Double Grade Three delight for Townend and Mullins at Tipperary
LONG AND SHORT OF IT: Daddy Long Legs and Paul Townend jump the last to win the Horse and Jockey Hotel Hurdle. Picture: Healy Racing
Paul Townend and Willie Mullins teamed up for a double on the National Hunt portion of Sunday’s card in Tipperary, while Colin Keane made a great weekend even better by taking the feature on the Flat.
Daddy Long Legs, who provided the second leg of the Mullins-Townend double, made short work of his rivals in the Grade Three Horse & Jockey Hotel Hurdle. There wasn’t much depth to the race and, essentially, he beat a 129-rated rival off level terms, but the authority of the performance served as a reminder that when he is on form, he can be very good.
Gaucher set up the brace when taking the Grade Three Boylesports Novice Hurdle. With a couple of non-runners, only four went to post but it produced an exciting finish. The winner was ridden to challenge at the final hurdle and stuck to his task gamely to beat the well-backed Sunchart by half a length.
The other Grade Three on the card went to the Gordon Elliott-trained and Sam Ewing-ridden Shecouldbeanything, who led late to deny long-time leader Gaelic Arc. Strongly supported favourite Gorgeous Tom exited at the ninth fence.
Extensio, who gave trainer Pat O’Donnell such a great day when winning at York’s Ebor meeting, made a winning return to hurdling in the Racing TV Handicap Hurdle. The top weight travelled well for Brian Hayes, went clear going to the last, and won a shade cosily from the fast-finishing The Niffler.
Hillhead Runner, a 22-1 chance trained by Peter Fahey, benefited from a clever ride by David Doyle as he made all the running and had just enough in reserve to deny favourite Shadows Of My Mind in the bumper.
Three of the eight races on the card were dedicated to the Flat brigade and Colin Keane, who won the Group 1 Sun Chariot on Saturday at Newmarket, took the listed Coolmore Sioux Nation Concorde Stakes for boss Ger Lyons. His mount, Power Under Me, showed his appreciation for the soft underfoot conditions as he picked up strongly to lead inside the furlong marker.
The opener, a juvenile maiden, went to the Joseph O’Brien-trained and Declan McDonagh-ridden Emit. From a family which has produced the likes of Epsom Oaks winner Light Shift and Tattersalls Gold Cup winner Shiva, he may not scale such heights but has the potential to prove at least as good as half-sister Norwalk Havoc, who is currently rated 102.
Sheila Lavery’s Kortez Bay won for just the second time in his career when leading late in the Fitzgerald’s Woodlands House Hotel Handicap.
