Michael Purcell fondly remembered at Thurles

The late Michael Purcell was a man of many parts. Known by farmers the length and breadth of the country in his business as a cattle dealer and exporter, he was also an avid supporter of Thurles racecourse, both as an owner and trainer.

He is fondly remembered at the venue each spring with a two mile and four Grade 3 Novice Hurdle and this year’s renewal, which on paper looked a respectable contest, produced a winner that we are going to hear a lot more about.

Eight went to post with the Willie Mullins trained Fighter Allen shading favouritism but as things turned out he could finish only third behind Grand Paradis and Goodbye Someday.

The latter set out in front under Denis O'Regan but was joined four hurdles out by Fighter Allen with Grand Paradis in hot pursuit. Rider Jack Kennedy waited until well in the straight before sending Grand Paradis to the front and after a slick change he careered away to finish in splendid isolation thirteen lengths clear of Goodbye Someday.

This was a major statement by the five-year-old which enters the ‘could be anything’ category. After winning his bumper at Fairyhouse back in November he returned to the same venue early last month and fairly bolted up in a maiden hurdle. He handled the step up in trip and grade in his stride, which prompted his trainer Gordon Elliott to say that he was an exciting prospect. Cheltenham is not on his agenda, however, the Fairyhouse and Punchestown festivals certainly are and it will take something special to lower his colours.

One that will be heading to the Cotswolds for the Cross Country Chase is another Elliott stalwart Jury Duty, who just got the better of the Enda Bolger runner Stand Up and Fight in the opening hunter chase over an extended three miles.

A high-class horse on the track before heading down the point-to-point route, the ten-year-old was an easy to back 11/2 chance. Rider Jamie Codd settled him well off the pace before moving him into third place leaving the back straight. At this point long-time leader Glorious Galway still held the call, in spite of a few jumping errors but was headed off the home turn by Jury Duty and the favourite Winged Love. It was all to play for rising to the final fence where the favourite made his exit and hampering Glorious Galway in the process. This left Jury Duty clear, but he had to battle before landing the spoils by three-parts of a lengths from Stand Up And Fight.

David O'Brien, who has his operation close to that of Joseph O'Brien near Piltown, recorded his first ever double when Minx Tiara and Cusp Of Carabelli obliged in the hands of his long-time friend Sean Flanagan.

The Doyen mare Minx Tiara set the ball rolling when she turned the two mile and five mare’s novices' chase into a procession. A warm favourite Minx Tiara took a while to settle but she soon got the message as to who was in control. Flanagan eased her to the front turning to face the judge and from there she showed a clean pair of heels to her rivals before passing the post fourteen lengths to the good from the rank outsider Imitation Game.

Twice a winner over hurdles, the winner was making her chasing debut. She jumps for fun and right now looks a bargain buy at €1,000. David O'Brien told me that he is now viewing a Grade 3 chase at Limerick as the next port of call. The mare acts well in soft or heavy ground and since she is a good jumper, connections have nothing to lose by aiming for some black-type.

Cusp Of Carabelli has been a good servant to David O'Brien and he recorded his fifth victory, not to mention several placed efforts in some valuable handicaps, when battling well to land the two mile and half a furlong handicap chase.

Coming from off the pace, Cusp Of Carabelli took on the leading Rocky's Sliver after the second last fence and stayed on well to hit the wire half a length to the good from the latter.

Rachael Blackmore had her customary winner at the venue when guiding Ain't That A Shame to a facile victory in the extended two mile and seven maiden hurdle for Henry de Bromhead.

Always up with the pace in this test of stamina, the son of Jeremy took a definite advantage at the hurdle before the straight and kept up the gallop to pass the post a comfortable three lengths ahead of his pursuers. A three-mile novice handicap hurdle at the Easter festival at Fairyhouse is now the target for the winner who was giving Ms Blackmore her 80th winner of the current campaign.

Denis Hogan continues rich vein of form

Fresh from training and riding 25/1 chance Zanavi to victory in the maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse earlier in the week, Denis Hogan returned to the venue on Saturday and turned out Macgiloney to land the three mile and a furlong novice chase under Sean Flanagan, in spite of a slipped saddle.

Although only four went to post it was an intriguing race to assess and the fact that there was money for all four simply, added to the intrigue. Denis O'Regan elected to make the running on High Sparrow, however, there was precious little between the runners off the home turn. Flanagan struck for home going to the penultimate fence and was quickly followed by Key Commander, this pair quickly drew away with Macgiloney finding most to take the money by a couple of lengths.

In his post-race debrief, the winning jockey announced that his saddle slipped before the last fence, but he was able to keep the partnership intact.

24-hours later at Naas, last week’s hero Hugh Morgan once again joined forces with Denis Hogan to take the two-mile handicap hurdle with Zoffanien.

A model of consistency the four-year-old justified strong market support showed a good turn of foot from the second last and was full value or his nine-length victory margin.

Zoffanien is now a 12/1 chance for the Juvenile Handicap Hurdle on day one at Cheltenham.

Willie Mullins' domination of the graded races continued when he saddled first and second in the Grade 3 Bobbyjo Chase with victory going to the favourite Acapella Bourgeois at Fairyhouse on Saturday.

Partnered by Danny Mullins, the eleven-year-old made every yard of the running and kept enough in reserve to defeat Burrows Saint by four and three-quarter lengths.

In winning the race for the second time, the Network gelding showed that he is no shrinking violet and no he will head to Aintree for a tilt at the Grand National, as will Burrows Saint.

Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead kept their legion of supporters happy when they combined to take the three-mile Grade 3 Hurdle courtesy of Jason The Militant.

Ahead from the flag-fall, the seven-year-old never saw another rival as he passed the post seven and a half lengths clear of Petit Mouchoir.

According to de Bromhead, his charge is still on the upgrade. He holds a Champion Hurdle entry and a decision about his participation will be made in the next few days.

Willie Mullins also dominated the Naas meeting on Sunday with a three-timer, which included the two graded races, and for good measure his highly regarded Egality Mans returned from a 14-month lay-off to open his hurdling account in impressive fashion.

Cilaos Emery drew first blood for the trainer with an impressive all-the-way victory in the opening two-mile Grade 3 Chase and an hour later Echoes In Rain was eight lengths too good for his field in the Grade 2 Novice Hurdle.