Double delight for Curling at Clonmel

Thu, 02 Oct, 2025 - 18:30

Tommy Lyons, Clonmel

Though the National Hunt season proper is only on the verge of springing into life, shrewd trainer Sam Curling is already having his best season as a trainer, and he added two more to his tally by completing a 79-1 double on Thursday's card in Clonmel.

With three 5-1 co-favourites, the Derrinlaur Mares' Handicap Hurdle looked like a wide-open contest, but one of those market leaders, Queenofthelodge, turned it into a procession. Phillip Enright sent Curling's mare past long-time leader Chosen Shant three out, and thereafter was in control, even when landing awkwardly at the back of the final flight.

"She has been working well, so we were expecting a good run, and we're delighted with that," said Curling. "There is a race for her in November, at Cheltenham, and she could go for that, though she wouldn't want the ground any softer than it was today."

Seán O'Keeffe was in the saddle to complete Curling's brace, doing so aboard Sallap in the Glenary Handicap Hurdle. The Tipperary handler also saddled the favourite, Wing Back, but as the field crawled to the second hurdle, the market leader appeared to take off a stride early, clip the top of the flight, and then tumble out of contention.

In the incident, his stable companion was hampered but she recovered well, travelled sweetly to challenge going to the last flight, and had enough in hand to deny Great Bird, the pair a long way clear.

"She's a tiny little mare, only 15hh, and I'd say that could have been her day," said Curling. "I'd say she enjoyed that ground. She ran no race the last day, in Ballinrobe, so we were clutching at straws and just rode her to run well today."

There was a good buckle in the day's opener, the Slievenamon Claiming Hurdle, in which Rexem continued the good run of trainer John McConnell by landing the spoils under Alex Harvey. Veteran Jerandme made a bold bid and at points looked as though he may be on the way to victory, but Rexem was quick across the final flight and took a decisive advantage which led to McConnell's fourth winner in eight days.

"I got a lovely tow into the race off the runner-up and my horse settled well and jumped brilliantly," said Harvey. "He hadn't been finishing off his recent races so I wanted to come with one rattle, and he put it to bed by winging the last two hurdles."

The Kilmore Maiden Hurdle didn't look particularly strong on paper but the Gavin Cromwell-trained Court Canyon was sent off a 4-6 favourite and duly made the most of the opportunity.

A point-to-point winner in February, he was quite well beaten in both outings in decent bumpers but his dam, Elusive Ivy, won five times for Cromwell and better was expected. Never far off the pace, the well-backed favourite comfortably took the measure of Gametot two out and ran on well to give Cromwell his eighth winner in less than a fortnight.

"He disappointed us in bumpers but had little excuses and we expected him to do that today," said Donoghue. "We went a good gallop and I'd day the ground is a bit slower than we thought, and it caught out my horse when he hit the front. I'd say he'll be even better when he goes over fences."

Hope She Flies, who caused a bit of an upset when off the mark at Roscommon on Monday, followed up under a penalty in the Ravens Rock Novice Handicap Hurdle. Trained by Brian Cawley and ridden by Shane Fitzgerald, the lightly raced five-year-old mare travelled nicely, jumped particularly well, and didn't have to be fully extended to complete her quick double.

A recent victory in Killarney has clearly given the Gordon Elliott-trained What's Up Darling plenty of confidence as he followed up in great style in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Captain Christy Rated Novice Chase.

A frustrating zero from eight over fences prior to that win, the step up to three miles also appears to have suited, and he went on a long way out in this and won in the style of a horse that could have a say in a valuable staying chase as the season progresses.

It will be interesting to see if winning has the same effect on Spellacy's Cross, who took the finale, the Tickincor Handicap Chase under Donagh Meyler. Jimmy Barcoe's six-year-old had shown plenty of promise but came here an 18-race maiden under rules, and this victory, gained at the expense of Romella, was long overdue.