Kazansky survives titanic tussle to take Limerick feature for Elliott

With Danny Gilligan abord, the 9/2 shot held firm against locally-trained County Final, the mount of Sean Flanagan

GETTING IT DONE: Kazansky and Danny Gilligan (near) win the Defender Novice Hurdle (Grade 2) from County Final (far). Pic: Healy Racing Photo.

On another memorable St. Stephen’s Day, which yielded six winners across the three meetings for Gordon Elliott and his Cullentra team, Kazansky bagged the featured Defender Novice Hurdle in Limerick.

Just five went to post for this Grade 2, in which favourite The Big Clubman disappointed. But it produced a titanic tussle between the Danny Gilligan-ridden Kazansky (9/2) and locally-trained County Final, the mount of Sean Flanagan.

Just a head separated the pair at the line with the placings left unchanged after a stewards enquiry.

"He was taking a big step-up in trip, but he’s genuine and stays well. And that was a lovely performance," Gilligan said. "There was a bit of bumping going down to the last, but my lad showed guts to tough it out and won well. He seems to be improving with racing.” 

Eric McNamara, narrowly denied with County Final in the feature, had been on the mark earlier when the Sean Flanagan-ridden Starting Fifteen, backed into 4/5 favourite, outpointed Laurets d’Estruval in the Signsplus Maiden Hurdle.

“He was entitled to win on his run against Talk The Talk,” stated McNamara, “He’s a smart horse, with buckets of toe. We’ll look for a novice for him next and he might be one for one of the better handicaps in the spring.” 

Flanagan completed a double when partnering Denis Hogan’s well-backed 9/4 favourite Cousin Kate to victory over top-weight Carried With Love in the Mr Binman Mares Handicap Hurdle.

“They went. a decent gallop and she struggled a bit coming down the hill,” explained the winning rider. “But she picked up again and might stay further in time.” 

On a day of mixed fortune at Leopardstown and Kempton, Willie Mullins took Limerick’s opening juvenile maiden hurdle with the Gigginstown-owned Bertutea (Sean O’Keeffe) on his Irish debut.

The 7/4 favourite bolted-up by nine lengths with O’Keeffe later completing a double on Michael McDonagh’s course specialist and 9/5 favourite Happy Dreams in the BRC McMahon Handicap Chase. 

"He had a bit of experience in France, jumped well and was only doing what he had to do." O'Keeffe said of Bertutea. "It was nice performance, he picked-up nicely and might be better on better ground.” 

In Down Royal, the Emmet Mullins-trained Its On The Line produced a typically gutsy performance to land the BAR 1 Betting Hunters Chase for the second time, foiling Willitgoahead and favourite Con’s Roc.

“He keeps finding and knows how to win,” said the gelding’s regular partner Derek O’Connor. “He puts it on the line every time and tries hard. He’ll have a run in a point-to-point before going the usual route to the spring festivals.” 

Gordon Elliott doubled-up with once-raced Sept Etoile (Sam Ewing) in the opening maiden hurdle and the Jordan Gainford-ridden Slanagaibhgoleir, like Its On The Line, owned by JP McManus, in the beginners chase.

On the mark with Addragoole in Leopardstown, Gavin Cromwell completed a quick across-the-card double when Eoin Staples guided 6/4 favourite Boycetown to a wide-margin win in the bumper.

Helped by a first-time tongue-tie, Los Blanco justified 5/4 favouritism for Henry de Bromhead and Paddy O’Brien in the Connolly’s Red Mills Maiden Hurdle.