Rothwell matches Mullins' Fairyhouse double
WHERE THERE’S A WILL... Kiss Will soars over an obstacle en route to winning the Fairyhouse, Racecourse Of The Year 2024 Maiden Hurdle on Thursday. Picture: Healy Racing
Willie Mullins and Paul Townend doubled-up with odds-on favourites Kiss Will and Fishery Lane in Thursday’s maiden hurdle action in Fairyhouse, their brace matched by Philip Rothwell and Tiernan Power Roche, who struck with Workinonadream and Duffys Hodey.
Fifth in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham but turned over on his hurdling bow, Fishery Lane (10-11 favourite) made a lot of the running and dug deep to see off Grimaud in the Jump Into January Maiden Hurdle, ultimately scoring by four and a half lengths.
“I wasn’t very good on him the last day and all our horses that ran around that time have come on from their runs,” said Townend. “The experience will help him — he’s learning on the job. I see him as a strong stayer. This two and a half miles is a minimum for him.”
Townend also adopted forceful tactics on Kiss Will, on his Irish/hurdling debut, in the Fairyhouse Racecourse Of The Year 2024 Maiden Hurdle.
Having made the running, he was involved in a duel from half-way with Hello Jack, shook off that rival before the second last flight and, despite a last flight mistake, stayed on to beat Costacurta by 13 lengths.
“It was a match from the time we jumped off,” stated Townend. “I had the better of it turning in and he lengthened well up the straight. He handled the ground well and I liked what he did. He showed a better turn of foot than I expected. If he’s going to be a good horse, he’ll have to learn to jump at speed — he found a leg at the last, which was good.”
Placed in five of her six previous hurdle starts, 110-rated Workninonadream, sparked the Rothwell double when turning over odds-on favourite Swing Davis in the HAY ‘How Are Ya’ Mares Maiden Hurdle.
“That’s fantastic — no more seconds,” declared Rothwell, “She deserved it — she’s been so consistent.”
Rothwell and Power Roche were on the mark again in the concluding 0-100 handicap when Duffys Hodey, the 5-2 favourite, reeled in Blue Reed, a long way clear for most of the journey, at the final flight before scoring by five and a half lengths.
The winning trainer was full of praise for the rider: “Tiernan is a big asset. His 7lb claim is invaluable. And I’m very happy he’s on our team.”
Having recorded a four-timer at the last meeting at the track, Gavin Cromwell was on the mark again when Springt De La Mare made a successful start to his chasing career in the Fairyhouse For Fundraisers Beginners Chase.
Produced to head favourite Theatre Native at the last, the grey went on, under Keith Donoghue, to score by almost two lengths.
Cromwell said: “He couldn’t win over hurdles, but has always looked like a chaser and was crying out for fences. He jumped very well out there and it’s nice to win with him again. I’m not sure about his trip — I thought he’d be stayer, but two miles or a little further seems to suit him.”
Gordon Elliott won the four-runner Easter Festival Rated Novice Hurdle, not with 11-10 favourite Heroes Rise (made most of the running before finishing third), but with seasonal debutant Find A Fortune, ridden by Danny Gilligan, who received a two-day careless riding ban.
The eight-year-old survived a last flight mistake, when in front, to beat Palamon by two and a half lengths, prompting Elliott to admit: “I thought he’d need the run. He looked big in the ring, for one of ours. So he’ll come on for the run and will appreciate better ground. He’ll make a grand chaser some day.”
