Weekend review- Tues 29th November

Page 1

TUESDAY 29TH NOVEMBER


CONTENTS OF OUR REVIEW SUPPLEMENT    

Dundalk Stadium Newbury Gowran Park Navan


DUNDALK RACES Dundalk Races

Pat Smullen got punters off to a flyer in the opening race of the Gowran Park meeting under a well judged front running ride on ‘He is our  Newbury music’ 13/8 very well backed all day and obliged with not a mo ments Navan worry for its supporters or trainer Pat Flynn 

The second contest the card was an tricky heat to predict but the Aiden McGuiness horse ‘Specific Gravity’ 16/1 rolled back the years under a tidy ride from star Apprentice Osin Orr ,who won eased down in the end Pat Martin is really having the time of his life at Dundalk this year really his horses are all in fine fettle and the Wayne Lordan ridden Adieux 11/4 in the third race kept up the form though looking likely to win the race easily only just won in a tight photo Finnish from the fast finishing horse. Colin Keane has really earned the tag in Ireland as Mr reliable at Dundalk rarely goes home with out a winner or two and tonight was no different winning the 7.00pm race for John Murphy on Burning Brighly 7/2 who got stuck behind a wall of horse and jockey just got to the front on the line. When looking settled for second place strong ride by Ione of Irelands Finest Jockeys


DUNDALK RACES Dundalk Races

Gowran Park Halfway through the card the 7:30 race and punters where left scratching Newbury their heads as the Andy Oliver trained Fizzy Friday 16/1 took the spoils .The horse was making his debut tonight and  Navan he was always settled mid division and crept into the race to be produced perfectly on the winning line to win by a length The 8pm race was a regularly hot contested contest at this venue in which several cases could be made for three or four horse but it was the Garvan Donelly trained Plough Boy 9/1 who got his number called in the agonisingly close photo finish by the smallest of margins 

Pat Flynn again was on the score sheet taking the 8.30 race with his well backed horse Twist and turns 7/2 who won this contest under Pat Smullen looking laboured in the last furlong ,Smullen kept the horse up to its work and won this by tiny margins but always getting there in the end The final race on the enjoyable card was won by More Kudos 6/1 with a power packed Wayne Lordan in the saddle who overhauled the long time leader and favourite in the dying strides for trainer Michaël Browne .The jockey was definitely the difference on this occasion


DUNDALK RACES Dundalk Races

Gowran Park Halfway through the card the 7:30 race and punters where left scratching Newbury their heads as the Andy Oliver trained Fizzy Friday 16/1 took the spoils .The horse was making his debut tonight and  Navan he was always settled mid division and crept into the race to be produced perfectly on the winning line to win by a length The 8pm race was a regularly hot contested contest at this venue in which several cases could be made for three or four horse but it was the Garvan Donelly trained Plough Boy 9/1 who got his number called in the agonisingly close photo finish by the smallest of margins 

Pat Flynn again was on the score sheet taking the 8.30 race with his well backed horse Twist and turns 7/2 who won this contest under Pat Smullen looking laboured in the last furlong ,Smullen kept the horse up to its work and won this by tiny margins but always getting there in the end The final race on the enjoyable card was won by More Kudos 6/1 with a power packed Wayne Lordan in the saddle who overhauled the long time leader and favourite in the dying strides for trainer Michaël Browne .The jockey was definitely the difference on this occasion


HENNESSY MEETING

There is always a party atmosphere at Newbury on Hennessy day but yesterday had something a little extra as people gathered to say  Dundalk Races au revoir to one of the most popular races in the  Gowran Park calendar as rumours about a new sponsor next year grew stronger. Like saying farewell to a good friend  Newbury as they leave to live on the other side of the world, you will still exchange emails and chat to them on  Navan the laptop but it just won't be the same, similar to how the faithful will feel this time next year when they arrive to see the new Ladbrokes (probably) Gold Cup However, that is for another day and the throng at Newbury were intent on a good time and a good punt. Apparently the 1/7 on offer about Thistlecrack was too good to resist and he was clipped to 1/8 before the off. After his Evel Knievel impersonation at Cheltenham both fans and doubters alike were looking for something assuredly more sure footed, and nobody was disappointed. Any fears of more of the sky high leaps we saw last time out were soon put to bed as Tom Scudamore led from the front and let the horse do the work. Some right -handed jumping at the early fences might have had a few ante post backers concerned but as the race wore on and he was given his head any doubts were laid to rest as bounded up the home straight, not touching a twig from then on in as he raced clear of the rest. A lot of credit should be given to Paul Nicholls and the John Hales owned Ibis Du Rheu as with no concern for their handicap mark they pushed Thistlecrack as hard as they could for twenty two of the twenty four furlongs, a strong run just fading as Bigbadjohn nicked second place, which judging by the cheers from the stands landed a popular on-course forecast.


