Sea set for Punchestown repeat
Tranquil Sea is likely to head for back-to-back wins in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown after doing just that in the Clonmel Oil Chase.
Edward O’Grady’s charge led two out at the County Tipperary venue, and pulled away to score by four lengths from Psycho, with Tharawaat 10 lengths back in third and Leanne last of the four runners.
O’Grady said: “I had it in my mind that if he won here today that he would go back for the John Durkan and he’ll probably go there now.
“If he had been beaten I was thinking of the Grand Sefton at Aintree.
“Barry (Geraghty) said he took a blow across the top and missed one, but he got his lungs filled coming down the hill.
“I was very disappointed when he schooled at Punchestown recently but he did two very nice pieces of work since.
“If I hadn’t seen him at Punchestown I would have fancied him a lot today.”
Blazing Tempo (2-1) also repeated her 2010 success in the EBF T.A. Morris Memorial Mares’ Chase – but only after surviving mayhem over the last two fences.
Her chance appeared to have gone when she was badly hampered, when lying in second, by Our Victoria who came down after jumping the final fence.
That seemed to hand the race to the favourite Shop Dj but she fell at the last and brought down Definite Class.
Ruby Walsh took full advantage of the chaos to get to the line three and a half lengths ahead of Gentle Alice, with For Bill the only other finisher.
The winner was making a quick reappearance having been third behind Kauto Stone at Down Royal on Saturday.
“I thought coming down the hill that the last race had taken it out of her,” said winning trainer Willie Mullins.
“But she got back into contention and obviously everyone saw what happened after.
“There isn’t a lot of races to run her in at the moment and that’s why she ran again so quickly.
“Last Saturday was the plan but she got compensation today.”
Walsh and O’Grady completed doubles when teaming up with Out Now (4-1) in the Prior Park Service Station Handicap Chase.
Texas Jack (8-13 favourite) took his unbeaten record to three with a cheeky length and a quarter success under Paul Carberry in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hurdle.
“I was half worried at the top of the hill but I knew Paul knew what he was doing,” said trainer Noel Meade.
Navan looks next with Meade considering the Grade Two Monksfield Novice Hurdle on November 27 and the Grade One Navan Novice Hurdle on December 18.
