Winter Fog helps Willie Mullins to Galway treble
LOCKED IN BATTLE: Winter Fog and Paul Townend, nearside, en route to winning the Deacy Gilligan Hurdle at Galway. Picture: Healy Racing
Paul Townend’s only ride of the day, Winter Fog emerged victorious in a protracted battle with favourite Seddon in the Deacy Gilligan Hurdle, providing Willie Mullins with the middle leg of a treble in Galway.
The pair forged 29 lengths clear of the rest as they battled it out, separated by just a neck at the line. They are set to clash again in the Americvan Grand National in far Hill next month.
Patrick Mullins explained: “The race, if not the weights, suited him. And I thought it was a good performance giving 9lb to Seddon. That’s what he’s been doing at home, although he has been a bit disappointing on the track. There’s a possibility he could be heading for Far Hills now.”
The Mullins treble was initiated when Alvaniy (Brian Hayes), a promising fifth on his stable debut behind an odds-on stable-companion at the festival here, captured the opening Kenny Developments Maiden Hurdle.
The Closutton haul was completed in predictable style when 4-9 debutante Just For Love, a filly “with a superb pedigree”, according to Patrick Mullins, captured the mares' bumper in good style over another promising newcomer, Final Escape.
Calico, a four-year-old filly, trained by Gordon Elliott and receiving all the allowances, made a successful start to her chasing career when mastering market rival Rexem in the Galway City Beginners Chase.
Ridden by Jack Kennedy, the 10-11 favourite jumped soundly and came through to master the frontrunner, from whom she was conceding 17lb, on the long run-in to score by two and half lengths.
“I was very impressed — she travelled great, jumped brilliant, and galloped to the line," Kennedy said. "Gordon is very good with these four-year-olds and this was a good opportunity for the filly, getting the allowances. She only does what she has to when she hits the front, but you’d have to be very happy with her.”
In the handicap hurdle action, the Tom Gibney-trained Listentillitellyea, a 22-race maiden, belatedly opened his account when landing the Angloprinters.ie Handicap Hurdle in convincing style, prompting his rider Darragh O’Keeffe to say: “He’s been a consistent horse and was unlucky not to win before now — he’s bumped into a few.”
Tim Doyle continued his rich vein of form when Delias Pet, a home-bred Stowaway mare, got the better of long-time leader Ballagh Star in the first division of the (80-95) Galway Handicap Hurdle.
“She’s been a most frustrating mare,” admitted the winning trainer. “She lost her confidence completely but is building it again. She idled in front and would be better on better ground.”
Having his first run for Sonny Carey, Hutchie (JJ Slevin) came from well off the pace to beat favourite and last year’s winner Tullyhogue Fort in the first division of this event, his trainer explaining: “We don’t have him long, but he seems to be improving every week and we were expecting him to run well.”
Glenquin Castle, a prolific winner back in 2021, returned to winning form when outpointing Iridescent in the Kenny Developments Handicap Chase, scoring for JP McManus and the father-and-son combination of Martin and Conor Brassil.
