On-song Concerto hits winning note
Aran Concerto could be heading to Cheltenham with the tag of “Irish Banker” around his neck after an effortless success in the Grade One Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown.
But whether Noel Meade decides to run his young star in the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle or the longer Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle is still up in the air.
The six-year-old was settled in second behind a sedate pace set by stable companion Leading Run, with Arrive Sir Clive and market rival Catch Me at the rear.
When the race began in earnest at the second last, Leading Run jumped right under Niall Madden and collided with Catch Me, who fired Barry Geraghty out of the side-door.
The 4-6 favourite then found a sharp turn of foot in the bottomless ground to glide away for an easy three-length triumph, with Leading Run staying on for second at 20-1.
Without committing to a Cheltenham target, Meade is favouring the two-mile-five-furlong Ballymore Properties for Aran Concerto.
“Everybody knows what I think about this horse. He’s well balanced, he’s got gears, stamina, he settles well – he’s the real deal,” said the County Meath handler.
“I still haven’t decided his ultimate target, I’ll have a chat to Paul (Carberry) and see what he thinks but I’ve always favoured the longer race because he is bred to need a trip.
“His main opponent (Catch Me) was brought down but these things tend to happen in small fields. He has still beaten a very good horse, don’t forget Leading Run is a Grade One winner in his own right.
“Chasing’s his (Aran Concerto’s) game though, he won’t be going for the Champion Hurdle or anything like that, he’ll be going over fences next season.
“I was pleased with Leading Run too and I couldn’t believe his price. I didn’t want to run him against the other one but the owners are good friends and didn’t mind taking each other on.
“He has always jumped right handed though so he probably won’t go to Cheltenham.”
Mister Top Notch (14-1) atoned for a last-fence fall in a Grade Two event last month with a striking seven-length victory in the Grade One Dr PJ Moriarty Novice Chase.
Conor O’Dwyer’s mount hardly touched a twig and even though it was his first victory over fences, Davy Fitzgerald’s novice could hardly have been more impressive.
It may have been a different story, however, had Willie Mullins’ Alexander Taipan not come down at the last when set to challenge.
Vic Venturi plugged on for second – with One Cool Cookie taking third – but they never threatened the winner.
“That hasn’t surprised me in the slightest but he won’t be going to Cheltenham as he ran in the Brit Insurance Hurdle last year and he didn’t enjoy it – he got dehydrated and I shouldn’t have run him,” said Fitzgerald.
“We’ll either go to Aintree or Punchestown with him. He’s a very nice horse and I’m convinced he will be even better on better ground. He won two bumpers so he’s not slow.”
John Murphy’s Convincing, ridden by Eddie Power, won the Grade Two Cashmans Juvenile Hurdle by a neck from Financial Reward.
Murphy, who also trains the 2006 Champion Chase winner Newmill, now has another string to his Festival bow after the mount of Eddie Power landed odds of 11-1.
Convincing travelled well for most of the way but did seem to idle when he hit the front and was handed a 25-1 quote from 50s by Stan James for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.
“He did that well enough but he is a bit lazy when he hits the front,” said Murphy. “Eddie said he had plenty left but it was very, very soft out there.”
Foxhunter Chase winner Whyso Mayo (8-11f) extended his unbeaten run to four when taking the Raymond Smith Memorial Hunters Chase by 11 lengths from Old Scew Bald.
Raymond Hurley’s charge is now 3-1 from 4s with Cashmans for a repeat win at the Festival.
“I was delighted with that,” exclaimed the winning trainer.
“He goes on most ground so I wasn’t too concerned about him going on that but he found it hard work. He jumped great and he galloped all the way to the line.”
Eric McNamara’s Pearl’s A Singer (11-1) claimed the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Mares) Handicap Hurdle under Brian Byrnes.
Winning for the third time this season, the five-year-old did the business with two and a half lengths to spare from the fast-finishing Media Queen.
Farmer Brown (8-1) got his head in front on his first attempt in handicap company in the TC Matthews Carpets Handicap Hurdle.
Pat Murphy’s charge was becoming frustrating after finishing second on his last three starts but showed guts to get back up to beat Arthur Moore’s Well Mounted by a head.
Tranquil Sea justified favouritism with a five-length verdict from Stewarts House in the concluding Frank Ward & Co Solicitors (Pro-Am) Flat Race.
