Kiely’s Place justifies market confidence to land Clonmel spoils
GAMBLE LANDED: Kiely's Place and Patrick Mullins en route to winning the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel on Thursday. Picture: Healy Racing
The Willie Mullins-trained Kiely’s Place, an impressive winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle, proved the star of Thursday’s truncated, six-race card in Clonmel.
The Wings Of Eagles gelding, in the colours of PWM Equine and ridden by Patrick Mullins, was backed from as big as 5-1 in the morning and returned at 2-1, causing odds-on stable-companion Arcadian Emperor to ease out to 5-6.
The pair dominated, with Kiely’s Place dictating the pace. Turning for home, he was pressed by the favourite and Speculateur, but he asserted between the last two flights and powered clear to beat his stablemate, impressively, by nine and a half lengths.
“He’s a beautiful horse,” declared his owner/rider, “He was a great buy by Eugene O’Sullivan and won a ‘point’ for him (in Bandon). And Alan was very sweet on him.
“His work has been good. He settled and jumped great, picked up and won as he liked. He’s a real three-mile chaser and is for sale, to stay in the yard.
“Coming here, I thought he was ahead of King Of Aces (won a similar maiden at this track). I was hoping he’d win, but I wasn’t sure how he’d fare against Arcadian Emperor.
“I hope he’ll run well in graded novice hurdles now. But, longer term, I see him as a Paddy Power or Thyestes horse, or, maybe, an Irish or English National horse.”
Arcadian Emperor’s owner JP McManus enjoyed better luck later when Mark Walsh guided even-money favourite Harty Cup, trained by Robert Tyner, to a smooth success in the second division of the (0-100) Cloneen Handicap Hurdle.
Never far off the pace, the five-year-old bossed things from the second last, coming home six lengths clear of Falcon Park.
Frank Berry, representing McManus, commented: “He ran well the last day in Gowran, staying on nicely, in similar, deep ground. He’ll stay going if the ground stays the way it is. And he’s fine at that trip (an extended two miles) for now, in that ground.”
First division of this 0-100 affair went to Courtbrack Boy, another winner for the in-form combination of Terence O’Brien and John Shinnick, who made all and survived a last flight mistake before beating Robindevidastar by seven lengths.
The winner, a Pour Moi gelding from a family that goes back to Red Marauder, carries the colours of his owner-breeder Tim Murray.
Two geldings, successful over fences last time, reverted to hurdling successfully in the other handicap action.
The John Ryan-trained Mount Frisco, a winner over fences in Gowran Park less than two weeks ago, delivered off a similar mark in the William Hill Each Way Extra Challenge Series Handicap Hurdle, making all under Daniel King and coming home 20 lengths clear of Political Stance following the exit of the challenging Is Charlie Around at the second last.
“He stays and needs every yard of three miles,” said Ryan. “He’ll go for a listed chase in Gowran next, a race he finished second in a couple of years ago.”
Similarly, the Liam Cusack-trained Brown Boots, successful over fences off 84 in Navan (went up 9lb), availed of that mark when, an even-money favourite, he outstayed his rivals in the three-mile Rosegreen Handicap Hurdle, beating Mullanour by 10 lengths.
“The betting was a lot more confident than I was,” commented Cusack, “But he was well-in and I’m delighted it came off. He’s a nice, solid horse of horse and stays well. We’ll work away with him in both codes.”
And Andy McNamara stated: “He’s been disappointing, so it’s nice for him to do something,” following the success of Fenway Park (Anna McGuinness) in the Nire Valley Claiming Hurdle.
