THE TESTING conditions at Leopardstown yesterday demanded grit of a sort that might not have been employed during the cold snap but which served Bostons Angel well enough to secure the Ballymaloe Country Relish Fort Leney Novice Chase.
Beaten almost 30 lengths behind Jessies Dream in the Drinmore on his previous start, Bostons Angel thrived for the step up to three miles and secured Grade One honours by three-parts of a length from the fast-finishing Quito De La Roque.
Back in fourth was Thegreatjohnbrowne who had beaten Bostons Angel earlier in the season but whose attempt to make all the running here foundered on the run-in.
“I just was never happy with him, and the rhythm he got into,” Noel Meade said of the favourite afterwards and his mood was in direct contrast to Jessica Harrington who gave credit to Bostons Angel’s jockey, Robbie Power.
“Robert said after the Drinmore he needs three miles in this company so we put him in here. Two and a half the last day was definitely too short. When they quickened, he couldn’t go with them. This turned into a bit of a slog which suits a galloper,” she said.
“He’s an amazing horse because he couldn’t jump a hurdle if you paid him. Eventually we put blinkers on and he won three hurdles but he just loves jumping fences. He loves three miles and good ground will be fine for him,” Harrington added. Bookmaker reaction was to install both the first two yesterday at 16 to 1 for Cheltenham’s RSA Chase.
The proximity of that “Winter Festival” card to the Christmas meetings proved to be no bother to Bostons Angel and Willie Mullins was thrilled to see a similar outcome for Mourad in the Grade Two woodiesdiy.com Christmas Hurdle.
“I’m delighted to see he has had no effects from Fairyhouse because most of my Christmas runners ran there. I was afraid of the heavy ground but I thought Paul (Townend) gave him an excellent ride,” the champion trainer said.
Townend rode a patient race and brought the 7 to 4 favourite through to challenge Powerstation on the run to the last.
Bookmaker reaction was to cut Mourad to as low as 8 to 1 for a World Hurdle clash with Big Buck’s at Cheltenham in March.
“He will be going for the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. What he does in the meantime, I’m not sure. He could have another run or two here,” Mullins said.
“He’s by Sinndar and the family all seem to go better on better ground. But he looked to act on it well there.”
The Mullins-Townend team had earlier secured an even more impressive success as the three-time winner in France, So Young, made a sparkling Irish debut to win the opening maiden hurdle by 16 lengths.
He was immediately installed as a 10 to 1 shot for the three-mile Neptune Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and the winning trainer said of his latest French import: “He needs a trip and that’s the way I’ll be aiming for the rest of the season. He did it very well. I don’t think it will be the strongest maiden run here this week but he was impressive.
“We will up him in grade, keep him at the trip and hope he will be good enough to take across the water.”
Mullins admitted to disappointment with Cooldine’s Lexus effort yesterday and reported later than J’y Vole didn’t stay the three-mile trip.
She will be dropped to two and a half miles and be aimed at the Ryanair Chase in March.
The champion trainer was widely expected to notch up a hat-trick yesterday in the bumper where Champagne Agent started a 15 to 8 favourite to make a winning debut. However, the more experienced Star Neuville kicked off the final turn and secured a lead that the market leader could cut to only four lengths by the finish.
“Barry Connell (owner) sent me the horse the week after Western Leader broke down at Aintree,” trainer, John “Shark” Hanlon, said.
“He could end up going to Cheltenham.”
Paul Carberry’s big strike of the day was on Pandorama in the Lexus but he had earlier struck for Gordon Elliott in the novice handicap hurdle aboard the well-backed Fool’s Wildcat. The blinkered runner went five lengths clear of Harold’s Cross on the run to the line to secure a well-earned victory.
Elliott said: “That was a good win as he has been sneaking up the handicap. I’ve had three or four winners for the owners Mick and Marie O’Shea this season. He’s a better horse on better ground but I might turn him out later in the week as he is entered everywhere.”
Leopardstown Figures
A CROWD of 10,278 were at Leopardstown yesterday, a drop of almost four thousand on last year’s day three festival figure when only five races were run due to fog problems.
Yesterday’s Tote turnover was €503,534, including over €100,000 bet in from pool betting in France. A total of €258,748 was bet on the corresponding day in 2009.
Bookmaker turnover reached €930,180.
A total of €755,449 was bet on five races last year.
