'Job done' for Gordon Elliott after smooth El Cairos calms nerves in Thurles
El Cairos and Jack Kennedy win the Thurles Maiden Hurdle. Photo HEALY RACING
He had to survive a final flight scare but El Cairos warmed up for a mouthwatering Supreme Novices’ Hurdle showdown with Old Park Star in the opening race of the Cheltenham Festival by winning the ThurlesRaces.ie Maiden Hurdle on Thursday.
The smooth-travelling gelding would have been one of the most impressive winners of the entire Christmas period but for a luckless stumble on landing after the final flight of a Leopardstown maiden hurdle.
And for one horrible moment here, it looked like history was going to repeat itself at Thurles but El Cairos, sent off at odds of 1-5, did enough to stay upright after his final flight error and crossed the line three lengths clear of Roc Dino.
“Job done,” was the verdict of a relieved Gordon Elliott. “He jumped brilliant the whole way, bar the last, and never came out of second gear. Jack (Kennedy, jockey) said it was his fault at the last as he said he should have either taken him back or asked him, but I loved the way he came back on the bridle straight away, you’d have to be impressed with that.
“I was nervous coming here with the ground, we came here looking for good ground, it was either going to have to be Punchestown or Navan next week (if not Thurles) and it was getting close to Cheltenham but I don’t think he could have done any more.”
As was the case at Leopardstown, the most impressive element of El Cairos’ display was his ability to quicken, an asset that should serve him well on better ground come Cheltenham.
“He’s very fast,” Elliott agreed. “Jack said the boot he has is unbelievable on that ground. He’ll have learned plenty from today and the big field will have done him no harm either. He’ll go straight to Cheltenham now.”
The Willie Mullins-trained Charme De Faust is another who could be making the trip to Cheltenham and the Triumph Hurdle entry produced a slick display to win the Thurles Maiden Hurdle.
“She jumped brilliant and I think there’s plenty of improvement to come from her but I liked how she did it,” winning jockey Paul Townend said. “She still has a bit of developing to do to fill into her frame and when she strengthens up she’ll be a fine mare.”
There was early drama in the Racing Again February 5th Maiden Hunters Chase as 1-2 favourite Magic Sadler unseated jockey Emily Costello at the first fence.
Come the business end of proceedings, it was 25-1 shot Cold Old Fire who found most, pulling 21 lengths clear of fellow outsider Our Story in the hands of Darragh Allen.
“We expected him to be placed and with the favourite falling it opened things up but we fancied him to run a big race so we’re delighted with him,” trainer Raymond Hurley said. “He’s a small little horse but he’s as tough as nails, he gallops and stays.”
The opening race of the day, the Leugh Beginners Chase, was won by Toor Khov at odds of 7-1.
The eight-year-old, ridden by Liam Quinlan, got the better of Insouciant Dallier by four lengths to the delight of winning trainer Margaret Flynn.
“The lads who work with him, Tommy Condon and Johnny Kirwan, couldn't see him being beaten as he was in great form and I thought, if he could get through the ground, that he would take a lot of beating,” Flynn said.
“He is a bit daft, he spent all morning trying to kick the hind shoes off himself in the stable and we weren’t able to clip him either, or anything like that. He is just very highly strung.”
Jack Kennedy completed a double on the day when top weight Mi Lucky Cailin stayed on strongly to win the Killinan Handicap Hurdle by six and a half lengths.
“She had finished second to some good mares previously, we have her back in form, and she was entitled to win that race today,” winning trainer William McLernon said.
“She is a joy to have and Jack made things easier today.” With conditions deteriorating, only four of the 10 runners finished the Holycross Maiden Hurdle, 3-1 shot Blow Wind Blow coming out on top for Enda Bolger and Mark Walsh.
The finale, the Horse & Jockey Handicap Hurdle, was won by another grey, Pebble Bleu justifying 4-1 joint-favouritism in the hands of Michael Kenneally.
“Michael gets on great with her, he knows how to ride her and just lets her at it and she does her own thing,” winning trainer Colin Motherway said.
