28/1 treble steals the sceaux
NARROWLY denied a first Boylesports Irish Grand National, Willie Mullins dominated the supporting card in Fairyhouse, sharing a tremendous Grade 2 treble with Paul Townend.
The champion trainer scored with Getabird in the Rathbarry & Glenview
Studs Novice Hurdle, Coquin Mans in the Keelings Irish Strawberry Hurdle and the remarkable Un De Sceaux, probably a fortunate winner of the Devenish Chase.
Getabird bounced back from his Supreme Novices flop in Cheltenham to make all for a 12-length defeat of stable-companion Draconien, prompting Mullins to state: “It’s good to see him back to his best after Cheltenham. Paul was brave on him and planned to make it.”
Back after a break, Coquin Mans, in the familiar Hurricane Fly colours, saw off favourite Diamond Cauchois in the two and a half mile hurdle, staying on for an emphatic five and a half lengths win.
“That was a very good performance,” said Mullins. “He’s obviously a horse with an engine, a chaser for next season.
“It’s good to see the colours in the winner’s enclosure after such a good race. And I’d say he’ll head for Punchestown.”
The third winner for Mullins and Townend, Un De Sceaux, had been headed by Doctor Phoenix when that rival crashed at the second last, leaving the 5/6 favourite to beat Gordon Elliott’s A Toi Phil by 18 lengths.
“He’s made of iron,” said Mullins. “He’s as hard as nails. He pulls it out every day and is remarkable the way he trains every day and the way he races.” GENERAL PRINCIPLE got up in the dying strides of a gruelling test to give Gordon Elliott a first Boylesports Irish Grand National in Fairyhouse.
The 20/1 shot, above, a fourth winner of the race for Gigginstown House Stud, landed in fifth position at the final fence and, after Isleofhopendreams edged past gallant front-running stable-companion Bellshill and looked the likely winner, J J Slevin summoned a late surge from General Principle to collar his Willie Mullinstrained rival and beat him by a head.
A length and a half covered the first five home in a race which saw just eight of the 30 runners complete the course.
Locally-trained Forever Gold finished a close third, a half-length off the runner-up with Bellshill fourth and the Elliott-trained Folsom Blue a very unlucky fifth.
Folsom Blue was brought to a virtual standstill at the last, when Bellshill, tiring, jumped left, badly hampering Arkwrisht and Folsom Blue, which rallied for Robbie Power and finished best of all. In a subsequent Stewards Enquiry, the placings of the fourth (Bellshill and fifth Folsom Blue) were reversed.
General Principle’s success was the biggest in the career of J J Slevin (25), a nephew of Aidan O’brien and first cousin of Joseph, who also wore the Gigginstown colours to victory in the Martin Pipe at last year’s Cheltenham Festival. He picked up a sevenday whip ban here, while
Danny Mullins, rider of the runner-up, was banned for three days.
And it provided Elliott with Irish Grand National compensation after a couple of seconds with Bless