Joy for Molloy as Welluknow bounces back to form
UP AND OVER: Welluknow and Dan King en route to winning the Easter Festival April 4th - 6th Rated Novice Hurdle. Picture: Healy Racing
Owned in partnership by Eoin Banville and his trainer Mark Molloy, Welluknow came from last to first to land the five-runner Easter Festival April 4th-6th Rated Novice Hurdle in Fairyhouse.
Patiently handled by Daniel King, the seven-year-old challenged down the inside to master Nelson’s Butler by three and three-quarter lengths in a race which saw favourite Sticwiththeprocess finish a distant last.
“We were very disappointed with him the last day in Leopardstown — things just didn’t work out and Danny (Mullins) looked after him," Molloy said.
“He’s deceptive at home — he only eats and sleeps, but he has loads of talent. He’s a big, scopey horse and loves his jumping. He’s built for chasing and might come back here in the spring before he goes over fences next season.”
King completed a double when adopting very different tactics on Karl Thornton’s 9-2 favourite Shanroe Act in the second division of the 0-100 handicap hurdle, making all for an emphatic win over Wakey Wakey Man.
The most impressive performance of the day came from the JP McManus-owned reserve Mighty Park (8-13 favourite) who made all and bolted-up, unchallenged, by 38 lengths from stablemate and morning favourite Roc Dino.
The Walk In The Park gelding was a 13th winner in eight days for Willie Mullins. And his rider Mark Walsh said: “You couldn’t but be impressed by him. He won in a hack over two miles, but will have no problem staying further. It was all very straight-forward.”
Frank Berry added: “Mark said he was raw enough in front, but we’re very happy with him. He has a bit of size and scope and we’ll see where Willie wants to go with him.”
The Mullins team looked set to double-up with Noemie De la Vis (Paul Townend) in the Bobbyjo Chase Day February 21st Mares Maiden Hurdle.
But, awkward at the final flight, the 4-7 favourite was caught late and beaten a half-length by 28-1 shot Soldierstown, a first training success for Peter Buchanan and a 79th winner of the season for Darragh O’Keeffe.
“My father bred her and turned down good money after she won her point-to-point,” explained Buchanan. “She’s not the speediest. She’s a real three-miler and needs to brush up her jumping. We might find a little mares novice for her over in Ayr.”
Favourite-backers were similarly frustrated after the opening Book Your Easter Festival Early Bird Tickets Beginners Chase which saw 6-4 favourite Coral River take the lead three fences from home before being collared close home by chasing debutant I AM Lorenzo, ridden for Paul Nolan by Seán Flanagan.
Tim O’Driscoll’s seven-year-old prevailed by a half-length, prompting Flanagan to comment: “He’s a real, big chaser, travelled well and jumped fantastic. He’s always travelled smart enough but didn’t stay over further trips. This was a dramatic drop in trip and he was well-in at the weights.”
Amateur Adrian Browne savoured his first racecourse success when partnering five-time point-to-point winner West Of Carrig, trained by his father Don, to a gutsy all-the-way win, on his handicap debut, in the Jump Into January Handicap Chase.
The Westerner gelding was opening his account under rules at the 18th attempt, his rider explaining: “He’s our stable star and this is brilliant. I’ll never beat the feeling of riding my first point-to-point winner (in Carrigtwohill), but this comes close.”
Gordon Elliott was a happy man after Needs Must (15-8), under Jack Kennedy, saw off favourite Pat’s Legacy in the unplaced maiden hurdle.
“It was an ideal race for him and the penny has dropped with him since the last day,” Elliott said.
Kanog Bay (Conor Stone-Walsh) was described as “a big, raw horse, just a real galloper” by his trainer Ian Donoghue following his battling victory over top-weight and 15-8 favourite Chanceawetmorning in the first division of the 0-100 handicap hurdle.
