Blood Destiny bounces back in style for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend in Naas

Blood Destiny and Paul Townend win for trainer WIllie Mullins. Pic: Healy Racing.

Pulled up on his seasonal debut in the ‘Dan Moore’ at Fairyhouse, Blood Destiny bounced back to land the Grade 3 William Hill Racing Bet Builder Chase in Naas, second leg of a double for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend.

Having tracked the pace, the seven-year-old closed turning for home, headed Touch me Not at the final fence and forged clear to score by almost five lengths, with 2024 Champion Chase winner Captain Guinness back in third.

“He’s not a bad horse on his day and he likes it around here – he won a good novice here,” said David Casey, representing Mullins. “He has disappointed a few times, btu he was on a going day today and Paul said he travelled sweet and did it well.

“Carrying top-weight in the ‘Dan Moore’ didn’t suit him in his comeback run. The conditions of today’s race suited him – he was well-in with the second.

“We’ll see what else is around for him and he’d prefer a bit of nicer ground. Hopefully, this well serve as a confidence-booster for him.”

After a bizarrely slow start (all five riders were fined €250), the five runners for the listed Download The William Hill App Juvenile Hurdle warmed to their task.

And the Willie Mullins-trained French import Majolique, in the familiar Honeysuckle colours, did a lot of things wrong through the race before sweeping past Michonne, whose rider Donagh Meyler received a four-day careless riding ban, on the run-in to score by four lengths., initiating the Closutton double.

“She got injured after she arrived and I didn’t think she’d be ready enough to do that,” said Casey.

“I’d say the slow pace helped her. And she must have plenty of ability to do what she did. She’s entered for the “Triumph’, but it’s come too soon. Her owners won the Grade 1 in Aintree with Murcia last year and that could be a target for her.”

An eye-catcher over course and distance last time, 7/2 favourite Goraibhmaithagat, trained for J P McManus by Colm Murphy, captured the listed William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Nas Na Riogh Novice Handicap Chase, getting up close home under Mark Walsh to beat Magic McColgan (blundered at the last) by a half-length.

“He made a few silly mistakes, but got the job done,” said Frank Berry. “He handled the ground well and got a good ride from Mark. He had to be tough and fight, and he did.”

After a frustrating run of near-misses with his recent runners, Arthur Moore enjoyed a welcome change of luck when Star Of The Week (Ricky Doyle) made all for an emphatic win over four-year-olds Dschingis Desire and Lynches Knock in the opening William Hill Ireland Bet10 Get 5 Maiden Hurdle.

Having his third start, the imposing Masked Marvel gelding jumped fluently and bossed it throughout, coming home five lengths clear and prompting his trainer to state.

“He’s gorgeous, a real model of a horse, a joy to watch – you wouldn’t see nicer.” “He looked a big baby in the north, btu Ricky said he went asleep for him in front today. Ricky gave him a super ride – he’s underrated and a very good horseman.”

In the familiar colours of Robert Waley-Cohen, Melbourne Shamrock (Donagh Meyler) opened his hurdling account and qualified for the final of the series in Cheltenham when justifying 5/2 favouritism in the Pertemps Network Group Handicap Hurdle qualifier.

“He’s been knocking on the door in nicer races and that was a gritty performance,” said winning trainer Emmet Mullins.

“It’s great to win for Robert and to qualify him for the final in Cheltenham. That’s where he’s going, if he gets in. He’s tough and hardy and loves soft ground, Finger crosses, he’ll be competitive over there.

“We’ll give this fellow one more run over hurdles, probably at Easter, before he goes chasing in the autumn – he might start off in Navan, where we started a lot of our good ones.”

Gordon Elliott, in Cork to see his beloved Meath followers, missed seeing the Gigginstown-owned Low Kick, second on his Irish debut in Navan, run out a convincing ten-lengths winner of the bumper under Harry Swan.

In Elliott’s absence, Aidan O’Ryan commented; “He came on plenty from his run in Navan and is a smart horse. Harry was quiet taken by him.”