Elliott’s Where It All Began is out on his own
WHERE It All Began got off the mark over fences in the QuinnBet Grand National Trial Handicap Chase at Punchestown yesterday.
Gordon Elliott’s eight-year-old had performed with credit in seven previous starts over fences but was yet to taste success in the discipline and was last seen winning in a maiden hurdle in January 2022.
Under Jack Kennedy, he stepped up to a staying trip of three miles and three furlongs for the first time at Punchestown and started as a 10/1 chance in a field of 15.
The gelding always looked comfortable but it was on the turn for home that the race became a test of stamina and it looked as though favourite We’llhavewan had the upper hand.
However, Where It All Began started to pick off his rivals, clearly relishing the extra distance as he galloped home to take the Listed contest by an easy 16 lengths.
‘He jumped great and never missed a beat the whole way,’ Kennedy said.
‘It probably looked turning in that I was going to finish third but stamina really kicked in when we straightened up. I’m delighted with him.
‘He’s not reliant on heavy ground, just a test of stamina is what he wants. He’d been running well and threatened to do something like that.’
As a result of the performance Paddy Power and Betfair slashed his price for the Grand National from 200/1 to 50/1, with weights for the Aintree contest revealed tomorrow.
Elliott nominated two alternative targets for the horse, however, one at the Cheltenham Festival in March and one closer to home at Fairyhouse, with only 34 runners permitted in the National this year.
He said: ‘He could go for the Kim Muir at Cheltenham or an Irish National. It was a good performance and he stays really well.’
Meanwhile, Tullyhill could be bound for Cheltenham after making light work of the Sheila Bourke Novice Hurdle.
The six-year-old finished second in the Champion Bumper at the Festival last season, a result that followed a prior bumper success and a point-to-point win.
He was beaten by a significant margin on his hurdling debut in November but his jumping was much improved on his next start when he took a Naas maiden by seven lengths in January.
He started as the 6/5 favourite under Paul Townend at Listed level at Punchestown and made all the of the running, cruising to a nine-length victory having barely seen another rival.
Following the run, Tullyhill is as low as 5/1 for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with Paddy Power, but trainer Willie Mullins will consult with owners Cheveley Park Stud before deciding on a Cheltenham bid.
‘He has a fair engine and we just needed to give him confidence jumping. David Casey was deputised with that job and has done a right job,’ Mullins remarked.
‘He’s entitled to go anywhere after a performance like that.
‘I thought he’d be an out-anout stayer but he has plenty of speed, a great cruising speed, and now his jumping is starting to match his cruising speed.
‘He’s in the Supreme and I’ll have a word with connections and see what they would like to do.’
Mullins enjoyed four winners on the day, with Townend riding three, as Mister Policeman took the Concept Colours Rated Novice Chase and Paggane landed the Old House Kill Maiden Hurdle.
The fourth Closutton winner was partnered by Patrick Mullins as 10/11 favourite Sounds Victorius swooped in the dying strides of the Lockton Insurance Brokers Supporting Athy Rugby (Pro/ Am) INH Flat Race.
Mister Policeman was getting back to winning ways after defeat when favourite last time out Naas.
He was comprehensively beaten on that occasion as Quilixios came home in front with Sa Fureur behind him and Mister Policeman over eight lengths away from the winner in third.
At Punchestown the five-yearold looked to make amends for a sticky round of jumping last time and under Townend he was much improved, travelling well as the 1/2 favourite in a field of five.
Rounding the final bend he was galloping along comfortably and was able to produce a neat jump at the last to pull away to a sixlength victory.
Mullins said: ‘He’s still learning to jump and he’ll probably be better going out in trip at some stage, but this race fitted nicely into his schedule. It will leave him nicely set up for the spring.
‘I’d imagine he’ll stay at home and there are plenty of good races to be won. He could go for a novice handicap.’
Rachael Blackmore coaxed home Senior Chief to take the QuinnBet Beginners Chase over two miles and seven furlongs.
The 2/9 favourite had placed in two runs over fences so far and seemed to require a little persuasion throughout the race but scraped home to prevail by threequarters of a length.
‘Rachael said once she turned in she knew it was okay but I’m not so sure,’ winning trainer Henry De Bromhead said.
‘He looked laboured and Rachael said it’s tough old ground. We’ll look for a handicap now and see where we go from there.’
“He has pace
and a great cruising speed”