Irish report: Double glory for Ewing and Elliott at Galway
Search For Glory and Sam Ewing win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Steeplechase at Galway. Picture: Healy Racing
The season’s leading rider Sam Ewing brought his tally for the campaign to 33 when delivering a double for Gordon Elliott and Gigginstown House Stud on novices Search For Glory and Patter Merchant in Galway.
A dual-winner at Grade 3 level over hurdles last season, Search For Glory made a successful start to his chasing career in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase.
Driven along by Ewing four from home, as he chased trail-blazer Sir Argus, the seven-year-old was whittling away the deficit running into the dip and just two lengths down when the leader made a last fence mistake, Search For Glory soon swept into the lead and powered up the hill to beat favourite Sa Majeste by eight lengths.
“Sam gave him a lovely ride,” said Elliott’s representative Lisa O’Neill,”I thought it would be hard to reel in the front-runner, but I knew he’d come up the hill. He jumped quite well and Sam was happy with him. There’s plenty of improvement to come, both mentally and physically. He should be competitive in staying novice chases.”
The Cullentra double was completed when hurdling debutant Patter Merchant outpointed favourite I Am Lorenzo in the Glenlo Abbey Hotel & Estate Maiden Hurdle.
In front after the third last, the Walk In The Park gelding’s slick jump at the next saw him shoot clear before staying on powerfully to triumph by four and a half lengths.
Ewing explained, “He’s a nice one - we’re looking forward to him. He’s sharp enough, saw out that trip but would have no problem dropping back to two miles. He jumped and travelled well.”
The Willie Mullins-trained My Great Mate, ridden by Danny Mullins, denied the Elliott/Gigginstown/Ewing combination when proving a half-length too strong for Prends Garde A Toi in the 100 Euros Annual Badge For Galway 2025 Novice Hurdle.
The grey is owned by Temple Bloodstock Syndicate, managed by Aubrey McMahon, who said, “This has been a lucky course for me. We have eighteen owners involved in this horse and a lot of them are in Galway for the weekend. Jumping was the key – he was quick and efficient.”
The Declan Queally-trained Mozzies Sister justified 1/3 favouritism in the opening mares maiden hurdle, but only got up late to foil front-running Whimsy by a half-length.
Henry de Bromhead, among the winners at Cheltenham on Saturday, completed an across-the-card double, completed when the Mike O’Connor-ridden Doonbeg Don denied favourite Desert Heather by a half-length in a great tussle for the Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Chase.
The de Bromhead treble had been sparked when 4/6 favourite Jasko Des Dames made a successful chasing debut in the Wexford opener, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase.
“He jumped super and Darragh (O’Keeffe) was happy to let him roll along,” said Robbie Power, “I’d say that’s the limit of his stamina and he’ll probably be dropping back to two miles.”
Jasko Des Dames was the first leg of a superb 74/1 for Darragh O’Keeffe, who followed-up on Empire Success in the Remembering Bridges Hillies Maiden Hurdle, a first training success for Ger O’Leary, from between Midleton and Youghal in East Cork.
O’Keeffe rounded off a memorable day when Finbarr Hand’s Ms Agartha Yeats captured the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Hurdle at the expense of Laravie, a race in which 1/10 favourite Aurora Vega flopped, struggling early before being pulled up four from home.
Paul Townend, who rode that hot-pot, enjoyed better luck on 13/8 favourite Duke Silver in the Slaney View Honda Handicap Hurdle, completing an unusual across-the-card double for Joseph O’Brien, successful at Group 1 level earlier with Tennessee Stud over in Saint-Cloud.
