Irish lead charge on St Patrick’s Thursday
Icourtesy of Penhill and Laurina took his tally to 61 in all and seven for the week. Gordon Elliott is just one behind his great rival in the race for the top trainer award at this year’s meeting, thanks to a treble through Shattered Love, Delta Work and The Storyteller. Not to be left out, Henry de Bromhead got in on the act with Balko Des Flos in the Ryanair Chase.
The latter’s success saw Gigginstown House Stud’s Michael O’Leary finally get his hands on the owner’s tro- phy for the Ryanair Chase he has sponsored since 2006.
After several near-misses, he struck gold when Balko Des Flos outpointed last year’s winner Un De Sceaux under Davy Russell.
Successful in the ultracompetitive Galway Plate in the summer, the 8-1 chance stepped up to Grade One company and starred on a brilliant day for Gigginstown, who also graced the winner’s enclosure with Shattered Love and Delta Work.
“It’s taken me 15 years to win the Ryanair, so I’m going to enjoy it. I’m going to get seriously drunk upstairs in the next couple of hours!” said O’Leary. “Henry has hit the bar a couple of times this week, so it’s great to see him have a winner.”
De Bromhead said: “I thought the ground had gone against us. It hasn’t been raced on as much and it seemed nicer ground than yesterday, but I was still worried about it.
“Michael is very happy to have won it and I’m delighted to be the one to get it for them.”
Cue Card was pulled up by Paddy Brennan and trainer Colin Tizzard stressed the team would not be rushed into making any quick decision on the 12-year-old’s future.
Elliott continued on from his treble on Wednesday by repeating the trick.
Shattered Love (4-1) took the JLT Novices’ Chase to give Jack Kennedy a winner on his only ride of the day, while Delta Work (6-1) and Glenloe gave him a one-two in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle.