RACING:EX-NICKY HENDERSON inmate Mossley came good on his second start for Robbie Hennessy as he landed the Premier County Hurdle at Thurles yesterday.
Racing in the colours of Hennessy’s father Bill, which were made famous by Champion Hurdle winner Sublimity, the six-year-old proved he could turn out to be a good buy from Michael Buckley at €87,000.
Having travelled smoothly throughout for Barry Geraghty, he needed to be kept up to his work to beat the outsider Marlay Park by three-quarters of a length.
He had not shown much on his first start for his new stable but was well supported into 6 to 1. Western Leaders showed he retains most of his ability in third with Muirhead only fourth. Shinrock Paddy was a disappointing favourite.
“I was very disappointed with him the last day, Barry said he blew up at the third last. He’s a big, gross horse and needed a lot more work than we thought, we’re only getting to know the horse now,” said Hennessy.
“We’ve got stuck into him since and he stripped fitter today. We had the tongue tie, he probably doesn’t need it.
“We bought him to go over hurdles as Barry rode him over fences and said he missed one or two so we’ll stick to hurdles for the time being, with the option of fences if needs be.
“There’s a nice programme for him in Grade Twos and Threes and they are usually small fields.”
The Dessie Hughes-trained Everything Zain (2 to 1 favourite) finally broke a frustrating spell of six seconds in the Racecourse Challenge three-year-old Maiden Hurdle.
Bryan Cooper’s mount certainly has a quirk or two but ran out a comfortable winner in the end. “He deserved that – it was over-due,” said the winning trainer. “He didn’t like being in front and hopefully now he can compete in winners’ races.
“The ground was too firm for him at Clonmel (two runs back) but we’ll hardly be getting any more of that now.”
Our Victoria, closely related to Our Vic, notched up her fifth win under Rules in the Holycross Mares Chase.
She is making herself a valuable broodmare prospect but trainer Colin Bowe is happy to just keep on winning races for the time being.
“She got a bit out-paced as the trip was a bit short,” said Bowe.
“Her jumping got her back into it and she’ll go next for a two-and-a-half-mile mares’ chase at Clonmel (fell two out there a year ago).
“She’ll get a break then.”
Willie Mullins’ Pique Sous (4-7 favourite) had no trouble landing the odds in the Cashel Maiden Hurdle, making just about all the running under Ruby Walsh.
