now Available Handicap Hurdle.
Pencilhimin (20-1), a full-brother to 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition, foiled a gamble on Gallant Oscar when holding the heavily-backed 11-8 favourite in the Proudstown Handicap Hurdle for trainer Norman Cassidy.
