Brideswell Lad springs Leopardstown surprise

SUPER SUNDAY: Brideswell Lad and Brian Hayes won the QuinnBet Handicap Chase for Seamus and Inagh Neville. Picture: Healy Racing 

Brideswell Lad, trained in Wexford by Seamus Neville for his wife Inagh, proved a shock winner of the €45,000 QuinnBet Handicap Chase, the feature race of Sunday’s action in Leopardstown.

The 33-1 shot was sent to the front by Brian Hayes leaving the back-straight and stayed on to score by a length and three-quarters from long-time leader Battle Of Mirbat with Birchdale a close third.

“He took a heavy fall in Listowel (last September). It has taken time for him to recover but we felt he was getting there,” Nevile said. “He’s ground-dependent and it’s not as bad out there as we were expecting.

“He’ll head for Fairyhouse and Punchestown and we’ll keep him going for the summer.” 

Trainer Karl Thornton confirmed that Where’s Frankie will return to his beloved Fairyhouse (where he has recorded his five previous wins) following his gutsy, half-length win over Outside The Door in the marathon Willie Gibbons Handicap Chase, explaining: “This trip suited him. He loves Fairyhosue and will go back there for the 0-140 at Easter.” 

In the colours of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, the Willie Mullins-trained Blizzard Of Oz, backed into 6-4, reversed recent Naas form with Backtonormal and odds-on stable-companion Captain Cody in the Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Novice Hurdle, driven out by Danny Mullins to score by two and a quarter lengths from 33-1 Purse Price.

“That was a nice surprise — the shorter trip was a big help,” said Mullins. “I’d say the ground isn’t as heavy as anticipated. I’d say they’ll both go for the final of this series in Punchestown, and will run somewhere before then.” 

The father and son combination of Paul and Jack Gilligan struck in the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle as the experienced, 101-rated Zeeband got the better of Master Otis by a neck, with odds-on favourite Crooked Tannie, ridden by Gilligan’s other son Danny, back in third.

It was Danny Gilligan’s turn in the following QuinnBet Hurdle as the Gordon Elliott-trained novice Dee Capo, off the track since November, got the better of 147-rated Ashdale Bob, the pair stretching 13 lengths clear of the rest.

Elliott explained: “He’s a nice horse, built to be a chaser — he just needed to be freshened up after Navan. This looked a nice race for him and I expect a lot of improvement from him.

“Danny gave him a good ride. Unfortunately, Jack is suspended, but the other lads are doing a good job. I’d say this horse will probably go to Fairyhouse or Aintree.” 

The in-form Elliott team received another boost when Jordan Gainford, who returned to action last week after his most recent injury, rode his first winner since November on board Peter Croke’s Miss Gherkin, who outpointed front-running Clever Currency in the Anton O’Toole Handicap Hurdle.

And newcomer Glynn Brae (Stephen Connor) landed the four-year-old bumper for Stuart Crawford.