A TOUCH OF MAGIC
A Genie In Abottle made all to land the listed M W Hickey Memorial Chase, highlight of a four-timer for Gigginstown House Stud in Wexford yesterday.
The Noel Meadetrained six-year-old, proven as a sound jumper and a dour stayer, dictated the pace and, when pressed from the third last fence, galloped on relentlessly, producing a spectacular leap at the final obstacle, to beat dual Cheltenham Festival winner Tiger Roll, also in the Gigginstown colours.
Winning rider Sean Flanagan said A Gene In Abottle is “a backward sort of a lad” but suggested that he had “loads left”.
The maroon and white Gigginstown colours also dominated the beginners chase, which saw Gordon Elliott’s four-year-old filly Dinaria Des Obeaux, ridden by Jack Kennedy, get up late to beat Le Martalin. And both Henry de Bromhead, High School Days, and Joseph O’brien, Imperial Way, also provided Gigginstown with Wexford winners. Imperial Way, which won the bumper under Patrick Mullins, was the second leg of a double for O’brien, who won the opening maiden hurdle with oddson favourite and hurdling debutant Early Doors in the colours of J P Mcmanus. Also in Wexford, Ricky Doyle recorded the first double of his career, on board Antimatter and Come Home Quick. But the star of yesterday’s Bank Holiday action was the Pat Kellytrained Presenting Percy, which made a very pleasing start over fences in the W B Gavin & Co. Beginners Chase in Galway.
Ridden by Davy Russell, the six-year-old jumped impeccably and, involved in a good battle with De Plotting Shed on the run-in, ultimately drew clear to score by three lengths.
This performance confirmed the impression Presenting Percy, winner of the Pertemps at Chelteham in March, would be a better chaser than hurdler.
And his astute trainer Pat Kelly said: “I’m happy and Davy is very happy – and that’s a good sign. He’s an exciting horse for the future once he stays in one piece. Today was all about starting him off and we’ll see where we go with him.”
And Russell, who completed a double on Just Janice for John Kiely, described Presenting Percy’s win as “a great start” before adding: “Credit to Pat (Kelly) – this horse was a like a ballerina out there.”
Both Gordon Elliott and Noel Meade completed across the card doubles.
Elliott, successful with chasing debutante Dinaria Des Obeaux in Wexford, also won the Galway bumper with Moonlight Escape ( Jamie Codd) while Meade won the Galway opener with Half The Odds ( Jonathan Moore) ahead of A Genie In Abottle’s Wexford success.