Oaks Soldier made up for losing out by the narrowest of margins on his most recent start with a hard-fought success in the 2m7f maiden hurdle at Cork on Easter Monday.
Killarney trainer Eamon Courtney was on hand to greet his13-8 favourite who led after the last hurdle to win by a neck. Carl Millar did the steering.
The winner carried the colours of the trainer’s wife Valerie, also the breeder, and is named at the hotel they run, the Killarney Oaks Hotel.
Popular trainer Mick Winters was back in the winners’ enclosure at Cork on Easter Monday for the first time since an injury sustained a month ago.
The Kanturk handler was knocked over by a horse in a mishap at Thurles early in March and required hospitalisation.
Winters is made of stern stuff, though, and he was buoyed by River Vale’s success by two lengths in the 2m1f handicap chase in the hands of Kerry jockey Gavin Brouder. The winner returned at 100-30.
“He doesn’t take a lot of work which is a big help. He would not want the ground much drier than it is today. Credit to the staff here at Cork, the track was in great order,” Winters said on Racing TV.
River Vale, owned by the Down To The Alley Syndicate, was due a change of luck, like his trainer. The horse was disqualified from his second-place finish at Thurles in February when his jockey weighed in light. He then fell at the final fence at the same venue when looking likely to win two weeks later.
Trainer Gordon Elliott got off to the best possible start at Aintree’s three-day Grand National fixture when Mange Tout (5-1) displayed both grit and class in the Grade 1 Boodles Anniversary Juvenile Hurdle.
Restricted to four-year-olds, this race is the natural follow-on from the Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Mange Tout, however, did not race at Cheltenham, kept fresh for this assignment and the move paid dividends as the mare fended off the race favourite Selma De Vary (9-4) by three-parts of a length under Jack Kennedy.
“We said we would drop her out and get her settled today as she was too keen last time at Leopardstown,” Elliott said.
“She missed Cheltenham as she had been a bit light. Maybe it helped. I think that might be her for the season as she isn’t the biggest. Great to get a Grade 1 winner at Aintree at the start of the week.”
Kennedy added: “She settled better and jumped great. I got there too soon on her and she wasn’t doing much up the straight – but we got there. She probably has a bit of filling out to do still.”
Brighterdaysahead made it five Grade 1 wins over hurdles with a convincing success over the best Britain had to offer in the Aintree Hurdle last Thursday.
Gordon Elliott’s star mare, carrying the Gigginstown silks, led every step of the way in the 2m4f showpiece and, driven out by Jack Kennedy, won by over two lengths from The New Lion. The result gave trainer and jockey an excellent Grade 1 double at the Liverpool track on the day.
The first four home with English runners Alexei and Golden Ace finishing third and fourth was the exact same finishing order as that behind the dominant Willie Mullins mare, Lossiemouth, in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham a month earlier.
“She is so tough and honest and 2m4f is her trip. She’s so good she has been able to win Grade 1 races over two miles also. This is special,” Elliott said on Racing TV in the immediate aftermath.
“I don’t know if we will see her again this season. She is entered at Punchestown but the plan is to go chasing next year. I am very proud of everyone at home and that is our 11th Grade 1 of the season. I am buzzing!”
The records will show that 9-4 joint favourite Ifallgoeswell won the opener at Wexford on an inclement Friday evening in Wexford, but the talk post-race was about how Jack Kennedy managed to finish third on his mount.
Ballingarry-based father and son team Philip and Charles Byrnes were responsible for the winner who lasted home by a neck.
However, there was real drama at the point of the home turn as Kennedy’s left foot came out of his iron, forcing all his weight over the near side of Dunleer Crystal. How he defied gravity to get back in the saddle is anyone’s guess. Remarkable recovery.
The pair jumped the final two hurdles with Kennedy’s feet out of the irons and were only beaten four lengths.
“I was lucky I suppose. I am not sure what happened,” Kennedy later said on Racing TV. “My foot just came out of the iron. It probably shouldn’t have happened.
Attritional stuff in the three-mile novice hurdle at Wexford on Friday evening with Agameoftwohalves making Jack Kennedy’s trip from Liverpool worthwhile in his quest to regain the jockeys’ championship with at least one winner on the board.
It probably would have been two were it not for the rodeo act on Dunleer Crystal in the first race, but this success was fairly straightforward, arriving by five lengths as the 5-2 favourite.
“Grand big horse, he’s a bit of a frame of a horse, still a bit of a baby. He will jump a fence,” Kennedy said of the Gordon Elliott trainee.
Grange Con trainer Helen Markham sprang something of a surprise with her veteran chaser Mastermind in the concluding 3m2f handicap chase at Down Royal on Sunday.
The 28-1 chance was held up for a late flourish by Listowel jockey Gavin Brouder and the pair scored by nearly two lengths.
Remarkably, it was eight years since the 12-year-old’s previous victory so credit to the perseverance of owner Peter Killeen.
Upcoming Fixtures
Clonmel Tues April 14 (first race 4.37pm)
Leopardstown Weds April 15 (first race 1.22pm)
Limerick Thurs April 16 (first race 1.35pm)
Ballinrobe Fri April 17 (first race 5.00pm)
Bellewstown Sat April 18 (first race 2.05pm)
Curragh Sun April 19 (first race 1.15pm)
Tramore Sun April 19 (first race 2.08pm)
