Myztique lands notable career milestone for Gordon Elliott at Fairyhouse
Having saddled a couple of beaten odds-on favourites earlier, Elliott savoured the success, quipping: “I know Willie (Mullins) does it every year, but it’s nice to get the hundred. — we have a good bunch of horses and good staff.
“The two Grade 1 winners (Don Cossack and Clarcam) would have to be the highlights but, hopefully, the highlight is still ahead of us.”
Elliott has now trained 71 winners in Ireland and 29 in Britain this season. He commented about Myztique: “She’s a nice mare and we’ve always thought a bit of her. She stayed going well and could be one for the mares bumper in Aintree.”
Thunder And Roses (15/8) opened his account over fences, at the fourth attempt, when providing Bryan Cooper with the second leg of a double in the Book Your Easter festival Tickets Beginners Chase.
The Gigginstown-owned seven-year-old bumped into the classy Apache Stronghold on his fencing debut and fell at Fairyhouse last time. But he made no mistake here, powering to an emphatic twenty-two lengths win over longtime leader Katnap in a race which saw 9/10 favourite Balbir Du Mathan flop badly, dropping away tamely to finish a distant fifth.
“He deserved that – he has been running well without winning,” stated Sandra Hughes. “He’s a much better horse over fences and is an out and out stayer.” She added: “We have the option of the four-miler in Cheltenham, but I think Gigginstown have something else for it. So I’d say he’ll be coming back here for the Irish National. He’s hardy, so he’ll probably have another run before then.” Bryan Cooper had initiated his double when providing his trainer-father Tommy with a first success since Killarney last May as Old Time Melody landed the Your Club Fundraiser At Fairyhouse Handicap Hurdle at the expense of The Grey Guy. “That was long overdue,” stated the successful trainer, “It’s been seven months. A small problem can be a major problem, and the horses have been sick.
“But I think we got to the bottom of it after Christmas and they have turned the corner. This horse is tough and is in at Navan on Saturday, in a two and a half mile handicap, and we’ll see how he is.”
Old Time Melody was a second County Kerry trained winner on the day, half an hour after 20/1 shot Lilshane, ridden by 7lb. claimer Jonathan Moore, gave Listowel-based handler Tom O’Connor his first win since 2007, swooping late to foil the flattering favourite Misty Lady by a length and a half.
Fine Theatre, a half-brother to the likes of Joncol and Fine Article, was a convincing 20/1 winner of the Next Racing At Fairyhouse January 31st Maiden Hurdle, stretching clear under Mikey Fogarty to beat Boris De Blae by thirteen lengths with front-running, odds-on favourite Altipepix third.
“You can’t beat breeding,” declared winning trainer Paul Nolan.
“He handles the ground well and jumps better than his brother, Fine Article. He jumped and travelled and is a nice horse, by the right sire (King’s Theatre).
“The whole family goes on soft ground and it’s great to have another nice horse for the lads (the Brownes).”
The Pat Fahy-trained Aunt Nora made virtually all to win the opening mares maiden hurdle under Brian Hayes, who picked-up a two-day ban for using his whip with excessive frequency.
“She’s eight and I only got her late last year, because she needed lots of time, but she’s as nice a mare as I’ve had in a while, said Fahy.
“She looks like a natural chaser and will only have another run or two over hurdles.
“She should make a grand chaser over three miles plus.”
