The Yellow Clay retains unbeaten hurdling record with victory at Naas Novice Hurdle
Sam Ewing rode Yellow Clay confidently to victory
The Yellow Clay retained his unbeaten hurdling record and took the step into Grade 1 company in his stride when landing yesterday’s Naas feature, the Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle. It all took place on ground which deteriorated through the day due to persistent rain which, ultimately, turned to snow.
Confidently handled by Sam Ewing, the 11/4 second-favourite tracked the pace set by stable-companion Wingmen and Plontier, moved into contention on the home-turn before edging ahead two out and powering up the hill to beat Supersundae (best of the Willie Mullins-trained quartet) by eight lengths, with Wingmen third and favourite Jasmin De Vaux a well-beaten fourth.
Owned by Bective Stud, The Yellow Clay has now won hurdles at maiden, Grade 3, Grade 2 and Grade 1 level. His delighted trainer Gordon Elliott stated, “He’s a horse with a good attitude and he knows how to win. He’s improving all the time and jumped and travelled great. He was in front plenty soon, but galloped away.”
“I was worried about the ground. I spoke to Noel (owner Noel Moran, who is in Turkey) this morning and he gave me the green light to run both horses. Same said he hated the ground, but got through it.”
Considering future plans, Elliott, who has now won five of the last runnings of the ‘Lawlors’, added, “He’ll be entered for the Dublin Racing Festival, but he’s had four runs and has plenty of experience. So there’s every chance he’ll go straight to Cheltenham (for the Turners Novice Hurdle).”
Impressive in his fencing bow at Navan, Ile Atlantique (narrowly beaten in the ‘Lawlor’s’ at this meeting last year) stepped-up to land the Grade 2 Racing Post Novice Chase. And he did it in fine style, beating Firefox and disappointing favourite Inthepocket to provide the middle leg of a treble for Willie Mullins and sparking a double for Paul Townend.
Tony Bloom’s seven-year-old made most of the running for Townend, drawing clear on the run-in to triumph by seven lengths.
“Efficient jumping won it for him,” stated Mullins, “He’s more mature and stronger than last year. Fences might be the making of him. Paul says that it all seems natural to him.
“He’ll probably go to the Dublin Racing Festival. He might go for the Ladbrokes Novice Chase (along with Ballyburn), while Majborough will go for the two-miler (the Goffs Irish Arkle).”
Earlier, Fun Fun Fun, ridden by her breeder Patrick Mullins, spear-headed a 1-2-3 for Closutton in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase. She produced an impressive chase debut performance, taking all to beat stable-companions Karia Des Blaises and Iris Emerye easily.
Willie Mullins commented, “That was a nice performance for her first time – she jumped reasonably well,” while Patrick explained, “She was very good – she’s not big, but she was brilliant. She’s from a staying, soft ground chasing pedigree.”
“She could be a better chaser than hurdler. I’d like to bring her back to two miles and let her rip. The ‘Opera Hat’, here, early next month, might be an option for her.”
The Mullins treble and Townend double were completed when Joystick, in the Ricci colours, made virtually all to justify 5/6 favouritism in the INH Stallion Owners Irish EBF Maiden Hurdle, holding the late effort of Honesty Policy by a half-length.
Gavin Cromwell took the Race And Stay Handicap Chase, not with 7/4 favourite Lazer Wolf (third), but with 9/2 shot The Other Mozzie, helped by first-time cheekpieces, who ran out a convincing eleven lengths winner under Conor Stone-Walsh.
And, appropriately, the Joseph O’Brien-trained Camelot filly Light Up The Dark emerged from the snow and near darkness to take the four-year-old bumper, John Gleeson’s mount pulling clear to beat Scarriff Bridge by seven lengths.
