Modem gets part one of the job done
Ridden by the trainer’s daughter, Kate, the well-backed 5-1 chance arrived at Ballybrit on the back of a crucial victory at Killarney, one which earned the gelding just enough of a scolding from the handicapper to sneak in at the bottom of the handicap.
Away well, he was able to find a prominent position amongst fancied runners and, when his rider pulled him wide to make his challenge, he took over inside the final furlong and did enough to see off Awesome Star and favourite Ted Veale.
The delighted winning trainer said: “Off his mark, he was entitled to do that. He goes for the double, that’s the plan. He needs one to come out, but I think he’ll get in— off bottom weight again.”
Of winning the race with Kate in the plate, Harrington added: “It’s fantastic. She was wonderful. I couldn’t believe she got such a good position early. And when she pulled him out, he went through the gap, and absolutely flew. He flicked his ears when he hit the front but when the others came to him he galloped on again — that’s why I put the cheek-pieces on him.”
The emotional winner rider struggled to hold back the tears as she added: “It’s amazing, I can’t believe it’s happened. I just wish my late father was here to see it, I don’t think he’d believe I actually won it.”
Earlier in the blustery evening there were shades of winter as the meeting got underway with the type of performance which could light up the most illustrious of National Hunt festivals.
The Willie Mullins-trained Bachasson, backed as though defeat was out of the question, justified his lofty reputation with a tremendously authoritative display in the hands of Ruby Walsh.
Prominent from the outset, he moved to share the lead with a circuit to go, and quickened away in terrific style to win virtually alone. Owned by Eddie O’Connell, Glanmire, and carrying the colours brought to prominence by Arkle winner Un De Sceaux, the lightly raced four-year-old clearly excites his trainer.
“That was a hell of a performance,” said the Closutton handler. “Watching the way he did it, and the confidence with which Ruby rode him, the way he was able to pull out, go wide, and take them all on —it was serious, I thought.”
Mullins refused to be drawn on thoughts of Cheltenham in March, but bookmakers were quick to introduce Bachasson as second favourite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
Favourite backers could be forgiven for thinking they were onto a winner when Defining Year coasted to the front in the Easyfix Rubber Products Handicap Hurdle, but he edged left across the course in the straight, and was reeled back in by long-time leader and last year’s winner Beckwith Star.
The sprightly 10-year-old stuck to the far rails, responded to Adam O’Neill’s urgings, and got up to deny fellow strong finisher Plain Sailing, with the market leader in third.
“Delighted for Herb and Emily (Stanley, owners). Emily wasn’t here last year, so we said we’d have to do it again, and fortunately we did,” said winning trainer Henry De Bromhead.
The market got it wrong in the Claregalwayhotel.ie EBF Maiden, as the Dermot Weld-trained True Solitaire belied a market drift to win convincingly.
In light of heavy support for newcomer Unicorn, the once-raced Moyglare Stud-owned colt drifted to 6-4, but showed how much he had progressed from his debut when pulling clear to beat The Moore Factor, with the gambled-on favourite back in third.
Said Weld: “His run at Gowran was very good, he progressed the way I thought he would, and was the ideal horse for this race.
“He’s not the finished article at all. He’s still got a lot to learn, and physical development to make. There’s a Group 3 race over a mile, on Champions’ Day at Leopardstown, which will suit him.”
Weld later completed a double when Harasava, under a persuasive ride from Pat Smullen, battled back to deny recent Curragh winner Torcedor in the Colm Quinn BMW Handicap.
“It was a battling performance, and she got a powerful ride,” said Weld. “The race was won when Pat held on to the inner off the last bend. He was just able to hold the second horse out for those few strides, at that vital stage.”
Summing up a good start to the week, Weld added: “My main horse was the two-year-old — he’s the future, and I thought he did it well. But the others all ran well, and I’m very happy.”
Curragh trainer Sheila Lavery had her first runner at the festival when Romiac contested the Claytonhotelgalway.ie Handicap, and the 16-1 chance, ridden by Leigh Roche, gave his handler the best possible start when racing home clear of favourite Tadaany.
Sarah O’Brien took the concluding bumper aboard Kalopsia, trained by her father, Aidan. In the absence of the well-touted Another Cyclone, the filly was sent off a well-supported 2-1 favourite, and readily pulled clear in the closing stages to shed her maiden status.
- The attendance was 19,214, up almost 100 on last year.
