Willie Mullins sets sights on four-miler with Sambremont
Having chased home classy stable-companion Black Hercules on his fencing debut at Navan, the French-bred six-year-old, winner of his maiden hurdle in Tramore on New Year’s Day last year, made virtually all, jumping impeccably.
And, pressed by Mydor between the last two fences, he stretched clear on the run-in to triumph by 16 lengths.
Mullins said: “He jumped fantastically. He was very sure-footed and stays really well. He’ll have to go up in trip and class now.
“And he’ll definitely get an entry in the four-miler (National Hunt Chase) at Cheltenham).”
Another wide-margin winner was the Robbie Colgan-ridden Cashelard (15/8 favourite) who made all to land the two-mile mares maiden hurdle by no less than 39 lengths from Ashes Of Love.
The daughter of Luso provided a popular success for local trainer Shane Crawley, who stated: “It’s nice when they do it like that. It’s all about getting her out in front and into a rhythm — that’s what she does. And she handles the ground.”
Nina Carberry has a tremendous strikerate in bumpers at Fairyhouse and sent punters home happy after the Gigginstown-owned debutant Stoneford stayed on dourly to beat Tayto Park by a length and a quarter in the finale.
“He’s a nice horse and we’ve liked him since he arrived — he was with Gordon last year, but didn’t get to run,” said winning trainer Noel Meade.
“Nina said he got lazy in front. He loves the soft and stays well.
“I’d say he’ll go for a bumper in the spring and won’t jump hurdles until next season.”
Don’t Tell No One, off the track since winning his bumper at the 2013 Galway Festival, captured the opening event of 2016, the Happy New Year Maiden Hurdle in the colours of Brian Gleeson.
“That’s a very pleasant start to the new year,” Dermot Weld said.
Patiently handled by Davy Russell, he was in command when fluffing the final flight and beat Sizinguptheamazon by a length and three-quarters, prompting Weld to add: “He’s been schooling well and I thought he’d be hard to beat.
“He’s had leg problems, but is a horse with a lot of ability. He stays very well, obviously, so we’ll look for a ‘winners of one’ over two and a half or three miles.”
Denise Foster greeted home-bred mare Not For Burning (Robbie Power) with a “that was sorely needed” comment after she came home an eight-length winner of the three-mile Cavalor Handicap Hurdle.
The winning trainer added: “She was off for a year with a leg, but has come back bigger and stronger.
“She’s very game and loves her racing. And I can’t wait to send her back over fences.”
Witness Of Fashion, successful at Down Royal on St Stephen’s Day, provided another local success when following-up in the featured Boylesports Irish Grand National March 28th Handicap Chase.
The 10-year-old stayed on dourly for Danny Mullins (who lost his whip on the run-in) to beat top-weight Unic De Bersy by a half-length with favourite White Arm a similar distance away third.
