Cleary-Farrell on the double as Mullins dominates action
Spanish Harlem and Sean Cleary-Farrell (green cap) win the Jim Ryan Memorial Novice Steeplechase from No Time To Wait at Punchestown. Picture: Healy Racing
Willie Mullins dominated the weekend action in Punchestown, registering doubles on both Saturday and Sunday, with 7lb claimer Sean Cleary-Farrell delivering on the double yesterday for Closutton, on board Spanish Harlem and Keep Up.
Without a win in his fourteen 14 previous starts for Mullins but fourth in the valuable Bet365 Gold Cup last time, Spanish Harlem broke through in the Jim Ryan Memorial Novice Chase, staying on dourly on the run-in to get the better of No Time To Wait and justify 8/15 favouritism.
“The track and trip suited him and he used his jumping experience,” said David Casey, representing Mullins.
“Sean gave him a good ride and he kept galloping. Nicer ground and extended trip suit him and I’d say we’ll keep going with him.”
Sean Cleary-Farrell completed his first double and provided the second leg of the Mullins treble on hurdling debutante Keep Up, a facile winner of the Lily & Wild Mares Maiden Hurdle, the 4/5 shot beating market rival Fillusin by five lengths.
“Sean gave her a good ride — she was a bit in his hands, fresh after her break, but she jumped well and stayed galloping,” said Casey.
“I hope she’ll go on to win her ‘novice’ now — she could be one for Galway.”
Anna McGuinness, another emerging 7lb claimer, rode her second winner in the famous colours of JP McManus and provided the final leg of the Closutton treble when Joli Travail (2/1) made virtually all, to take the John Dowling Memorial Maiden Hurdle at the expense of William Butler.
“He’s had a couple of issues, but that was a good performance,” stated a delighted Casey. “He learned a lot in Killarney and the longer trip definitely helped him. We’ll try to find a ‘novice’ for him but, long-term, he looks like a chaser.”
And he added, “Anna is a good rider. She was recommended to use by James Lambe about a year ago and is with us full-time.”
Brosna Queen, trained locally by Sonny Carey, proved best in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Pro-Am Flat Race, digging deep for Patrick Mullins to see off Atomic Queen and Kabylia.
“She’s a good mare, with loads of ability,” said Carey. “She’ll have a break and might come back for the ‘Mucklemeg’ (listed event at Gowran Park) or a trip to Cheltenham in November.”
The Noel Meade-trained Mick Collins (Eoin Walsh) rallied bravely on the run-in to confirm Bellewstown flat form with odds-on favourite Luker’s Tipple in the Bermingham Cameras Maiden Hurdle.
Tightest finish of the day came in the Madison Flooring Handicap Hurdle, when Gavin Cromwell’s versatile grey Londonofficecallin (Kieren Buckley) pipped favourite Stay Gold by a nose before surviving a Stewards Enquiry.
And the quirky, Ted Walsh-trained Hardwired, under a determined Gavin Brouder, proved his liking for Punchestown when foiling Antrim Coast by a half-length in the K-Mech Mechanical Handicap Chase., the nine-year-old third success at the County Kildare track.Ends……jr / poh
