Place De La Nation duly delivers in Mares Maiden hurdle at Thurles

Thurles 20-11-25

Although her odds put her out of reach as a money-maker for the average punter, all of the focus was on Place De La Nation in the Irish Stallion EBF Mares’ Maiden Hurdle on Thursday afternoon in Thurles, and she duly delivered.

A close fifth in the Triumph Hurdle when last seen, the lightly raced sort was sent off a 1-5 chance to put this first win on her card. Trained by Willie Mullins for Gigginstown House Stud, and ridden by Paul Townend, she had a race-fit and smart rival in Divaboriva, and that lady provided a stern challenge.

Off a modest pace, it turned into a sprint from just before the turn for home, and the odds-on favourite first hit the front jumping the second-last. Divaboriva refused to lie down but Place De La Nation, whose jumping once again was a joy to behold, had her measure as they sprinted to the line. A length and a half separated them, and they pulled 15 clear of the remainder.

The winner is a terrific prospect, particularly with her slick and proficient jumping, and the runner-up is a hurdle winner in waiting.

“She knuckled down and class got her through in the end,” said Townend. “She’s taken a couple of blows. She was jumping so well early but I wasn’t able to use that because I didn’t want to let her on because it would have given her a proper grueller.

“She handled the ground nicely, she stayed well, and there’s plenty of improvement in her. She jumps like a buck and I wasn’t able to use my ace card today. With the run under her belt for this season, you could ride her whatever way you want.” 

Stoneyford Lady may not be a superstar in Knockeen Stables but she earned a deserved first win over fences when taking the William Hill Each Way Extra Challenge Series Handicap Chase. Keeping the scoreboard ticking over for Henry de Bromhead and Darragh O’Keeffe, she was sent to the front going to the last, and soon afterwards had matters at hand.

Stoneyford Lady & Darragh O'Keeffe won the William Hill Handicap Steeplechase. Pic: Healy Racing

“Great to see her win, finally,” said de Bromhead. “She’s been frustrating. She’s a half-sister to Captain Guinness, so she has a good pedigree, and it’s nice she’s got a winning bracket now.” 

William Tell hit the bullseye in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Hurdle. In a competitive race, Harry Kelly’s charge eased upsides to challenge for the lead on the turn for home. In front across the second-last, he faced a strong rival in Heron’s Butler but responded well to Cian Quirke’s encouragement to win with a little to spare.

“He’s a good horse, and he was impressive in Cork. He’s massive and is going to be a really nice horse in the future. He was unlucky in point to points – he should have won the first day – but for the lads who own him, it (running at Cork) was just to get a win on the board. It wasn’t the plan to be running on good ground in Cork in the summertime, but he got away with it. He’s versatile enough, and he’s a brother to a graded horse in England.” 

Eagle Fang foiled a punt on Kurasso Blue when taking the opener, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners’ Chase, for William Durkan and jockey Philip Byrnes. A smart sort over hurdles, boasting a rating which touched the mid-140s, he was making his chasing debut here and showed a good attitude. Never far off the pace, he led turning for home and while the well-backed 5-2 favourite, Kurasso Blue, was up also up there throughout , he led over the last and kept that one at bay with three parts of a length to spare.

Jolie Jewel & James Smith took the William Hill Handicap Hurdle. Pic: Healy Racing

Five-pound claimer James Smith is enjoying a fine run, and he was back amongst the winners when Jolie Jewel took the first division of the two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle. In seventh place jumping the final flight, where there was one faller, she flew home to ultimately win handsomely, with four lengths to spare over Killian’s Garden.

The second division went the way of Plunkett Street, trained by Michael O’Meara and ridden by Daniel King. A little outpaced racing across the top for the final time, as Lambay Island went for home, he was back into contention in the straight and quickened clear to win with plenty in hand.

There was an upset in the 0-100 two-mile handicap as Hillstar Blues, trained by Sean Aherne and ridden by Sean O’Keeffe, edged out Freddie Robdal in an exciting finish. The four-year-old was well beaten on handicap debut at the Listowel festival, but clearly much the better for the outing. From the dam line that produced 1997 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Shadow Leader, this was a nice effort and one he can improve upon.

The finale, the Sign Up To GavinLynchRacing.com Maiden Hurdle for qualified riders, was an eventful affair, in which victory went to the well-backed Mullaghgloss from the Andy Slattery stable.

Le Labo and Cailin Deas both unshipped their rider at the first flight, and Minella Emperor got caught up in the trouble, and his jockey lost his irons and had to be pulled up.

That wasn’t quite the end of the drama as the loose horse ran across the leaders a few times, after going into the infield and then back onto the course itself. Adam Ryan, riding Mullaghgloss, had to be wary at all stages, but he had a straightforward partner who stuck to his task gamely to land a nice punt.