Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
CHELTENHAM POSER FOR EMERY
THE Willie Mullins-trained Cilaos Emery returned to winning ways when making all to land the Grade 3 Whatoddspaddy? Chase in Naas yesterday.
Off the track since November, the 1/2 shot displayed a renewed appetite for jumping fences and, pressed all the way by market rival Daly Tiger, stretched clear from the second last to triumph by 11lengths.
Cilaos Emery holds entries in both the Queen Mother Champion Chase and Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.
But Mullins admitted: “I don’t know if he’ll travel – there might be nice prizes for him on the home front.”
And, later, after Echoes In Rain justified 11/8 favouritism, also under Paul Townend, in the Grade 2 Paddy Power Betting Shop Novice Hurdle, the champion trainer explained: “I took her out of the Mares Novice at Cheltenham, because I thought going over there might fry her head. Instead, she’ll come back here for a Grade 3 in two weeks and then on to Fairyhouse three weeks later.”
Settling better than in the past, Echoes In Rain tracked front-runner Razzle Dazzle Love until edging ahead before the second last and was soon in command, easing clear to win, hard held, by ten lengths from Belfast Banter, middle leg of a treble for Mullins/townend, completed by long-absent Egality Mans in a division of the maiden hurdle.
Joseph O’brien’s Home By The Lee, patiently ridden by JJ Slevin, came from off the pace for an ultimately emphatic, ten lengths win in the €40,000 Paddy Power Novice Handicap Chase (Grade B), a stepping-stone to a likely tilt at the Boylesports Irish Grand National.
And the Gordon Elliotttrained Gerri Colombe justifieg 1/2 favouritism in the bumper.