Strong week of local winners

Tipperary Racing Scene

Originally from Ballycahill but based in Johnstown, Co. Kilkenny, trainer Eddie Power recorded his first winner on the racecourse when Shiroccosmagicgem scored a last-gasp success in the two and three-quarter-mile hunters’ chase at Tramore on Monday week last.

Ridden by Johnny Barry, the Liam Cleary-owned 8/1 chance delivered her challenge after the final fence, and she led in the last stride to pip John and Thomas Kiely’s The Brickey Ranger by a head.

Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead shared two winners as Tipperary staged their first fixture of 2024 on Tuesday.

The pair landed the opening race of the track’s season with the Charlie and Nuala Doocey-owned Nas Na Riogh. The well-supported favourite made all the running, and he came home a three and a quarter-length winner from the Pat Doyle-trained Brave Fortune.

Music Of Tara completed the pair’s double with a four-length success in the two and a half-mile rated novice chase. On her first run over fences, the Robcour-owned seven-year-old led at the second-last fence and went clear on the run-in to beat Gordon Elliott’s So Des Flos. The Barry Connell-trained Nine Graces was sent off favourite but could only manage to finish last of the five runners.

Toomevara trainer Ray Hackett and Littleton’s Liam Quinlan combined to win the three-mile handicap chase with Lady Kate. Owned by Eamon Stapleton, the seven-year-old battled well when challenged by the Liz Doyle-trained Fox Le Bel from the final fence to win by half a length.

Ben Coen landed the nine-furlong median auction maiden for three-year-olds on the Johnny Murtagh-trained Cheeky Wink at Gowran Park on Tuesday. Owned in partnership by Barnane Stud and Owen Heffer, the 7/1 chance battled well to see off Gavin Cromwell’s Total Look by half a length.

At Gowran Park on Wednesday, Paddy Twomey landed the seven-furlong maiden for three-year-olds with the Billy Lee-ridden Sea The Polaris. Rated 83 after three runs, he made all the running and was pushed clear inside the final furlong to win by an easy three and a half lengths from Thor’s Hammer which was ridden for Johnny Murtagh by Ben Coen.

Wayne Hassett landed a winner when partnering the Joseph O'Brien-trained Expressova to take the seven-furlong fillies’ handicap. The 7/2 chance didn’t get the clearest of runs early in the straight, but she finished well to get on top close to the finish and beat Ger Lyons’ Gypsy Woman by three-parts of a length.

Hassett was just denied a double as the Martin Hassett-trained Valleyoftheeagles lost out by a head to the Edward O'Grady-trained Rumi in the concluding 13-furlong handicap. It was a closing 16/1 winner for Kilkenny apprentice Cian Horgan, the sixteenth winner of his career.

A runner-up to the Paul Nolan-trained Kiltealy Park with co-favourite Grooveykindoflove in the opening maiden hurdle, Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead went a place better to win the three-mile rated novice hurdle with the seven-year-old Sam Magee at Wexford on Thursday.

Another in the colours of owner Roger Brookhouse, the joint-favourite went clear from the second-last hurdle to win by an easy seven lengths from his market leader, the Nolan-trained Givehimthehonour.

Liam Quinlan gained his second success of the week when taking the three-mile handicap hurdle on the Mark Molloy-trained Mossy Fen. In the trainer’s own colours, the 13/2 chance battled well to hold Paul Nolan’s Tranquil Sea by half a length.

Wayne Hassett notched up his second winner of the week when partnering Solar Drive to a battling success in the 12-furlong handicap at Cork on Friday. Trained by Paul Flynn, the 8/1 chance dug deep when challenged inside the final furlong by Johnny Murtagh’s favourite Natural Ruler to win by a neck. It was a first success for the Solar Drive Six Syndicate-owned three-year-old which was making his handicap debut.

Donnacha O'Brien and Gavin Ryan won the 10-furlong conditions’ race with Bremen. Leading through the very early stages and again at the two-furlong pole, the three-year-old won by two lengths at the line from Joseph O'Brien’s favourite Stromberg.

Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore shared two winners at Navan on Saturday. The landed the near six-furlong maiden for two-year-olds with odds-on favourite Camille Pissarro which looked a fair prospect when getting the better of Fozzy Stack’s New Theory and Joey Sheridan by a length and a half. It’s a fair bet that the winner joins Kyprios on Ballydoyle’s Royal Ascot team.

The latter made a winning return to action with a smooth three and a quarter length win over his own stable companion Queenstown in the Listed SBK Vintage Crop Stakes, adding to his win in the same race in 2022.

Donnacha O'Brien and Gavin Ryan shared their second winner in the space of 24 hours as Unavoidable narrowly landed the 10-furlong median auction maiden. The 13/2 chance held the challenge of the Barry Fitzgerald-trained Rock Of Ireland by a head, the pair all of six lengths clear of Jessica Harrington’s Cruden in third place.

Other Racing News

Set to be crowned Irish champion jumps trainer for the 18th time when the season closes at Punchestown on Saturday, Willie Mullins became the first Irish-based trainer to win the British title in 70 years at Sandown on Saturday.

The late Vincent O'Brien won back-to-back British title’s in the 1952/53 & 1953/54 seasons; a feat Mullins is now keen to replicate.

Wins for I Am Maximus in the Aintree Grand National and for Macdermott in the Scottish Grand National put Mullins in pole position to make further racing history and his championship success, based on prizemoney as it is in Ireland, was secured as El Fabiolo finished second to the JP McManus-owned Jonbon in the Grade 1 Celebration Chase on the final day of the British season.

Mullins didn’t leave the meeting empty handed and he landed his latest big handicap chase win with the Danny Mullins-ridden Minella Cocooner in the valuable bet365 Gold Cup while Impaire Et Passe, ridden by Paul Townend, took the Grade 2 Select Hurdle to cap a terrific season.

Upcoming Meetings

Punchestown – Thursday, May 2 (First Race 3.40pm)

Punchestown – Friday, May 3 (First Race 3.40pm)

Punchestown – Saturday, May 4 (First Race 2.30pm)

Sligo – Sunday, May 5 (First Race 1.40pm)