Mitch’ hits switch for Leopardstown glory
MITCHOUKA swooped late to snatch the spoils in the featured TRI Equestrian Handicap Chase at Leopardstown.
Sent off the 100/30 joint-favourite for Gearóid O’Loughlin and jockey Ricky Doyle, Mitchouka looked booked for second as long-time leader Livelovelaugh jumped the last in the two-mile, five-furlong heat with a cosy lead.
However, Mitchouka would not go down without a fight, battling all the way up the run-in and eventually poking his neck in front on the line to foil his fellow market leader.
“He’s a quirky little horse, but I knew he was well,” said O’Loughlin. “And we seem to have found the key to him – the secret is not to do too much with him.
“Ricky has been massive and rides him in work. My girlfriend Rebecca rides him every day, and she said he was right. He could go to Punchestown, and the Galway Plate could be a target as well.”
Willie Mullins has bigger targets in mind for Royal Illusion (8/13 favourite), after she landed the mares’ maiden hurdle. The nine-year-old, winner of the 2019 Irish Cesarewitch, had to settle for third on her hurdles bow in December, but she made short work of 12 rivals in this two-and-a-half-mile event.
Paul Townend appeared to have any amount in hand as Royal Illusion beat Sweet Street by five and a half lengths, with Erins Benefit in third. “It’s not too often we have a nine-year-old winning a maiden hurdle,” said Mullins.
Dark Raven won a dramatic closing bumper to seal a Mullins double. Lake Winnipesaukee built up a big lead and was still tanking along in front turning for home when his rider, Aaron Fahey, took the wrong course – hanging right on to the chase track rather than moving to the hurdles course.
That left the race at the mercy of Dark Raven, with Patrick Mullins guiding home the 5/2 chance by seven and a half lengths from Silas Marner.
The stewards inquired into Lake Winnipesaukee’s run, with Fahey stating “his saddle had slipped forward, that his mount had been too strong to ride and through a lack of energy he was unable to steer his mount around the final bend on the correct course”.
However, the stewards decided he had “been negligent by his misjudgement of the correct course for this race and therefore had failed to attain his best possible placing” and banned Fahey for 14 days.
Cantered
French Dynamite justified odds of 1/7 in the three-runner Seamus Meade Hurdle, putting spring festivals like Fairhouse into the mind of trainer Mouse Morris. Partnered by Robbie Power, French Dynamite cantered out a ninelength winner.
Fairyhouse could also be on the agenda for Francis Casey’s Max Flamingo (11/2) after his win under Denis O’Regan in the opening maiden hurdle, while the Adrian Murray-trained She’s Commanche (9/1) landed the mares’ handicap hurdle in the hands of Seán Flanagan.
Padraig Roche’s Steer Clear (10/3) impressed under Mark Walsh with a seven-length verdict in the two-mile, one-furlong novice chase.