Its Bilbo defies top weight in Limerick for Henry de Bromhead
Rob James - riding his first winner for Henry de Bromhead - led Its Bilbo to victory in the QuinnBet Handicap Hurdle at Limerick. Pic: Healy Racing Photo.
Back over hurdles after two excursions over fences in recent weeks, Its Bilbo defied top-weight in the listed QuinnBet Handicap Hurdle in Limerick, second leg of an across-the-card double for his trainer Henry de Bromhead.
Its Bilbo, a 9/2 shot, travelled smoothly into the race for 7lb-claining amateur Rob James (riding his first winner for de Bromhead) and stayed on well to beat favourite Lenjoleur De Palma by a length and three-quarters, with three-year-old Combs a creditable third.
“He jumped well and travelled everywhere – he did it well,” declared James, “I got there in loads of time but, in fairness to him, he had loads left going to the line and was pricking his ears.
“Henry told me how to ride him and Robbie Power told me he had a big chance. Maybe the chasing stood to him.”
James went on to complete a double when Gearoid O’Loughlin’s No Cure (5/1) outstayed Just For One to take the Limerick Racecourse Vets Maiden Hurdle (in memory of Andrew McNamara).
On a day when an across-the-card five-timer brought his tally for the festive period to a remarkable 18 winners, Gordon Elliott took the opening Grant Thornton Maiden Hunters Chase with the gambled-on Last Round, ridden by Josh Halford.
Backed from 10/1 to 7/2 the unexposed six-year-old cruised into the lead before the home-turn before scoring readily, by ten lengths, from rallying, long-time-leader West Of Carrig.
“He’s been working well at home and it was very easy out there,” said the winning rider, “He jumped and travelled away. He took me the whole way and I didn’t have to ask him a whole pile of questions."
Speaking in Leopardstown, where he saddled four winners, Elliott suggested that Last Round is likely to be aimed at the ‘farmers race’ at the Punchestown festival.
Holy See, carrying the colours of his trainer Bill Durkan, defied top-weight in the Philip O’Sullivan Heating & Plumbing Rated Novice Hurdle, digging deep to foil Ifallgoeswell by a half-length.
Durkan’s assistant Gary Bannon explained, “He was in the novice handicap in Leopardstown, but we felt that the smaller field here would suit him. He has a lot of ability, but this has been a long time coming.
“Both Philip Byrnes and Paddy O’Brien were unavailable. And we were delighted to get Johnny (Shinnick) to ride him. He took his chance and his claim helped.”
Having his third start over fences, the Philip Rothwell-trained Duffys Hodey (11/4) got the job done in the Vision Contracting Novice Handicap Chase, Shane O’Callaghan’s mount seeing off top-weight Mickie Angel and One And Only.
“He jumped better and was more professional today,” said Rothwell, “He’s a great fun horse for a magic syndicate. He’s entered for Tramore on Thursday and we’ll see how he is.”
Eamonn Gallagher’s versatile and ultra-consistent mare Onefortheditch made virtually all under Calum Hogan to take the first division of the Focus Capital Handicap Hurdle at the expense of Hakensack.
Danny Gilligan partnered the Ross O’Sullivan-trained favourite Raise You Up to a convincing win in the Connolly’s RED MILLS Auction Maiden Hurdle, the four-year-old Wings Of Eagles gelding being considered a ”lovely chaser for the future” by his trainer.
And Charles Byrnes, who landed Sunday’s bumper, struck again when Diamond Dollar (5/2), ridden by Philip and unplaced here on Saturday, took the second division of the Focus Capital Handicap Hurdle in a thrilling photo-finish beating the fast-finishing Might Be The One by a nose with Uptaurintop just a short-head away third.
