Nolan goes close
Fitzhenry is the runner-up in Troytown
THE IRISH highlight of this week was the 23-runner €100,000 Ladbrokes Troytown handicap chase at Navan on Sunday, and there was a very impressive, well-backed winner in Henry De Bromhead’s Chriss’s Dream (9/2), ridden by the on-fire Robbie Power, a first winner in the race for both of them.
However, Paul Nolan’s Fitzhenry (14/1) ran really well under Barry Geraghty to fill second place and be first home of the nine J.P. McManus runners. Nolan also ran the well-fancied Discorama (7/1), so close to Cheltenham success last March, but he finished eighth under Seán O’Keeffe.
Jamie Codd and Barry O’Neill rode without success in the first two races at Lingstown before heading to Navan for the Listed €40,000 bumper. It was a worthwhile dash for Codd, who eased to a confident six-length win on Gordon Elliott’s Big bad and beautiful (6/5f), a third successive win for the pairing. O’Neill was down the field on Paul Nolan’s Valentina Lady (10/1).
Liz Doyle sent out the J.P. McManus-owned Encore Lui (8/11f) under Mark Walsh in the handicap hurdle but found one too good in Ross O’Sullivan’s well-backed
By the same token (8/1).
Doyle’s Cayd Boy (4/1), under Walsh for McManus, pressed on for second behind Franco De Port (6/5) for Mullins at a heavy Gowran on Saturday. Seán Flanagan was third on Noel Meade’s Sixshooter (11/8).
Wexford success was limited early in the week. J.J. Slevin did well at Fairyhouse on Tuesday to get second on Roy Tector’s (Clonroche) Turn down the volume in a handicap chase at a massive 33/1, and James O’Sullivan (Camolin) was second on Liz Doyle’s Getaway out a dat (11/1) in a handicap hurdle.
Jonathan Moore went across to Hexham on Wednesday to ride one for Gavin Cromwell, and he made it worthwhile with a close win on Duchess Raven waves (7/2).
Liz Doyle did get a shock winner with Blaze A Trail (20/1) in a handicap hurdle at Thurles on Thursday under Adam Short, making all to compensate for all those seconds.
Daryl Jacob came over to score on Footpad (4/5) for Willie Mullins and his retained owners, and he was second on Allez Dance (7/2) behind Robbie Power on Silver Sheen (3/1).
Tom O’Brien had three winners this week from 16 rides, highlighted by his success in the big televised Haydock meeting on Saturday where he took the £100,000 Grade 3 Stayers’ Handicap with a storming finish on Henry Daly’s Stoney Mountain (16/1). Earlier in the week he won at Plumpton on Duhallow Lad (5/4f), and at Fakenham aboard Perfect Moment (9/2).
Daryl Jacob had to take second in the Grade 1 £200k Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday as Bristol De Mai (5/4jf) was foiled in his bid to win the race for the third year in a row for Nigel Twiston-Davies. Victory went to Robbie Power’s waiting ride on Colin Tizzard’s Lostintranslation (5/4jf).
On the flat, Pat McDonald has been on a break since November 9 after a hectic season but is back in action this week.
REMINDER: The Wexford Racecourse Supporters’ Club A.G.M. takes place in the Ivy Room at the track on Friday night, November 29, at 8 p.m., with bar and refreshment and a fun racing table quiz. All are welcome.