After Cue Card's performance last week and now Thistlecrack carrying on his good work, the Tizzard train was careering full steam ahead as he saddled  Dundalk Races the Hennessy favourite Native River. A 5/1 favourite all week, confidence in the horse and trainer was  Gowran Park high and he was sent off a very strong 7/2. After just  Newbury being touched off in the four miler at Cheltenham last March no great racing brain was needed to  Navan predict the tactics and he was towards the front throughout with last year's winner Smad Place and the evergreen Double Ross for company. Coming around the last bend the pace began to quicken, along with many punters heart rates as Richard Johnson had to cajole Native River along just to keep his position. The horse got the message and hit the front with three furlongs to go, pulling further away at every fence. As the crowd were starting to count the winnings, out of the corner of their eye they spotted Carole's Destrier charging past the rest of the field and were rightly starting to feel worried. Noel Fehily (I don't know but I hope his nickname is Touchy) timed the run brilliantly but Native River proved he has the heart as well as the class as he found one more burst to hold off Carloe's Destrier and secure a first Hennessy for champion Johnson and new big Saturday star Tizzard

HENNESSY MEETING


Tizzard is a phenomenon, until recently discounted by many as a farmer who happened to have a few racehorses, he has shown with RacesCue Card that he is no mug.

HENNESSY MEETING

 

Dundalk Gowran Park Newbury Navan

Guiding Cue Card's career has been no easy  task, especially under the glare that a champion bumper winner will rightly receive. Now, with  Thistlecrack, he trains the country's two favourite horses and looks to be thriving in such a beaming spotlight and with the backing of Alan Potts behind him it is rumoured he has been as bold at the sales as he is with his horses. With son Joe assisting him they make for an unlikely and surprisingly dynamic team, but they are proving to be a very popular one as the number of Cue Card and Thistlecrack scarves on show in the stands would prove. With night beginning to fall on Newbury the noise from the Outside Chance bar began to grow as the revellers were keen to pass on the day's winnings to some very busy bartenders. If this was to be the last Hennessy day then it was certainly fitting. The race that has given us unforgettable performances from Mandarin, Mill House, Arkle, Bregawn, Burrough Hill Lad, Suny Bay, Trabolgan, Many Clouds and the peerless, powerful Denman now has three new names added to the roster of winners and whatever title it is given next year it is guaranteed that racing's best and brightest will be back to fight it out for one of our greatest races.

Wrote by Lee @stealthyheadway


Tizzard is a phenomenon, until recently discounted by many as a farmer who happened to have a few racehorses, he has shown with Cue Card that he is no mug. Guiding Cue Card's career has been no easy task, Dundalk Races especially under the glare that a champion bumper winner will rightly receive. Now, with Thistlecrack, he trains the country's two favourite  Gowran Park horses and looks to be thriving in such a beaming spotlight and with the backing Newbury of Alan Potts behind him it is rumoured he has been as bold at the sales as he is with his horses. With son Joe assisting him they make  Navan for an unlikely and surprisingly dynamic team, but they are proving to be a very popular one as the number of Cue Card and Thistlecrack scarves on show in the stands would prove.

HENNESSY MEETING

With night beginning to fall on Newbury the noise from the Outside Chance bar began to grow as the revellers were keen to pass on the day's winnings to some very busy bartenders. If this was to be the last Hennessy day then it was certainly fitting. The race that has given us unforgettable performances from Mandarin, Mill House, Arkle, Bregawn, Burrough Hill Lad, Suny Bay, Trabolgan, Many Clouds and the peerless, powerful Denman now has three new names added to the roster of winners and whatever title it is given next year it is guaranteed that racing's best and brightest will be back to fight it out for one of our greatest races.

Wrote by Lee @stealthyheadway


Zabana got his career back on track when proving a different class in the Gowran Park Chase.

