Al Boum Photo snaps up Tramore prize for Walsh
AL BOUM PHOTO made a winning return to action as he led home a Willie Mullins 1-2-3 in the Listed Savills Chase at Tramore.
The seven-year-old was an unlucky loser on his last start when he crashed into the wing and ran out at the last while leading in the Grade One Growise Champion Novice Chase at Punchestown at the end of last season.
Reunited with Ruby Walsh after that blip under Paul Townend nine months ago, the 2/1 favourite delivered just one marginally anxious moment this time when he appeared to briefly unbalance his jockey on landing over the last.
Al Boum Photo had six lengths to spare at the line over former Ladbrokes Trophy winner Total Recall. Invitation Only was a further 16 lengths back in third for Mullins, who was winning this two-mile-five-and-a- half-furlong race for the fifth time in the last seven years.
His assistant David Casey said: “That was a good performance, especially giving the weight away to Total Recall – he had to give him 10lb. We hope it’s onward and upwards with him now.
“If he can build on his potential, we hope he will climb the ladder a bit. I’d say the (Cheltenham) Gold Cup will be his aim. The extra couple of furlongs would be right up his alley.
“It’s good to see him win the way he did. I think he owed Ruby that from Cheltenham. He was a bit unlucky last year. He was going to win in Limerick when he fell – then Punchestown was Punchestown.
“He was always a good jumper, an accurate jumper. I schooled him the other day and he was very good.”
Rachael Blackmore stayed in the hunt for the jockeys’ championship by scoring a double for trainer Henry de Bromhead.
Notebook was a convincing 9/4 winner of the opening David Flynn Building Contractors Maiden Hurdle over two miles before 2/1 favourite Mormon led home a Gigginstown 1-2-3 in the stayers’ version, over five furlongs further in the Curran South East Cleaners Maiden Hurdle.
De Bromhead’s first winner managed to stay clear of a melee which saw three horses come down on the flat exiting the back straight on the first circuit, and then took over at the second-last to see off favourite Janidil by a length and a quarter.
De Bromhead said: “I’m delighted with him – he jumped really well. Rachael was great on him, and he stayed at it really well.
“I’d say we will aim him for a rated novice hurdle now. He is a chaser in the making, a very balanced horse for a big lad.”
After Mormon had stayed on twoand-a-quarter lengths clear of stablemate
Insult and Moratorium an hour later, De Bromhead heaped further parise on for the winning jockey’s performance.
“I thought we might have been leaving it a bit late. But that’s why we have Rachel – she timed it to perfection. It was a brilliant ride from her.”
Batcio was banned for 42 days and his rider Aubrey McMahon was suspended for five days after the stewards decided the pair had not obtained the best possible placing in Notebook’s race.
Double
Gordon Elliott had to settle for third place with Moratorium, but soon had an across-the-card double thanks to Askari in the Tramore Medical Clinic Handicap Hurdle.
The six-year-old, following up last month’s win at Navan, was clear into the straight and had 11 lengths to spare from favourite Eight And Bob to win at 6/1 under Davy Russell.
Russell completed a double when he got Crazyheart home in a driving finish to the Ani-Pets Veterinary Clinic Rated Novice Chase.
The pair had to dig deep to prevail by just a nose from D’bru Na Boinne at 7/2 for Paul Nolan.
The concluding Tom Carroll Memorial Handicap Chase went to 20/1 shot Kilderry Prince, trained by Andrew McNamara and ridden by Mark Enright.