Blackmore warms up for Cheltenham with Red Mill’s success

David Marnane narrowly lost out in the opening division of the six-furlong handicap at Dundalk on Wednesday, but the Bansha trainer bounced back to win the second leg of the same race just thirty minutes later.

While Tynamite was beaten by a nose, Poet’s Pride, running in the colours of Marnane’s wife, Melanie, had plenty in hand under Declan McDonogh as he recorded his third win for the stable when beating Seamus O’Donnell’s Theriverrunsdeep by a length and three-parts.

Rachael Blackmore had a day of mixed fortunes at Clonmel on Thursday.

Sean Flanagan rode his second winner since returning from injury when partnering the Henry de Bromhead-trained Monty’s Star to take the Grade 3 Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle. The Waterford trainer has a great recent record in the race, and he landed a 1-2 this time as he got the better of Blackmore and favourite Hiddenvalley Lake in a tight finish. Half a length separated the pair as de Bromhead won the race for the fourth time in seven years. Both horses are heading to next month’s Cheltenham Festival.

Blackmore went a place better and gave Henry de Bromhead a second winner as Queen Jane took the beginners’ chase in good style. Well-backed, the Angus Potterton-owned seven-year-old led before the final fence and raced clear to win by nine and a half lengths from the Liz Doyle-trained Old Soul.

Joseph O'Brien’s flat horses continue in the best of form, and he landed a double at Dundalk on Friday.

The young maestro was on the mark in the six-furlong maiden with favourite Vanguard Star which made all the running under Shane Crosse to win by an easy three and a half lengths from the Andy Slattery-trained Alamendes.

O'Brien’s father Aidan sent out his first winner of 2023 as Order Of Australia and Ryan Moore landed the Group 2 Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup in Doha, Qatar, early the following morning.

Like Joseph O'Brien, David Marnane is another going well and Jared Maddox was another scorer for the Bansha trainer when winning the seven-furlong handicap under Donagh O'Connor. The 4/1 chance led inside the final furlong to beat the Tom McCourt-trained Yester by three-parts of a length.

A head was the winning distance as the Denis Hogan-trained Autocrat beat Jessica Harrington’s Dubawi Spectre to take the first of the ten-furlong handicaps on the card. Ridden by Joey Sheridan, the Justin Carthy-owned 15/2 shot left it late and led in the final few strides to score from the favourite.

Rachael Blackmore shared a Grade 2 success with Willie Mullins as the JP McManus-owned Janidil won the Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park on Saturday.

The 7/2 chance was well on top from the final fence as he got the better of his own stable companions, the Paul Townend-ridden favourite Haut En Couleurs and Capodanno by a length and a quarter and eight lengths respectively.

Amateur rider Harry Swan was on the mark for trainer Gordon Elliott and owners Gigginstown House Stud as Brighterdaysahead landed the bumper in terrific fashion. The 2/1 shot led early in the straight and powered away to score by an easy thirteen lengths from the Noel Dooley-trained Vicky Victoria.

The Robcour-owned Indiana Jones raced to a ten-length success in the two-mile rated novice chase at Punchestown on Sunday. Ridden by Darragh O'Keeffe for Mouse Morris, the seven-year-old headed the front-running Gallyhill over the final fence and eased clear.

Rachael Blackmore was a winner again as she took the two and a half-mile maiden hurdle on the Henry de Bromhead-trained Senior Chief.

Owned by the Lucky In Life Syndicate, the strong favourite led on the home turn and battled well when challenged by the Luke Comer-trained Hollow Sound to win by a length.

Upcoming Meetings

Punchestown – Wednesday, February 22 (First Race 1.05pm)

Thurles – Thursday, February 23 (First Race 1.55pm)

Dundalk – Friday, February 24 (First Race 4pm)

Fairyhouse – Saturday, February 25 (First Race 1.35pm)

Naas – Sunday, February 26 (First Race 2.10pm)