Arkwrisht springs surprise in Clonmel
One of three Gigginstown House Stud-owned runners in the race, and the lesser fancied of the two from his own stable, he didn’t jump with fluency, but Ruby Walsh made a forward move on the far side, and that put the 12-1 in pole position.
Stablemate Stone Hard briefly looked threatening, as did Westend Star, but Walsh had matters at hand, and drove his mount to a two-and-a-half-length victory.
Mullins said: “He didn’t jump great, but he stays all day, and he’s improving with each run. I don’t know whether he’ll go to Thurles for the Purcell or for the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham, but probably the latter.
“He’ll go on better ground, and the longer trip will suit, though today’s race on that ground was like three miles at Cheltenham. We’re very happy with how he’s improving.”
Of the well-backed Stone Hard, who finished a tired fourth, he added: “We’ll see what we can find, because he was very disappointing, having worked very well during the week.”
Pre-race vibes for Mullins’ Fire In Soul were negative prior to the opening Surehaul Race Day Maiden Hurdle and, while that was reflected in the market, the easy-to-back 9-2 chance made a smart debut for the stable.
Owned by Gigginstown House, who purchased him for €200,000 as a three-year-old, Bryan Cooper rode him very close to the pace, took over from long-time leader Kashmiri Sunset in the straight, and pulled clear of favourite Thumb Stone Blues.
“That was nice, he jumps well and obviously stays very well,” said Mullins. “I’d say that ground was very, very testing — more testing than people think.
“Bryan thought he might go on better ground, but I’d be happy enough to stick to that ground with him, being out of a Roselier mare. His whole back pedigree is stamina.
“He’ll jump a fence next season. I could have waited and run him in a bumper, but would have had to wait a bit longer, and he’s been ready to run for a while.”
Short-odds punters got their fingers burned when the well-backed Billy’s Hope had to settle for the runner-up spot behind the Gordon Elliott-trained Water Sprite in the Kilsheelan Mares’ Maiden Hurdle.
The two settled just off the pace but the winner, having just her second start over hurdles, travelled strongly, and slipped through along the inside to lead early in the straight.
The odds-on favourite struggled to get back on terms, as Water Sprite stuck to her task to win with a little to spare, with third-placed Routes Choice and fourth-placed debutant Msmilan catching the eye.
“We’re slowly but surely getting there,” said Elliott, when it was mentioned that his 100th winner of the season was on the horizon.
“She had a very good run the first day, in Punchestown. She should be better on better ground, and I think she’ll be okay.”
Elliott brought his tally of National Hunt successes to 97 when Bright New Dawn made the most of a good opportunity in the Micro Dog ID Chase.
The conditions of the race suited the nine-year-old, and he travelled well throughout in the hands of Bryan Cooper, who was completing a 36-1 treble.
Upsides and going best early in the straight, he forged clear late on to see off long-time leader Rubi Light.
“It was great to get his head in front,” said Elliott. “Bryan said he hated the tacky ground. Looking ahead, we’ll keep him entered up in the conditions races and he could go to the Grand Annual, at Cheltenham, where he could be dropped in off a fast pace, which would suit.”
There was drama in the Minorstown Handicap Hurdle, which eventually went to favourite Cerca Trova, trained by Jim Dreaper.
Fade In was in front and still going well when departing at the second-last, where the chasing Annie Alainn made a bad mistake, independently, but nearly fell across the prostrate Fade In.
Cerca Trova took over at that point but was all out to fend off the renewed effort of Annie Alainn by half a length.
Vicangelome has hit form recently and made it three wins from his last four starts when taking the Derrygrath Novice Handicap Chase for Robert Tyner and jockey Philip Enright.
The seven-year-old travelled strongly to take a narrow lead at the second-last fence, and stayed on well to beat fellow 9-4 joint favourite Goulane Chosen.
“He didn’t jump that well at Gowran, and we schooled him a lot since,” said Tyner. “He was better today, but missed a couple. He enjoys that ground and it’s only early February so we might get another month out of it.”
Hedgeinator made all the running to take the Micro Dog ID Maiden Hunters Chase for trainer Alan Fleming and jockey Stephen Clements. The race lost some of its lustre when favourite Strangford Lough unseated Nina Carberry with more than a circuit to go, but the winner had to overcame a bad mistake at the last to secure his first racecourse success.
“He was very good, for a horse who is still babyish,” said Fleming. “He won his point to point three weeks ago, and has done it well today.”
