Robbie Power’s tactics work a treat on Ttebbob
With none of his colleagues willing to make the running, Power sent the 16/1 shot into the lead after the first of the twelve hurdles and, jumping fluently, the six-year-old Milan gelding dictated the pace and, when pressed by Western Boy over the last two flights, stayed on dourly to score by two lengths.
Power admitted: “He’s had a few problems during the season and it wasn’t the plan to make the running. But nobody wanted to go on. So I took the bull by the horns. I knew he stays well and he settled well in front.”
Willie Mullins, who saddled two beaten favourites on the card, won the Demesne Maiden Hurdle when the Ruby Walsh-ridden Vedettariat confirmed Thurles form with fellow joint-favourite Venitien De Mai, scoring by three lengths with the remainder well beaten off.
“That was a long time coming,” stated the champion trainer. ” I’m very happy to win with him. I’m surprised and delighted that he won over that trip (just short of two and a half miles). He’ll go handicapping over a long trip and should be a better horse over a trip and fences.”
The recent dominance of bumpers by Mullins and Gordon Elliott was interrupted in the finale when market-leaders Nockname Exit and Roman Gold, both in Gigginstown colours, were readily brushed aside by the potentially smart De Name Escapes Me.
The Vinnie Roe gelding, which had one run in a point-to-point, provided Liz Lalor, who is based in nearby Grange, with her first training success.
Having partnered the five-year-old to a convincing eight and a half lengths win, she commented: “He feels like a lovely horse. Patrick gave me a lovely lead and I couldn’t believe the way my horse picked up and stretched clear. He’s still very green, after just one run in a point-to-point, and looks a smart horse.”
Confidently handled by Philip Enright, Fruits Of Glory came from off the pace to outpoint front-running, odds-on favourite Coolbane West in the Clonmel Maiden Hurdle, continuing the good form of owner-trainer Eddie Cawley, who acknowledged: “It was probably as bad a race as you could find,” before explaining: “He gets a bit up-tight and can leave his race in the parade-ring, but he was better today.
“He has to get his jumping together – he always misses one or two. He’ll be a better horse when the ground dries out.”
After the quirky 11/8 favourite Mr.Cosmopolitan got the better of Deano by three-quarters of a length in the Kilsheelan Jim Dreaper commented: “He’s been consistently inconsistent and, although going around the inside track in Clonmel wasn’t ideal for him, the conditions of the race meant he had to come here. As (the late) Ted Curtin used to say: ‘if you wrote away for a race, this is what you’d get.”
Ridden by Barry Cash (riding his first winner for the Dreaper family). Mr.Cosmopolitan, a much better horse going right-handed, jumped left throughout and survived a mistake at the second last to record his first racecourse success. He’ll now go handicapping.
In the handicap action, Sean Flanagan partnered the Liz Doyle-trained grey mare All The Way Home to a gutsy win over the flattering Heavenly Brook in the Bishop Auckland Theatre Hooligans Handicap Chase while Eoghan O’Grady admitted: “That’s his grade and he was off a winnable mark – we’ll look for something similar for him,” after Clara More (Barry O’Neill) proved five lengths too strong for Lake Field in the Kilmolash Amateur Handicap Hurdle.
Horse Racing Ireland has announced an increase in prize-money for Irish Champions Weekend which takes the total on offer over €4m.
The top-class action on September 12-13 is highlighted by the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, which is now worth 1.1m euro, an increase of €100,000.
Three races at Curragh a day later have also been raised in value.
The Derrinstown Stud Flying Five has been upgraded to a Grade Two for the first time and has doubled in value from €100,000 to €200,000.
The Palmerstown House Estate Irish St Leger has increased from €300,000 to €350,000 and the Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sale Stakes also rises by €50,000 to €250,000.
Total prize-money at the Curragh has risen by €200,000 to €1.9m.
Brian Kavanagh, HRI chief executive, said: “As we aim to build on the success of the inaugural Irish Champions Weekend, we are delighted that the total prize-money on offer at both Leopardstown and the Curragh has been increased to €4.03mthis year.
“This is our flagship event for Flat racing in Ireland and the weekend will continue to go from strength to strength.”
