CREPELLO - Hogan and Hackett keep local punters happy at Galway

CREPELLO

 

 

Denis Hogan and Ray Hackett ensured local punters were in a good frame of mind after the Galway festival when they combined to saddle four winners at decent prices. 

Hogan had the lion’s share of the limelight with three victories while Hackett landed the valuable two-mile handicap hurdle on Friday courtesy of Nibbler Charm.

The Cap Cross gelding Mulzamm set the ball rolling for Hogan when he battled well to take the mile and half furlong handicap on Tuesday evening in the hands of Joe Doyle.

Not neglected in the betting market Mulzamm was settled out the back, he looked to have plenty to do on the punishing final climb to the finish, however, he fairly flew home to lead in the shadow of the post and defeat Colin Keane's mount Loaded by half a length.

Formerly in the care of Charlie Appleby across the water, the eight-year-old was winning for the sixth time and the third this year. Mulzamm was ending a short barren spell for Denis Hogan whose runners had been running well but hitting the crossbar. 

Almost a quarter of a century after his father Aidan trained his second successive winner of the Galway Plate, Joseph O'Brien teamed up with JP McManus and Mark Walsh to land the weeks feature on Wednesday with Early Doors. 

Without a win since landing the Martin Pipe conditional jockeys hurdle at Cheltenham in 2019, the Soldier Of Fortune gelding was having just his fifth outing over fences. He was off the track since February of this year but had a pipe opener over hurdles at Tipperary in late June.

He was settled in mid division by Mark Walsh but was on the tail of the leaders heading into the dip. A mistake at the second last caused him to lose some momentum but he responded well to the urgings of his rider to come between horses into the straight and finish strongly to land the spoils by three-part of a length from the Willie Mullins runner Royal Rendezvous with another Mullins runner Cabaret Queen two and three-quarter lengths further back in third place. 

Although absent from the meeting, the winning trainer revealed that he as delighted to follow in his father’s footsteps. He will speak to JP McManus and his racing manager Frank Berry as to the next assignment but the Kerry National at Listowel looks the obvious target, however, since the horse is still a novice for the remainder of the season it gives connections plenty of options. 

Willie Mullins and his son Patrick repeated their performance of two years earlier when they combined to land Thursday’s Galway hurdle with Aramon.  Shouldering top weight, the seven-year-old was always up with the pace before jumping the last in front and drawing clear to hit the wire two and a quarter length to the good from Hearts Are Trumps. 

Twice successful on the level in his native Germany the winner was purchased for €40,000 at the Baden Baden sales in October 2017 and he has now added a further five victories and over €150,000 to his collection, which makes him a bargain buy. 

Denis Hogan saddled two in the two-mile handicap hurdle and they filled the first two places home with victory going to Bua Boy which he partnered himself. Starting favourite, Bua Boy was settled in mid division but improved to on the tail of the leaders going into the dip. Hogan popped the question going to the second last flight and from there the combination drew steadily clear to take the money by two and a quarter lengths from Rachael Blackmore’s mount Alabaster. 

In his post-race interview, Hogan revealed the not unexpected news that this was his last ride in public and he now give his full attention to his ever-expanding training business. 

A fine rider and an even better trainer he has steadily built up a team of high-class horses and we wish him well as we look forward the next chapter in what has been a fine career so far.

Ray Hackett also has a few decent horses in his yard, and he was on hand to greet Nibblers Charm after he turned the €29,500 to the winner extended two-mile handicap hurdle into a procession. Having posted a decent effort when second in a mile and six amateur flat race at Killarney on his previous outing the Court Cave gelding was backed from as high as 20/1 into 12/1.

Given a copybook ride by Simon Torrens the Court Cave gelding was always up with the pace. He took a definite advantage at the penultimate flight from where he simply toyed with the opposition until he passed the posed twelve lengths clear of Poseidon. 

It was a clearly delighted Hackett that I spoke to post race. He told me that this was the plan for some time, but the best laid plans can sometimes go awry. He is keen to travel to Cheltenham for the November meeting to see if the Cotswolds circuit would suit his charge but there are plenty of good handicaps on this side of the water also. 

A fine big strapping gelding, Nibblers Charm is owned by Ray's father Liam. He is versatile in terms of trip as well as ground and also has the gears for the flat. Not only that but he will jump a fence in time so there are exciting times ahead for everybody concerned.

Denis Hogan ended the meeting on a high as Darkened ran out a game winner of the seven-furlong handicap at Sunday’s concluding session. 

Starting favourite, Darkened was never too far out of his ground, jockey Joey Sheridan kicked him into the lead a furlong or so out and despite hanging slightly pulled plenty to defeat The Mpex Kid by a neck. A maiden coming into the race after thirteen outings, the winner showed a tremendous attitude and is in the right hands to progress further.