Walsh ready for a good night out
Ruby Walsh warmed up for his ride on One Night Out in this afternoon’s Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National with a double at Fairyhouse yesterday.
Walsh rides the Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old in the Bank Holiday Monday highlight at the track and it was two Mullins inmates, Killultagh Storm and Nobody Told Me, who scored in turn over fences and hurdles to the delight of punters.
Killultagh Storm, runner-up in the event last year, went one better for Walsh and Mullins in the Dan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase, although it was only by a head that the 5-2 favourite overhauled Alcapone in a tremendous finish.
Following the withdrawal of the top-weight Knife Edge because of the fast ground, Barry Geraghty switched to Alcapone and almost stole the prize though his mount was caught on the run-in as Walsh got serious with the favourite.
“The quick ground suits Killultagh Storm and he may well run against Moscow Flyer in the BMW Chase at Punchestown,” said winning trainer Mullins.
Nobody Told Me, bought reasonably in France after being disqualified from her sole success on the Flat, has proved a real money-spinner for the three-man Amber Syndicate as she was winning for the third time in four starts over timber when taking the valuable final of the EBF (Mares) Novice Hurdles Series.
The daughter of King’s Theatre has been a revelation since going jumping and Walsh patiently got into contention in the home straight to eventually confirm superiority at Clonmel last month over the other 4-1 joint favourite Stashedaway.
“Jumping is her strong point – she threw an amazing leap three-out and hopefully she will go for one of the big novice hurdles at Punchestown now,” said Mullins.
Timmy Murphy’s trip to Fairyhouse for the Festival soon paid a dividend when he took the Grade Three A.I.B Festival Novice Hurdle on the 7-1 chance Pay It Forward for the in-form Jessica Harrington stable.
Khetaam was the even-money favourite to follow up last month’s course-and-distance success in the mud, but proved vulnerable on the much faster ground and eventually finished a close fourth as Pay It Forward handled the quicker going well.
“We gave him a break after his run behind Back In Front at Limerick in February as we felt he needed better ground and he has proved that point here. The plan is now to go to Punchestown, stepping him up in class again,” said winning trainer Harrington.
