Southerner ‘a natural jumper’
Doneraile’s William Cronin sent out Southerner to win the beginners’ chase at Clonmel on Thursday. Ridden by the trainer’s son and namesake, the 16/1 chance had loads in hand as he beat the Ciaran Murphy-trained 6/5 favourite Brawler by six lengths. The winning rider commented, “He did it well and he’s a very natural jumper. He hasn’t been the easiest to train. The gap between runs would tell you that.”
Thurles trainer Des Donovan won the two and a half-mile handicap chase at the same meet on Thursday with An Marcach. Owned and bred by Tom Egan, the 7/2 chance got to the front under Rachael Blackmore at the second last fence and stayed on best to beat the Paul Gilligan-trained Rock On Barney by a length and threeparts. While Templemore’s John Ryan won the handicap chase over two miles with the Bit View Partnership-owned Cluan Dara. The nine-year-old came from well off the pace under Danny Mullins to beat the Philip Rothwell-trained Backintheboom by seven lengths at odds of 28/1.
Paul Townend and Willie Mullins scored first at Fairyhouse on Friday where Rambranlt’jac made almost all the running to win the opening division of the two-mile maiden hurdle. Sent off the even money favourite, the five-year-old was clear before the final flight and had seven lengths to spare over the Gordon Elliott-trained 6/5 chance Hamundarson at the line.
The Patrick Moyles-owned Logo hunter won the six-furlong maiden for Cashel trainer Michael Browne. Ridden by Seamie Heffernan, the 5/1 chance got the better of the Joseph O’Brien-trained 11/8 favourite Devil’s Outlaw by half a length. Cahir’s Shane Crosse landed a notable winter success when combining with Joseph O’Brien to win the Listed Hollywoodbets Patton Stakes with the 11/2 chance My Generation. She raced to an impressive five-length success over the Ross O’Sullivan-trained Rocky Sky with the winner’s stable companion Messidor, the 5/4 favourite, a neck away in third place.
The Brimming Water was the 80/1 winner of the opening division of the two and a half-mile maiden hurdle at the Fairyhouse meet. Trained by Eric McNamara, the six-year-old had appeared as a 150/1 chance in the betting shows in the minutes before the race and had plenty to spare as he beat the Shark Hanlon-trained 3/1 shot Gaulois by a length and a quarter under McNamara’s son Conor.
Denis O’Regan saw that there was a locally-trained success in the first of the day at Navan on Saturday where Palace Rock took the two-mile maiden hurdle in fine style. Trained by Francis Casey, the well-backed 11/4 chance got the better of the Gordon Elliott-trained Boothen Boy by three and a half lengths.
Liam Burke and Darragh O’Keeffe took the two and a halfmile handicap hurdle with Rebel Early which got up late on to beat the Jim Dreaper-trained Forrard Away. The winner carries the colours of the Simply The Best Syndicate and scored by three-parts of a length at odds of 14/1.
O’Regan had Francis Casey back in the number spot at Leopardstown on Sunday afternoon where Max Flamingo won the opening maiden hurdle. He steered the 11/2 shot to a three and a quarter-length victory over the Noel Meade-trained 2/1 chance Barbary Master. Paul Townend rode one of Willie Mullins’ two winners at the meeting. He partnered the nineyear-old Royal Illusion, the 8/13 favourite, to a five and a half-length win in the mares’ maiden hurdle and Patrick Mullins was in the saddle to complete his dad’s double on the Patrick McCormack-owned Dark Raven in the bumper at odds of 5/2.
The Mouse Morris-trained French Dynamite was left with a straightforward task when Wonder Laish was declared a non-runner for the Seamus Meade Hurdle and the 1/7 favourite made light work of defeating his two remaining rivals. Robbie Power guided the six-yearold to a nine-length success for owners Robcour.
LAST WEEK
Askeaton trainer Davy Fitzgerald was responsible for the widest margin winner at Punchestown on Monday, March 1st. He won the two and a halfmile handicap hurdle with the Belinda O’Brien-owned Hilltop Supreme which beat the Jimmy Mangan-trained Chelseas Friend by seven and a half lengths at those very odds, 15/2, under Kevin Brouder.
Darragh O’Keeffe, Doneraile moved onto the 35-winner mark for the season when partnering the Martin Brassil-trained An Epic Song to win the opening division of the two-mile maiden hurdle at Gowran Park on Tuesday week last, March 2nd. The 10/1 chance scored by three and a quarter lengths from 3/1 shot Easca Peasca.
UPCOMING FIXTURES
Thurles – Thursday, March 11 (First Race 2.30pm); Gowran Park – Friday, March 12 (First Race 1.40pm); Dundalk – Friday, March 12 (First Race 4.55pm); Navan – Saturday, March 13 (First Race 1.40pm); Limerick – Sunday, March 14 (First Race 2.15pm); Naas – Sunday, March 14 (First Race 2pm).