Irish Racing Review – 27th/28th February

TRANQUIL SEA ON BOARD FOR RYANAIR!

Eddie O`Grady is currently enjoying a bit of a purple patch and his Tranquil Sea (4/6F) produced an eye-catching performance in Sunday’s feature race at Leopardstown, the re-arranged Newlands Chase (Grade Two). Confidently ridden by Andrew McNamara, Tranquil Sea comfortably beat the revitalised Natal by two and a half lengths, with Snowy Morning advertising his Aintree Grand National credentials with a staying on third place finish. The winner now heads for the Ryanair Chase at the Festival and will be a strong fancy to continue his trainer’s fine record at Cheltenham.

There was great interest in the post-race gallops at Leopardstown on Sunday and all eyes were peeled in the hope of spotting a potential winner or two for the up-coming trip to the Cotswolds!  Mikael D’Haguenet appeared to work nicely and several of Willie Mullins’ Festival bumper hopefuls were put through their paces in the fading light. Other highlights from the week-end and the past week included -:

FEB 28th

LEOPARDSTOWN

• The Sabrina Harty trained and Davy Russell ridden Won In The Dark (9/10F) ran out an easy winner of the Ballsbridge Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday and is still a possibility for The Champion Hurdle or County Hurdle. However connections seem to be favouring a trip to Aintree with their charge instead.

• There was the “almost obligatory” treble on the card for the Walsh / Mullins team! Tarkari (5/2F) justified strong market support in the Handicap Hurdle, Cadspeed (11/8F) won the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle and Citizen Vic (9/10F) landed the Novice Chase when out- staying See U Bob by two and a half lengths.

• The O`Grady stable followed up their victory with Tranquil Sea when Shot From The Hip (6/1), ridden by JP Magnier, caused  a surprise when out-pointing the well touted hot-pot Araucaria (8/11F) in the concluding Bumper.

CLONMEL

• Christy Roche enjoyed a welcome return to the winners enclosure when landing a nice double on the card courtesy of The Equaliser (6/4F) in the Lisronagh Maiden Hurdle and Tooman Lane (8/1) in the Handicap Chase.

FEB 27^th

NAVAN

• The feature race at Navan on Saturday was the Grade Two Johnstown Novice Hurdle and Coole River (5/2), trained by Jessica Harrington, put up a brave performance when staying on stoutly for Robbie Power to get the better of Lucky William. The winner confirmed that his recent victory over the smart Quel Esprit was no fluke and his resolution and will to win has won him many admirers. The disappointment of the race was the mediocre run from odds on favourite Pittoni, who finished a well beaten third. Trainer Charles Byrnes later reported his charge to be lame post-race and he would appear to be a doubtful starter in the Triumph Hurdle at this stage.

• There was a double for Noel Meade in the last two races on the card with victories for the useful Nicanor (4/6F) and Davy Condon in the Trim Beginners Chase; and Jetson (9/10F) in the Bumper for jockey L .McNiff.

Elsewhere, racing returned to the All-Weather Track in Dundalk on Friday night and jockey TC Carroll grabbed the headlines with a double.

There was a double-header in Thurles last Thursday and Friday and, despite the glue-like conditions, some very impressive performances were recorded. In Fridays feature, the Grade Two Nas Na Riogh Novice Chase, Kempes (9/2) from Team Mullins/Walsh defeated favourite Jagoes Mills by an impressive four lengths. A major talking point here was the abysmal run of An Cathaoir Mor, a big market drifter on the day. There were doubles on the card for both Willie Mullins and Dessie Hughes.

Thursdays Thurles highlight was the Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle and the ‘Shark’ Hanlon-trained Western Leader  turned this race in to a procession under C.O`Farrell, when making all very impressively and coming home twelve lengths clear of Premier Victory. The stable went on to record a double on the card.

The countdown has now begun in earnest to the big showdown in Cheltenham in a little over two weeks time and it will be a case of the calm before the storm in the coming fortnight!

Trainers in form;

E.O`Grady, W.Mullins, D.Hughes, Mrs J.Harrington, C.Roche, N.Meade.

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Happy Punting

JOE Q

Posted by Joe on March 2, 2010. Filed under Race Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.