General Lee is really motoring
MONALEE warmed up for Cheltenham with a fine victory in the Red Mills Chase at Gowran yesterday.
In the absence of Presenting Percy the Henry de Bromheadtrained gelding turned in superb front running effort under Rachael Blackmore.
The evens favourite jumped brilliantly and had plenty left in the closing stages to defeat last year’s Gold Cup third Anibale Fly by two lengths.
“He jumped brilliant, he got a super ride from Rachael and I thought that was a good performance giving away seven pounds to a couple of them,” said de Bromhead.
“He’ll head to Cheltenham and it’s great to see him go there in good form but whether it’s the Gold Cup or the Ryanair we’ll see.
“I’m not leaning either way at the moment so we’ll see nearer the time and the ground will be a telling factor,” added the trainer.
Earlier Joseph O’brien’s Darasso ran out a commanding winner of the Grade 3 Red Mills Trial Hurdle.
Barry Geraghty’s mount stretched clear in the straight to finish 11 lengths clear of last year’s winner Forge Meadow. O’brien and Rachael Blackmore both ended the day with a treble and they notched up a double together.
The pair struck first with Star Max who got the better of the favourite Future Proof in the fouryear-old maiden hurdle.
Smoking Gun returned to form to bring up the treble in the two and a half mile handicap.