Divine ‘Rhythm’ for O’Keeffe
Doneraile’s Darragh O’Keeffe was a Fairyhouse winner when landing the Tommy Carberry Handicap Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Saturday on the Tom Gibney-trained Rhythm Divine. Owned by Thomas O’Connor and Walter O’Connor, the 10/1 shot raced to a five-length success to record her third career win and Gibney commented, “I’m delighted for her owners. It’s brilliant for them. I thought she’d need it to be honest and we weren’t that sure about the ground either because she normally wants it better. We’ll try to come back here for something at Easter.”
Paul Townend rode all three Willie Mullins-trained winners at Naas on Sunday beginning with the Luke McMahon-owned Cilaos Emery in the opening Grade 3 chase. It was very straightforward for the classy nine-year-old which made all the running to beat eh Noel Meade-trained Daly Tiger by 11 lengths. Cheltenham may not be on the agenda and connections are likely to focus on the Fairyhouse and Punchestown festivals.
Also set for a home campaign is the Barnane Stud-owned Echoes In Rain, which was just as impressive when taking the Grade 2 novice hurdle at odds of 11/8 favourite. She eased clear running down to the final flight and came home all of eight-lengths to the good over the Peter Fahey-trained Belfast Banter. In the colours of Marie and Joe Donnelly, Egality Mans competed at double in the opening division of the two-mile maiden hurdle. The seven-yearold was running for the first time in 14 months and comfortably justified his odds of 8/11 favourite when beating Joseph O’Brien’s Pont Du Gard.
Cahir’s Shane Crosse ensured that trainer Sarah Lynam’s fine run of form continued when 9/2 shot Tyrconnell won the eight-furlong handicap in convincing fashion at Dundalk on Friday night. Carrying the colours of the trainer’s father Edward, the seven-year-old raced to a two and a half-length win. Tyrconnell is now the winner of six races for Sarah Lynam and Shane has been in the saddle for three of those victories.
Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead landed their biggest winner of the week when the Peter Michael-owned Jason The Militant took the Grade 3 Red Mills Trial Hurdle with a fine front-running performance. A strong 7/4 favourite, the seven-year-old easily brushed aside the challenge of the Gordon Elliott-trained Petit Mouchoir to win by seven and a half-lengths and the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in two weeks’ time is certainly a possibility. Denis Hogan made it two for the week as Macgiloney won the rated novice chase in the colours of owner Michael Moloney. The 3/1 chance comfortably beat the Eoin Doyletrained Key Commander by two lengths under Sean Flanagan.
While Thursday last saw Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead share success together at Thurles, where they won the maiden hurdle with the Robcour-owned Ain’t That A Shame. The 5/4 chance took advantage of a mistake at the final flight from 11/10 favourite Churchstonewarrior, to score by a comfortable three lengths to give Blackmore her 80th winner of the season, two behind championship leader Paul Townend at the close of play.
JP McManus’ colours were also carried to success at Thurles as Fighting Fit won the ladies’ handicap hurdle in great style. A well-backed 6/5 favourite, the Philip Dempsey-trained six-yearold added to his recent Punchestown success with a comfortable five and a half-length win from Silk Worm under Aine O’Connor.
FIVE ADDITIONAL MEETINGS TO MEET POINT-TO-POINT HORSE DEMAND
HRI has announced that it will be scheduling five additional National Hunt meetings in March in light of the continuing very high demand for opportunities to run in maiden hurdles.
This comes following the Government’s recent announcement of continued Level 5 restrictions, which means that point-to-point racing will not resume until after April 5 at the earliest.
All five meetings will be run under the full Rules of Racing with standard broadcast coverage and integrity provision, including the comprehensive and strict HRI Racecourse Covid protocols, which continue to serve the industry so well in ensuring a safe environment for participants.
The five dates are as follows: Friday, March 5 - Fairyhouse (inside track); Monday, March 15 - Punchestown (inside track); Saturday, March 20 – Wexford; Monday, March 22 – Navan; Wednesday, March 24 – Tipperary.
The Fairyhouse and Navan fixtures will comprise largely maiden hurdles while subject to demand, the fixtures at Punchestown, Wexford and Tipperary will be for horses eligible to run in point-to-points and holders of a point-to-point handler’s permit may enter and run horses at these fixtures.