Riviere D’etel bounces back to run away with Fairyhouse Grade Three
IN FULL FLOW: Riviere D'etel and Jack Kennedy win the John and Chich Fowler Memorial EBF Mares Chase at Fairyhouse. Picture: Healy Racing
Without a win since December 2021, Riviere D’etel pulverised her rivals in the Grade Three John & Chich Fowler Memorial EBF Mares Chase in Fairyhouse, slamming odds-on favourite Allegorie De Vassy by no less than 33 lengths.
Ridden by Jack Kennedy, the seven-year-old, whose last success came in the Klairon Davis at Navan, took the lead four from home and galloped away relentlessly, with Paul Townend sending out distress signals before the second last on the favourite.
“Going right-handed really suited her,” stated a delighted Gordon Elliott. “Jack said she loved the ground and stayed going very well.
“I don’t know where she’ll go now — I’d love to stay going right-handed, but she’s going to be hard to place. I’ll have to talk to Noel (Moran, owner) about plans, but Cheltenham wouldn’t be out of the question, although it mightn’t be the right place for her.”
A return to Fairyhouse for the Solerina is on the cards for Elliott’s Mollys Mango following her effortless, 2-9 success in the opening Wishing Everyone A Healthy 2024 Mares Hurdle.
And he intends sending Staffordshire Knot straight over hurdles following his gutsy win under Harry Swan in the bumper, in which the Willie Mullins-trained odds-on favourite I Am River was pulled up.
On a day of mixed fortune at both Fairyhouse and Tramore, Willie Mullins shared a double with Paul Townend, thanks to the achievements of I Will Be Baie and Nick Rockett.
Well ridden by the champion jockey, I Will Be Baie turned over Elliott’s 4-9 shot My Trump Card in the ITM Irish Stallion Trail Maiden Hurdle, prompting the trainer’s assistant David Casey to state: “That was great. We were not sure about the heavy ground as he won a summer bumper, but he jumped well and did it well. The runner-up set a nice standard, so it was a nice performance.”
Speaking in Tramore, Mullins added: “It was a good performance and Paul said he had plenty left. He handled the ground and Fairyhouse well, so we might go back there with him.”
Nick Rockett, a Grade Two winner over hurdles on the track at Easter and a promising fourth on his fencing bow, started 2-7 favourite for the McInerney Beginners Chase and duly delivered a smooth performance, coming through between the last two fences to master stable-companion Tactical Move and, ultimately, score by seven lengths.
Casey explained: “He obviously jumps well and Paul felt he had come forward from his recent run. He said he was comfortable everywhere and was very happy with the horse.
“This is a good, relaxed horse, who jumps very well. He’ll have no problem going further. The boss will make a plan for him now.”
Trainer Karl Thornton has enjoyed plenty of success at Fairyhouse in recent seasons and struck on the double with recent course winner Don’t Talk and the gambled-on Mighty Oak Lad in the handicap hurdle action.
Up 8lb for his win over two miles here, Don’t Talk justified 9-2 favouritism in the Tote+ Pays You More At Tote.ie Handicap Hurdle at the expense of 33-1 shot Pipers Boreen.
And, backed from 14-1 in the morning to 7-2, Mighty Oak Lad made all to complete the Thornton double in the Fairyhouse Membership 2024 Handicap Hurdle, staying on to beat Cher Why Not by 11 lengths.
