CREPELLO - First Graded Success for Swan

Eighteen-year-old Harry Swan had a day to remember at Naas on Sunday when he gave On Eagles Wings a peach of a ride to land the Grade 3 Novice Hurdle over a trip just short of two miles, and in doing so recorded the first graded success of his short career.

Because this was a graded contest, young Harry was unable to claim his 7lb riding allowance, however, it made little difference as he showed that he can be a match for the best when it comes to placing his horse through a race and then sit down to ride a finish.

Settling is mount in mid division, Harry had the seven-year-old on the tail of the leaders turning to face judge. At this point, long-time leader Goodbye Someday had struck for home, but Swan was winding On Eagles Wings up for a final assault. He gradually cut into the lead to jump the last upsides and in a battle royal all the way to the line he had half a length to spare over Goodbye Someday.

Owned by his grandmother Trish Hyde and trained by his grandfather Timmy Hyde, the winner is turning out to be a great money-spinner for connections and maybe the story is just beginning.

The son of multiple Irish champion jockey Charlie, young Harry is certainly a chip off the old block in terms of strength and style. He is quite tall for a jockey but if he can keep his weight in check there will be many more days like this.

Denise Foster has made a great start to her new role of training the 200 strong team at Cullentra House while Gordon Elliott sits out his suspension, and she was on the mark again when saddling Conflated to take the two mile and four Grade 3 Novice Chase.

Given a positive ride by Jack Kennedy, the Yeats gelding disputed the lead for much of the journey. Kennedy kicked him clear after the second last fence and from there went right away to win unchallenged by 21 lengths from the John Ryan representative Waitnsee.

This was an eye-catching display by the winner who will have his next outing at the Easter meeting at Fairyhouse.

Jessica Harrington showed that her string is in good form when taking the opening two-mile beginners chase courtesy of Jungle Junction.

A maiden hurdle winner at Navan early last year, the six-year-old has taken his time to adjust to the larger obstacles but was prone to making the odd mistake.

There were no such happenings on this occasion as he raced just off the pace before taking closer order on the run to the straight. The complexion of the race changed at the penultimate fence where Ujumpthelastuwin, who was travelling well, came a cropper leaving Jungle Junction with a clear advantage which he maintained all the way to the line for a seven-length victory over Brawler.

John Kiely, who had to be content with second place with Goodbye Someday, had some measure of compensation when taking the bumper with the newcomer Shuil Valentine.

Always close to the pace, the daughter of Presenting slipped clear a furlong or so out and scampered away to hit the wire nine lengths to the good from Mourne Stowaway.

According to John Kiely, this is a nice mare that will win plenty of races. She comes from the same family as the Stayers Hurdle winner Shuil Ar Aghaidh, so her credentials are solid.

Burke family celebrate at Thurles

Thurles is generally regarded as being the all-weather of the south, mainly because of its ability to absorb huge volumes of rainfall. However, such was the amount of water that fell from the sky in the days leading up to last Thursday’s meeting that the track was only barely raceable.

This was a blessing in disguise to the Burke family from near Holycross as their horse Toms Courage relished the conditions to capture the two-mile 80-95 handicap hurdle.

Owned by Elaine Burke, trained by her brother John and ridden by another brother Martin, the seven-year-old was a thirteen race maiden coming into the contest but his most recent run when finishing fourth at Fairyhouse showed that he was getting close to breaking his duck.

Well supported, Toms Courage was a shade keen early on, but Martin anchored him well, he improved to be on the tail of the leaders going across the top of the hill. A mistake at the second last cost him some momentum but he was soon back on an even keel and went right away from the final flight to win by a comfortable five lengths from Balkos.

By Dubai Destination and out of a Galileo mare, the winner is bred to be a high-class flat horse but that never materialised. He clearly relished the conditions and showed a fine attitude so he could collect again while the ground remains testing.

Henry de Bromhead flexed his muscles ahead of the Cheltenham Festival by recording a double which was initiated by Viscount Gort in the two-mile maiden hurdle for older horses.

Partnered by Rachael Blackmore, the Presenting gelding travelled sweetly behind the leaders for the opening mile before being sent to the front and from there he comfortably made the rest to defeat Fortune Street by five and a half lengths.

A fine big horse that needed time to come to himself, Viscount Gort is a chaser in the making and will make the transition later in the year.

Sean Hogan completed the brace for de Bromhead when he justified favouritism in the two-mile maiden hurdle for horses that had never previously been placed.

With Robbie Power in the plate, Hogan pulled his way to the front before the halfway point and made the rest without difficulty.

An €82,000 purchase as a three-year-old, the winner was shedding his maiden tag at the fourth time of asking. He is well regarded by connections and will surely go on to better things.

Complete Unknown caused a 50/1 upset in the bumper when he defeated the Willie Mullins trained favourite Deploy The Getaway.

Trained by Jonathan Fogarty, whose people come from Cashel and owned by his mother Mary Frances, the five-year-old unseated his rider in his sole point-to-point start across the water before changing stables.

He was settled off the pace but made significant headway before the straight and when rider Barry O'Neill popped the question at the two-furlong marker, he pulled out plenty to land the spoils by three and three-quarter lengths.

Described as “a very nice horse” by the winning rider, Complete Unknown was hating the ground, but his class saw him through, so he is one to watch when we get decent ground and he has an obstacle in front of him.