HENNESSY MEETING

Dundalk Races Punchestown Festival hero failed to shine Gowran Park The on his Down Royal reappearance three weeks Newbury ago but was a different proposition here, when looking much fitter ,travelling powerfully Navan throughout under Davy Russell before effectively putting the race to bed

   

when taking over three fences from home. Kitten Rock finished well for second but was still a length adown and never getting there

Bellshill barely had to break a sweat in order to make his first start over fences a winning one in the Beginners Chase.

The dual Grade One winning hurdler sat off the strong gallop set by Balko Des Flos in the early stages but jockey Walsh always looked very content aboard the 2-5 market leader. Bellshill began to close up on the leader in the back straight and took over with a bold leap at the second last before cruising clear . Invitation Only (1-4 fav) went some way to justifying his tall reputation when making a successful start over hurdles Unbeaten in a pair of bumpers last season, the son at Flemensfirth wasn't always foot perfect at his obstacles but drew away from Barra after the last to win by two and three quarter lengths. Catcheragain (5-4 fav) had to work hard to complete a quickfire double in the Mares Handicap Hurdle but she had half a length in hand as they passed the post


Zabana got his career back on track when proving a class apart in the Gowran Park Chase. The Punchestown Festival hero failed to shine on his Down Royal reappearance Dundalk Races three weeks ago but was a different proposition here, when looking much fitter . travelling powerfully throughout under Davy Russell  Gowran Park before effectively putting the race to bed when taking over three fences from Newbury home. Kitten Rock finished well for second but was still a length adown and never getting there

HENNESSY MEETING

Navan

Bellshill barely had to break a sweat in order to make his first start over fences a winning one in the Beginners Chase. The dual Grade One winning hurdler sat off the strong gallop set by Balko Des Flos in the early stages but jockey Walsh always looked very content aboard the 2-5 market leader. Bellshill began to close up on the leader in the back straight and took over with a bold leap at the second last before cruising clear . Invitation Only (1-4 fav) went some way to justifying his tall reputation when making a successful start over hurdles in the Race That Stops A County Thyestes Jan 26th 2017 Maiden Hurdle. Unbeaten in a pair of bumpers last season, the son at Flemensfirth wasn't always foot perfect at his obstacles but drew away from Barra after the last to win by two and three quarter lengths. Catcheragain (5-4 fav) had to work hard to complete a quickfire double in the Mares Handicap Hurdle but she had half a length in hand over Adreamstillalive as they passed the post


The highlight of the day was Empire Of Dirt's victory in the Ladbrokes Troytown Handicap Chase, in which the Gordon Elliott saddled a  Dundalk Races staggering 11 of the 25 runners. Bryan Cooper's ride was always travelling  Gowran Park strongly and having cruised to the front be Newbury tween the final two fences, he pinged the last before pulling readily clear to score at 12-1  Navan by four lengths from Abolitionist. That completed a hat-trick for Cooper who helped Death Duty make it two from two over timber with a facile success in the 'Monksfield' Novice Hurdle. An easy winner on his jumps debut at Roscommon, the 11-10 favourite took it up from Monbeg Notorious approaching the second last and when his stable companion fell at the final flight, he was left to cruise home to score by seven and a half lengths from She's A Star. There was a one-two for Elliot in the Davis Civil Engineering Handicap Hurdle as Cooper's Bull Ride (7-1) denied the fast-finishing Dawerann by a nose, there will be more to come from that horse.

HENNESSY MEETING


Elliott got off to a great start as Brelade (11-1) upset the well-fancied Battleford in the opening I.N.H. Stallion Owners E.B.F. Maiden Hurdle. Willie Mullins' 1-3 favourite found nothing when they got serious and it was Dundalk left to Joey Races Sasa and Jack Kennedy's mount to fight it out, with the latter holding on by a neck.  Gowran Park

HENNESSY MEETING

Newbury Kennedy completed his double when Jury Duty (5-1 jt-fav) took the Proudstown Handicap Hurdle in good style by a length and three Navan quarters from Scoir Mear, while Jamie Codd got a fine tune out of Three Swallowsnick (13-8) to complete the six-timer by three lengths from Glens Harmony. 

Only Min (1-3fav) halted the Elliott domination as the Supreme Novices' Hurdle runner-up made a promising start to his career over fences with a comfortable victory in the Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. Beginners Chase. Sent straight to the front by Ruby Walsh, the five-year-old jumped well on the whole and cruised home to cross the line 10 lengths clear of Three Wise Men a seriously good debut for ‘Min’


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.