Down Royal review
RASHAAN supplied the big shock on the first day of Down Royal’s Fertival of Racing yesterday when he beat odds-on favourite Apple’s Jade in the featured WKD Hurdle.
Ruby Walsh attempted to make all on the Gordon Elliott-trained favourite but Sean Flanagan delivered the winner with a decisive challenge after the final flight to prevail and give Carlow trainer Colin Kidd reward for making the trip north.
Apple’s Jade had tasted success at the Aintree and Punchestown Festivals last term after finishing second to Ivanovitch Gorbatov in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham. Yet he failed to live up to his billing yesterday, a fact that delighted Kidd no end.
“Last year the heavy ground along the winter just didn’t suit Rashaan,” he said “We have been blessed with the weather the last couple of months. I am just going to keep him going while the ground is this way.
“He is thriving on racing. We went into the juvenile hurdle on St Stephen’s Day last year as favourite and Apple’s Jade and Jer’s Girl were first and second. He doesn’t jump as well on heavy ground.
“Today was the plan and if the weather stays this way he could go to Naas next Saturday.”
Despite losing out in the big race of the day, Walsh did enjoy a treble elsewhere on the card. He made all on the talented Airlie Beach to claim the Grade Three Mares’ Hurdle, stretching the unbeaten run of Willie Mullins’s runner to six.
While Airlie Beach ran out the winner, he rivals never let her open up a commanding lead and Shattered Love made her work hard at the finish when only a half-length separated the pair.
Mullins and Walsh were landing the race for the third successive year while owners Supreme Racing Club also owned last year’s winner Listen Dear.
“Dropping back from two-and-ahalf to just two miles nearly exposed her for speed a little bit,” admitted Walsh.
“Her stamina won it for her. She was tough from the last – she was tough all the way. She’s game and probably would appreciate maybe a fraction slower ground.”
Realt Mor cantered to victory in the handicap chase to give Gordon Elliott his fourth winner on the day. The Armagh-owned and trained The Shepherd King attempted to make all but kept on well for second.
Templepatrick-based owners Joe and Pat Sloan looked assured of winning the opener when The Storyteller, with Barry Geraghty aboard, travelled very easily to lead two from home, only to fall.
That allowed favourite and stablemate Monbeg Notorious to prevail for Elliott and Walsh.
Boris Boru, trained in Dromore by Sarah Dawson, was backed in from 20/1 to 7/1 but had to settle for second in the handicap hurdle.
Dawson also sent out the fourthplaced Degenerous behind another Elliott winner, Wolfslair, who had David Mullins in the saddle.
Elliott and Walsh very easily claimed the beginners, chase when A Toi Phil made a winning debut over fences, while Joey Sasa took his second bumper of the week.
