The form of the Michael Hourigan-trained horses has been a notable feature of the Listowel week but even allowing for that, the confidence behind Tell The Nipper in yesterday's Southampton Chase was infectious and the six-year-old didn't disappoint in landing quite a gamble.
Tell The Nipper was generally available at 8 to 1 in the shops in the morning, a price that was quickly snapped up but course odds also tumbled and he ended up 11 to 4 second favourite behind Perknapp.
A slight concern had been that the two and a half mile trip may have been on the short side but that was mitigated by the cracking pace set by Ryhane. When that one cracked and the veteran Second Schedual kicked on, Richard Dunwoody had Tell The Nipper perfectly placed to stalk him and when they touched down after the last, Hourigan's horse kicked clear.
"He's the one horse in the yard that has done everything right since coming in off grass which is unusual because usually he can be knocked out by the slightest thing. A cut could take him two months to get over," said a delighted Hourigan who was welcoming his fifth winner of the week.
Dunwoody made it five for the week himself when winning the following novice chase on Dermot Weld's Ideal Plan. The horse put in a clean round of jumping on his chasing bow and went clear of Sea Fisher on the run in.
"He did what we thought he would do. Our only concern was that he hadn't schooled around a track, just the Curragh schooling grounds, and lacked a little experience but he did it properly. We won't be aiming too high and we'll build him up nicely," Weld remarked.
The former Cheltenham and Leopardstown chase winner Time For A Run made a very encouraging seasonal debut when coming from last to first in the qualified riders race to beat Rossmore Girl with the well backed All The Colours, who looked a winner on the turn in, finishing only fourth.
JP McManus' mother, Bridie, had her first winner when her colours were carried to victory in the opportunity handicap hurdle by Nascimento who quickened too well for Sigma Comms and Magical Way. Liam Fleming (23) took over in the saddle from the usual rider Ray Hogan who is out with a broken toe and scored win number 15 of his career.
Lanturn, who was pulled up lame here on Wednesday, didn't even make it to the start of the first division of the maiden hurdle after being found lame again and was a non-runner. In his absence, the market opened up but it was one of the joint favourites King Of Glen who just got the better of Hazel Gale in a prolonged duel despite jumping poorly.
However, King Of Glen's stablemate Lunar Lady didn't get away with such sketchy jumping in the second division and trailed in only fourth behind the injury prone veteran Legatissimo.
