Mullins ponders Cesarewitch raid with Sea Of Sands

The 15-8 shot won the McSweeney Brothers Maiden Hurdle at Listowel on wednesday

UP AND OVER: Sea Of Sands and Patrick Mullins en route to winning the McSweeney Brothers Maiden Hurdle. Picture: Healy Racing

Hindsight is 20/20 vision, particularly in the great sport of horse racing, and had punters known that Willie Mullins felt prior to the McSweeney Brothers Maiden Hurdle that the long-absent Sea Of Sands could be a real player in the English Cesarewitch, he may well have gone off a lot shorter than 15-8 for this, his hurdling debut.

Ridden by son Patrick and carrying the colours of wife Jackie, he raced prominently from the outset, was in front a long way out, and won without having to have too much pressure applied.

“He’s a horse we got from Germany, but he’s had a lot of issues,” said the winning trainer. “He just started to come right in the last couple of months, and I thought we’d pick out a nice maiden hurdle for him and he did it nicely. He jumped the first well — probably the only one he jumped well, but he’ll learn. He was a bit keen, as a lot of those Flat horses are, but we’ll look at mixing it with him. There might be a nice Flat race in him. The Cesarewitch could be a possibility if he comes out of this race well.” 

Zariygann was quite weak in the betting prior to the Seamus Mulvaney Bookmaker Novice Hurdle but was most impressive in the race itself. A half-brother to Zaynab and Zanahiyr, the four-year-old travelled kindly throughout and when long-time lead Gaucher made a mistake at the second-last, he quickly asserted and won as he pleased. There was no great depth to the race but the manner of the victory suggests he could have a bright future over obstacles.

King Kali got off the mark for his career by taking the Bandon Hotel Handicap Hurdle under Kevin Sexton. Trained in Kildare by Seán Byrne, the 8-1 chance took up the running in the straight and found plenty for pressure to get the better of Impero.

Donkey Years, trained by Eric McNamara and ridden by Mark Walsh, won for the fourth time in his career when taking the Devon Inn Dan Sheahan Memorial Handicap Hurdle. Coole Cherry was in front rank throughout and ran a huge race in defeat, but the more patiently ridden Donkey Years, sporting the colours of JP McManus, threw down his challenge from two out, and ran on well to see off his game rival.

“We're delighted with that,” said McNamara. “He's been a good servant over the years. He’s so much better handicapped over hurdles than fences, so it was nice to get one with him. He showed a nice bit of sparkle there and Mark said he was even keen at one or two points in the race.

“I'd like to have one crack at the Munster National with him. Maybe before today I might have struggled to be allowed to enter him, but he will be entered in it now, that's for certain.” 

Shecoudlbeanything was a well-backed favourite for the Ballygarry Estate Hotel & Spa Mares’ Novice Chase, and she duly obliged for Gordon Elliott. A spare ride for Sam Ewing, who stepped in to take over from Jack Kennedy, who injured a rib in an earlier fall, sat behind the leader, Sainte Dona, most of the way.

As they raced the final bends, he sent his mount for home, and she asserted to win with plenty in hand. Victory was the 24th of Ewing’s season, which means he is currently joint leading rider along with Keith Donoghue, one ahead of the sidelined Rachael Blackmore.

The finale was the Listowel Vintners Association Bumper and Champagne Kid, ridden by Rob James for Pat Collins, raced clear late on to build on the promise of earlier efforts.