Irish Champion Hurdle Weekend Review

SOLWHIT ROMPS TO VICTORY!

Solwhit, the apple of Charles Byrnes` eye, stormed to victory under Davy Russell in the featured Toshiba Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday. The Top Of The Hill Syndicate-owned hurdler added a further €71,500  to the kitty when pulling four and a half lengths clear of the staying on Donnas Palm, landing some hefty wagers in the process after being sent off a hot 5/6 Favourite. There was an eye-catching performance from Sublimity, who travelled strongly and looked a likely winner as the field turned into the home straight, only to tire in the closing stages and get pipped for the runner-up position close home.

The jury is out on the merit of the winner’s Champion Hurdle chances and I feel that Ladbrokes decision to leave Solwhit’s price unaltered post-race was the correct one.

On a star-studded weekend of racing at the packed Foxrock venue some of the other highlights included:

JAN 23rd

LEOPARDSTOWN

• The going was officially Heavy as the first day of a great week-end of Racing got underway. The days feature race was the Grade B MCR Hurdle worth in excess of €60K to the winner. This race was formerly known as The Ladbroke  and though the race name may have changed it was as competitive as ever with 30 horses lining up in a typically wide open Handicap. Victory went to the John Cullen ridden Puyol at 16/1. It was a nice tonic for trainer John Mulhern who has been struggling with poor health of late. Many will remember the exploits of the Mulhern trained Flashing Steel, owned by Charles Haughey, from yester-year!

• The MCR Novice Chase (Grade Two) only had 5 runners but they all looked to have a chance of sorts and it turned to be an informative affair.Zaarito was an early casualty in the race and Roberto Goldback (5/2), trained by Jessica Harrington and piloted by the in-form Robbie Power edged out Apt Approach and in the process paid a compliment to Captain Cee Bee`s chances of Arkle success in March.

• Shakervilz, from the Willie Mullins stable, was an impressive winner for Paul Townend of the Beginners Chase on the card. The winner, returned at 2/1, outgunned the 15/8 Fav Sorceror.

• There was a double on the card for the in form DK Weld stable. The first leg came courtesy of Prince Erik (10/1) in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Qualifier and in the process completed a double also for jockey Robbie Power. The Weld double was secured when Hidden Universe (4/6F) romped to an ultra impressive ten length win under Robbie McNamara in the concluding Bumper. To many observers this performance had “Champion Bumper Winner” written all over it.

JAN 24^TH

LEOPARDSTOWN

• The crowds flocked to Leopardstown again on Sunday for another top class day of National Hunt Action. In addition to the Irish Champion Hurdle, reviewed above, there were many other informative and notable performances on the card.

• An Cathaoir Mor (7/1), trained by Henry De Bromhead and ridden by David Casey came from the clouds to reel in Favourite Sports Line in the Grade 1 Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Chase. It underlines the strength in depth of the stables novice chasing brigade considering it also houses the top class Sizing Europe!

• Rite Of Passage (4/9) landed the odds in impressive fashion in the opening Maiden Hurdle despite being carried wide by a loose horse entering the straight. It was another winner for Dermot Weld and Robbie McNamara and the winner will be a Banker for many Irish punters in his chosen race in the Cotswolds in March.

• While the Willie Mullins stable remains in good form overall there have been a few notable setbacks of late. There was another big upset when Quel Esprit with Ruby on board and sent off the red –hot 30/100 Fav was upstaged by Coole River (7/1). The winner hails from the Harrington yard and was guided to victory by Barry Geraghty. He looks a decent horse in the making.

• Tony McCoy made his trip across the Irish Sea worthwhile when he landed the Handicap Hurdle aboard the Ted Walsh trained Colbert Station (9/2).

In what was a busy week on the Irish Racing Front, the big race mid- week was the Thyestes Chase ran at Gowran Park on Thursday last. It saw a massive gamble landed by the Jimmy Mangan trained Whinstone Boy, ridden by Sean Flanagan. Backed from 14/1 all the way in to 5/1 he stayed on dourly in the bottomless conditions much to the delight of his legion of followers. It was a sweet victory for the genial Mangan, best known for training Montys Pass to Grand National Victory.

Also on the Gowran card War Of Attrition showed that the sparkle still remains when winning the Grade Two Galmoy Hurdle for Slippers Madden and Mouse Morris. The Aintree Grand National is now on the agenda and what a popular winner he would be in April.

Jockey, R.P Jones continued his recent run of success and booted home 3 winners during the past week including a double in Limerick on last Sunday.

The Willie Mullins trained Mourad impressed in Punchestown on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, in Naas on Tuesday the ebullient Oliver Brady was in top form in the Parade Ring following the short head victory of Ebadiyan over hot –pot Muirhead in the Listed Limestone Lad Hurdle.  On the same card Oscar Looby, trained by Noel Meade landed the Grade 2 Novice Chase when upsetting another odds on shot Alpha Ridge.

Trainers in form;

DK Weld, C.Byrnes, E.O`Grady, DT Hughes, E.McNamara, Mrs J.Harrington.

Joe Q

Happy Punting

JOE Q