Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
THAT’S MUCH MOORE LIKE IT, GOSHEN
Tiger’s the star.. but he’s up against it in the Boyne
GOSHEN roared back to his awesome best with a Kingwell Hurdle demolition job that reignited his Cheltenham Festival challenge.
Little has gone right for the Gary Moore five-year-old since his finalflight departure with Cheltenham’s Triumph Hurdle at his mercy last March.
The nadir came when Goshen trailed in a sorry last of 10 behind Song For Someone in the International Hurdle at the home of jump racing in December.
But the son of Authorized was slashed from 20-1 to 5-1 third favourite for the Champion Hurdle with Ladbrokes after crushing his rivals by 22 lengths under Moore’s son Jamie in the Grade 2 Betway Kingwell Hurdle.
“He was spectacular,” said Goshen’s trainer. “That’s the horse I was hoping he could be. Ever since Cheltenham, it’s been a mess and you don’t realise what it means to get the horse back to somewhere like his best.
“One of my travelling head lads said to me last Saturday, ‘I’ve seen something that I haven’t seen for a long time — I saw Goshen work like the horse we know he is. Hopefully, it’s onwards and upwards from here.”
Dashel Drasher took full advantage of hot favourite Cyrname’s Betfair
Ascot Chase flop for a first success at the top level. The 5-4 market leader, who won the race two years ago but fell at the last fence in 2020, led early but stopped to a walk when taken on by Matt Griffiths and Dashel Drasher at the 13th of the 17 obstacles.
“If Cyrname came here on his A-game, I didn’t think there was a cat in Hell’s chance of us living with him,” admitted trainer Jeremy Scott, whose eight-year-old held on to beat Cyrname’s stablemate Master Tommytucker by two lengths.
“Cyrname looked to be cruising away with it, but as soon as we went half a length up he absolutely wilted.”
Lord Du Mesnil is 20-1 for the Randox Grand National at Aintree on April 10 after grinding to a half-length win in the William Hill Grand National Trial Handicap Chase at Haydock.
HOLLIE DOYLE won the richest race of her career when pouncing late on the Willie Mullins-trained True Self to land the Neom Turf Cup, worth £438,000 to the winner at Riyadh.
The world’s richest race, the £14.3million Saudi Cup, went to the fast-finishing John Gosden-trained Mishriff and David Egan.
THE dual Grand National hero Tiger Roll is the star name in action on a good card at Navan today when he contests the Ladbrokes Ireland Boyne Hurdle.
The 11-year-old famously won this race in 2019 but such heroics could well be out of reach this time as he looks to bounce back from a below run at Cheltenham in November.
His trainer Gordon Elliott might still maintain his stranglehold on this race though with Fury Road getting the vote to succeed.
This talented gelding was shade disappointing at Leopardstown over Christmas when he was fourth to Flooring Porter but he is easily forgiven that run.
This wasn’t the first time that he has run poorly at that track and a few of his trainer’s runners weren’t at their best over the festive period.
Fury Road is better judged on his third in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham last season when he just lost out in a three way finish involving Monkfish and Latest Exhibition.
He is taken to bounce back to that form and see off Beacon Edge who was disappointing at Naas last time but would have major chance on his third to Honeysuckle earlier.
Elliott looks to have several other good chances on the card with his Coko Beach making most appeal in the opening Ten Up Novcie Chase.
Coko Beach met with defeat on his first few runs over fences but a switch to handicap company and the application of blinkers saw him win the Thyestes Chase last time.
The manner in which he landed one of the most competitive staying handicap chases of the season was quite impressive and he looks good enough to win at this level.
Coko Beach might have most to fear from Mr Hendricks who landed a decent beginners chase at this track last month.
Elliott might also capture the bumper with Ginto who was a costly failure on his debut at Fairyhouse last month.
The Walk In The Park gelding was beaten at odds on but he still finished second and he shouldn’t have any trouble making his mark in this sphere.
Today’s card also features the first running of the Apple’s Jade Novice Hurdle where Atlantic Fairy makes plenty of appeal.
She was an impressive 20 length winner of a maiden hurdle at Limerick over Christmas and her two previous runs also make for good reading.
Lucky Tenner ran well on his hurdling debut and he might have enough to land the two mile maiden hurdle.