Jungle Boogie provided Henry de Bromhead and Darragh O’Keeffe with their first winner at Ascot in the Howden Graduation Chase on Saturday.
The talented but extremely fragile 10-year-old made every yard of the running in what turned into quite an eventful affair.
Only four went to post, with just Iroko trained in Britain, while the others travelled over from Ireland.
Unfortunately for those who backed Iroko, they knew their fate early on, as upon jumping the first fence he collided with the errant Fil Dor in mid-air, giving Jonjo O’Neill jnr no chance.
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Jungle Boogie took the field along but the pace was only sedate and clearly too slow for James Du Berlais, who was keen in the hands of Daryl Jacob and making mistakes.
The leader had travelled very well in the Gold Cup when last seen but failed to see out the trip at Cheltenham, and on the second circuit he began to jump more and more out to his left.
Formerly trained by Willie Mullins, he was unbeaten in a bumper, a maiden hurdle and a beginners’ chase, but having had only three runs in almost as many years for the Closutton handler, he then had over two years off before joining De Bromhead.
He has been sound since, though, and is clearly a talented performer, running out an easy eight-length winner.
O’Keeffe said: “He’s a very classy horse, I got to ride him last year on New Year’s Day in Tramore and he was very good.
“He ran some race in the Gold Cup and probably didn’t stay the extended trip, but I thought coming here today that he seemed to be in good form.
“Iroko went early, he normally does jump a bit left anyway, but when the loose horse was there, he was having a bit of a look – but thankfully he got the job done.
“We had a chat before and said we’d go a nice gallop on him, he likes bossing things. When I opened him up to the second last, he really took off. He’s a very smart horse.
“He’s a horse that likes to get on with things, he’s 10 now but he’s got very little miles on the clock, so hopefully they’ll get a good clear run with him now and he’ll be able to go on to other big races.”
Cottesloe Sunshine was the highlight of a Thurles treble for Joseph O’Brien in the Billy Harney Memorial Irish EBF Mares Novice Hurdle, a first winner back from injury for jockey JJ Slevin.
The 3-1 chance had finished a respectable third behind the improving Hey Sunshine in a similar Listed contest last time out but seemed likely to have to settle for placed honours again on this occasion.
Having taken up the running before the second last, she looked like a sitting duck as Tim Doyle’s Beauforts Storm came cruising up alongside her.
However, to her immense credit, Cottesloe Sunshine battled on gamely and got the verdict by a short head.
It was a big win for the man on board, out injured since October with a broken bone in his foot, and he admitted he found it tough.
“Sharpness, rusty, jumping, position and everything, I found it more difficult than normal today but she is a good staying type of mare who tried hard and jumped well,” said Slevin.
“She is a hardy lady and when the other horse passed me at the last, she stuck out her head again. Joseph is flying and this is unreal.
“I am lucky to be riding at all, as initially the surgeons told me it would be a long, long time. They had even asked had I any rides for Cheltenham [in March], so I replied ‘probably none’, after hearing that!
“It is all down to Jennifer Pugh and Wayne and Gavin in Race [Racing Academy & Centre of Education], who have worked unbelievably hard to get me here and it is all down to them. I can’t walk but I’m riding something like how I always rode.”
O’Brien was also celebrating when Prairie Dancer (10-1) defied top weight in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase and Jeaniemacaroney (6-1) won the Wishing Everyone A Safe & Happy Christmas Handicap Hurdle.
Blue Velvet (4-5 favourite) looked another above average recruit for Mullins, quickening up in fine style to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares INH Flat Race.
The trainer said: “She is a nice addition to the mares ranks. She was very green and lazy, so was learning on the job, and to pull it out again in the final 100 yards when the other horse came to her was a great sign.
“She looks like a really nice type and looks another one for the DRF mares’ bumper. Hopefully, then she will go across the water and to Punchestown.”
