The Lovely Man swoops late to land dramatic Leinster National at Naas
The Lovely Man and Conor Stone Walsh (right) won the BAR 1 Betting Leinster National Handicap Steeplechase by a head from Goraibhmaithagat. Pic: Healy Racing Photo
Gavin Cromwell received a timely pre-Cheltenham boost when Conor Stone-Walsh brought The Lovely Man with a late surge to foil favourite Goraibhmaithagat in a dramatic renewal of the €100,000 BAR 1 Betting Leinster National in Naas.
Goraibhmaithagat, the 100/30 favourite, was challenging Built By Ballymore at the final fence when that rival jumped left and collided with Mark Walsh’s mount, causing Gavin Brouder to be unseated from the narrow leader.
Left three lengths clear, recent course winner Goraibhmaithagat looked set for a big pay-day. But, having been smuggled into the race by Stone-Walsh, The Lovely Man stayed on dourly, getting up close home to triumph by a head, with a 20-length gap back to third-placed Sa Majeste.
“He jumped super, except for pecking at one,” said the winning rider, who later received a two-day whip ban, “I was under pressure a fair way out. But, in fairness to him, he kept going. He picked up going to the last and galloped all the way to the line – he finished strong.”
Having failed to complete in his two previous excursions over hurdles, the Joseph O’Brien-trained Thurles bumper winner Le Labo made it third-time-lucky when bagging the Grade 3 BAR 1 Betting Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle, coming from off the pace to foil favourite Blake by a neck before surviving a Stewards Enquiry.
“He’s been a bit unlucky twice,” said winning rider John Gleeson, “He did everything right in Cork until he got to the last. We decided to let him take his chance in this, give him a nice experience and see what happened. I was happy to follow them around. He has a nice turn of foot and a bit of class and knuckled down well. He should keep improving and we have some nice options for him in the spring.”
Enjoying his best season, Pat Foley saddled joint bottom-weight Mojoe (Simon Torrens) to land the €25,000 BAR 1 Betting Handicap Hurdle in clear-cut style from 66/1 shot Eagles Reign.
“The drying ground was a help and he’ll be better still on nicer ground,” said Foley, ”he should sneak into the two and a half mile handicap hurdle in Punchestown with a nice weight now – we’ll keep him for that.”
Willie Mullins supplied a 1-2-3 in the beginners chase as Spread Boss Ted (Sean O’Keeffe) mastered front-running favourite Ballygunner Castle on the run-in and held that rival by a half-length, with Supersundae thirty-six lengths away third. "He always had ability and it’s good to get him back. He stays well and will step back up to three miles.” O’Keeffe stated, “We went a good gallop. His jumping warmed up, he was good at the last and stuck his head out well and battled."
But there was no joy for the Mullins team in the mares bumper as 10/11 favourite Poetisa failed to match all-the-way scorer Kiltybo, a third winner for County Waterford handler Conor Houlihan.
Ridden by Barry Stone, the Idaho mare galloped on strongly up the hill to score by four lengths. And Houlihan commented, “That was brilliant. And we’re very happy. She stepped forward from her Thurles win and the plan now is to go to Aintree (for the Grade 2 mares bumper). She’s very athletic and ground versatile. And she should make a smashing hurdler next season.”
Trainer Oliver McKiernan, without a win for a year until Minella Boss scored at Gowran Park on Saturday, struck again when Healy’s Pub (Phillip Enright) justified support in the opening BAR 1 Betting West Odds Guaranteed Maiden Hurdle, dictating the pace before holding Doctor Elvis and Sine Qua Non.
“I was worried some of the others might have too much pace for him, but I was wrong,” said McKiernan, “He’s a real galloper. He’s only turned five, loves soft ground and looks a real chaser. I’d like to give him one more run over hurdles, but that will depend on the ground.”
Philip Dempsey ended a tremendous week (four winners from seven runners) when handicap debutant Thankyouforthedays, backed into 6/4 favourite, cruised to victory under Keith Donoghue in the (0-100) BAR 1 Betting Handicap Hurdle.
Dempsey explained, “He’s a half-brother to a good horse, The Long Mile, who never won over hurdles but was a good chaser before he got killed, as a seven-year-old, in the English National. This fellow will be a chaser too. We won’t over-race him this season - he might go to Fairyhouse or Punchestown. He’s one for the future.”
