Leopardstown report:Davy Russell made a Grade One-winning return to action at Leopardstown yesterday as the season's leading jockey guided Thyne Again to a spectacular success in the Baileys Arkle Cup, presenting connections with a Cheltenham quandary in the process.
Along with a hugely fortuitous victory in the following handicap chase on board The Budgee, who benefited from the exit of three horses in front of him at the last fence, Russell wasted no time bouncing back from a fortnight's absence to continue the momentum that has him closing in on a first ever century of winners.
It was certainly a happier day for him than the infamous incident at Tramore on New Year's Eve when the entire field "finished" a circuit early in the race eventually won by Mr Aussie and Russell was among the riders suspended for five racedays.
Thyne Again looked good enough yesterday to banish that memory for good. Even allowing for the fifth last fall of the favourite, Scotsirish , there was a fluency to his 15-length demolition of the English-trained outsider, Gardasee, that had bookmakers slashing his odds for the Cheltenham Arkle to as low as 10 to 1.
The display will also be more than enough to test trainer Liam Burke's previous resolve to actually avoid Cheltenham this year in favour of the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse over Easter.
Understandably, the Cork trainer appeared to waver in that conviction yesterday. "We'll have to think about it. There is only one Cheltenham. If the owners are anxious to go, we would nearly have to, but I'm terrified of the place because this horse has had a problem and the ground would need to be soft. The Powers Gold Cup would be another option. I'll talk to the owners about it," said Burke who, despite winning last year's Galway Plate, was scoring a first Grade One victory.
Russell hit the 97-winner mark for the season on board The Budgee but it was a lucky success as Tailors Hall looked all over the winner until taking a fatal fall at the final fence.
Marhaba Millon also fell at the obstacle while Holly Tree unseated his rider leaving The Budgee's trainer, Michael Hourigan Jnr, admitting: "We probably would have ended up being second to Tailors Hall."
The final fence also claimed Call Bewleys in the Grade Two Woodlands Park Novice Chase which was transferred from last week's cancelled Naas meeting.
The timing could yet impact on yesterday's winner Pomme Tiepy who justified short odds with a four-length defeat of Kilcrea Castle to provide Ruby Walsh with winner number 88 of the season in Ireland. "I will think about the PJ Moriarty for her but there's a week less between these races now so I'll have to think about it. J'y Vole could run in that race too, or there might be something else in the programme," said Willie Mullins.
"She jumps beautifully and we will look at the SunAlliance although I'm not sure if she would like goodish ground. The Powers Gold Cup is there too, and there's a chance of a French campaign at the end of the season," added the in-form trainer. Pomme Tiepy is quoted as low as 12-1 for the SunAlliance.
Liskennett has the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle - formerly the Brit - as a target where she will attempt to emulate her dam, Generosa, a former winner of the Pertemps Hurdle at the festival.
Charles Bynres' mare will go there in Grade Two-winning form having gamely beaten off Siegemaster and Our Bob in the Toshiba Novice Hurdle.
"We'll give her the entry at Cheltenham anway," Byrnes said. "She ran too free at Limerick on her last start and didn't get home at all. But on her best form she had a good chance today." Liskennet's jockey, Niall Madden, got a two-day ban from the stewards for his use of the whip.
Triumph Hurdle quotes of 33 to 1 were floating about for Siege Of Ennis after Eddie Harty's juvenile provided the big-race winner Andrew McNamara with a perfect start to the day in the maiden hurdle. "We took a chance running against older horses but he was getting a lot of weight and we took a chance," said Harty who could have two runners in his first trip to Cheltenham as a trainer. Captain Cee Bee will run at Punchestown next week and then hopefully the Supreme. I might have a team!"
Dermot Weld fancied Endless Intrigue in the bumper and the former champion flat trainer was proved right with Matt O'Connor forcing the newcomer home by a head from City Meaning.
Crowd down on last year
Yesterday's Leopardstown crowd of 9,196 was down from last year's corresponding figure of 10,592. Bookmaker turnover was also down from last year's €2,299,459 to €1,882,550 despite there being one more race. However, the Tote figure was up slightly to €425,756.
