Treble delight for Willie Mullins at Clonmel
DIGGING IN: Quai De Bourbon, right, en route to winning the Munster Hurdle in the hands of Paul Townend. Picture: Healy Racing
Willie Mullins brought five horses to contest three races at Clonmel on Thursday and returned with a virtually perfect record as he saddled three winners, two of which were chased home by stable companions.
Quai De Bourbon is anything but the finished article, but he made it two wins from two runs for Mullins by taking the Munster Hurdle, the feature on the card. Awkward at some of his hurdles, something which his rider attributed to his mount’s size, he was made to work hard to repel stablemate Westport Cove but there was a positive to be taken from the way he dug in deep to see him off by half a length.
Townend said: “He only does what you make him do. He’s a good jumper but the hurdles are a bit small for him — he’d have more respect for a bigger jump. It’s testing ground, so it turned into a bit of a staying race. It was a worry (dropping back in trip) but the ground made up for it.
“He’s hard to keep concentrating and a small field like that wasn’t ideal, but once I got over onto the rail, he was always doing enough to hold the second horse but was never going to be impressive and pull away from him.”Â
Mullins also saddled the first two home in the Kilsheelan Mares’ Maiden Hurdle, but it was the outsider of the two, Implicit, who came out on top at the expense of odds-on favourite Enola. The latter led most of the way but was in trouble from two out, where the eventual winner, ridden by Brian Hayes, edged ahead. A bad mistake at the last ended the hopes of the market leader, though the race looked to be in the hands of Implicit, who left behind a dismal effort at Limerick’s Christmas meeting, after which he was reported to have coughed.
Mullins completed his treble and Townend his double when Jimmy Du Seuil justified odds of 2-9 in the Monroe Maiden Hurdle. Runner-up to stable companion Asian Master on his seasonal debut, he looked to have a gilt-edged opportunity this time and obliged with little fuss.
“Nice performance,” said Townend. “I didn’t want to light him up early, and he missed a couple of hurdles, but he jumped well in the middle of it, and I took the safety option at the last.
"We were entitled to do that today, but he had to come and do it on testing ground.”Â
Money Heist made light of the 9lb penalty he received for his Naas win as he followed up in the Jossestown Handicap Chase which opened up the card. Gavin Cromwell’s horse was given a fine ride by Keith Donoghue, who stalked the pace until choosing to challenge shortly after turning in. Kilashee emerged as an immediate threat but the 7-4 favourite picked up well in front and with a good jump at the last he all but put the seal on a two-length victory.
Donoghue said: “He can just be a little bit careful, but he has so much scope, if anything he’s just going a bit high. When I needed him over the last two, he was very good.”Â
Casey West, runner-up in two point-to-points and a hunter chase late last year, gained a much-deserved breakthrough in the Rathronan Maiden Hunters’ Chase. Tiernan Power Roche, riding for Philip Rothwell, who is enjoying his best season, sat just off the pace most of the way and delivered his horse late to mount a challenge. Narrow leader Nibbles departed at the last, leaving Casey West to edge out old rival Dromleigh in a rush to the line.
The Edward O’Grady-trained Always Enchanting ran out the easiest winner of the meeting when coasting to success in the Lisronagh Handicap Hurdle. Mark McDonagh, who is enjoying the best season of his career to date, rode the seven-year-old with great confidence and as soon as he asked his mount to assert, he left his rivals toiling.
Lissen To The Lady, who won six races in Britain, made it third time lucky in Ireland by taking the finale, the Tipperary Handicap Hurdle, in grand style. Ridden by Joanna Walton for Marie Harding, the 10-year-old looked to be booked for a minor role as Carlas Big Jim moved well in front. However, the winner picked up strongly after the last and raced clear to win going away.
