Galway gallop before Gold Cup

PRESENTING Percy schooled left-handed around Galway on Saturday in preparation for the Bulmers Gold Cup at Cheltenham on March 15.

Management at Ballybrit facilitated trainer Pat Kelly for the second time in two weeks, putting the fences out to help Presenting Percy’s big-race preparation. And the Gold Cup favourite, ridden by regular work-rider Willie Mcmahon, schooled well alongside stable-companion Mall Dini, which is due to run in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Festival.

At Leopardstown yesterday, Noel Meade continued his tremendous form by saddling a treble.

Stable-jockey Sean Flanagan partnered dual bumper-winner The Red Menace to a narrow victory over Dommage Pour Toi in the Donohoe Marquees Maiden Hurdle.

And the Wexford man was also on board Aint Dunne Yet, which gained compensation for his last fence exit at Fairyhouse last week, in the beginners chase, making all and being left clear by the final fence departure of nearest rival Mastermind.

Mead also won the fouryear-old bumper with exciting debutant Sixshooter, ridden by Mark O’hare.

Earlier, Gordon Elliott completed a double, landing the opening Foxrock Cup Hurdle with welltreated Tombstone (Jack Kennedy) and the featured TRI Equestrian Handicap Chase with 14/1 shot Woods Well, which survived a last fence blunder to score for Mark Enright.

Ground conditions will be soft for today’s action in Leopardstown and the Emmet Mullins-trained Zero Ten looks the potential star of the show.

The six-year-old Shantou gelding scored twice in Galway last year and looked a smart novice.

Although returning after a break, caused by a minor setback, he sets the standard in the Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Novice Hurdle. Winner of a pointto-point for Shark Hanlon in May 2017, Zero Ten had been off the track for a year when landing a bumper at the Galway Festival last July, beating Exit Poll and Neptune, which both progressed to win winter bumpers at Leopardstown. And, back to Ballybrit in September, the selection impressed when powering clear of the Mullins hope Thrones Game by 15 lengths.

Zero Ten has most to fear from The Caddy Rose, bidding for a hat-trick following bumper and maiden hurdle wins at Punchestown.

Elsewhere on the card, Eddie Harty’s consistent Whatucallher might have her turn in the opening Kids Go Racing Mares Maiden Hurdle.

And Roxboro Road has been found a good opportunity in the finale.

THE six races abandoned in Dundalk on Friday night, due to the tragic death of popular, IHRB Security Staff member Willie Buckley, have been rescheduled for Wednesday night at the Louth venue.