Tag Archive for: Jordan Gainford

Sa Fureur has to work to bring up hat-trick at Thurles

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Sa Fureur was made to pull out all the stops to justify cramped odds in the Markaye Contracts Ltd Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle at Thurles.

The six-year-old was the 5-6 market leader to complete his hat-trick following successive Punchestown wins and provide trainer Gordon Elliott with a third successive victory in this Grade Three contest.

Ridden by Jordan Gainford, Sa Fureur threw down his challenge from the home turn, but 22-1 shot Buddy One proved a willing rival.

There was little to choose between the pair all the way up the run-in, but following a protracted duel the Elliott runner edged it by a short head.

Two came close together on a couple of occasions, prompting a stewards’ inquiry, but the placings remained unaltered.

“I always thought I was getting the better of Jack (Gilligan, on Buddy One) but he pegged me back in the last couple of hundred yards. My horse stuck his head out though and had jumped the last two well, which is very important,” said Gainford.

“He had a nice run the last day in Punchestown and is a horse who doesn’t do a lot when he gets to the front. He is a nice horse for the future and the ground was lovely for him.

“He is a nice big strong horse, will fill out more and get even better.”

Brides Hill after winning at Thurles
Brides Hill after winning at Thurles (Thomas Weekes/PA)

Gavin Cromwell is eyeing a step up to Grade One level for Brides Hill after she opened her account over fences in the Carey Glass Irish EBF Colreevy Mares Novice Chase.

A three-time winner over hurdles, the six-year-old fell on her fencing debut at Fairyhouse in the autumn and had been placed on each of her three starts since.

She faced a far from straightforward task in this two-and-three-quarter-mile Listed contest, with Cheltenham Festival heroine Telmesomethinggirl the marginal favourite at 6-5 as she aimed to confirm her superiority over Instit (13-8) after finishing first and second at Naas last month.

The familiar rivals turned for home vying for the lead, but 7-2 shot Brides Hill was travelling strongly in their slipstream and quickened away smartly once given her head by Luke Dempsey to score by four lengths, with Telmesomethinggirl beating Instit to the runner-up spot.

Cromwell said: “She got an awful fright when she fell at Fairyhouse and it has taken her a long time to get confidence and, in her races since, she has been slow to warm up over the opening fences.

“She came straight into it today and jumped brilliantly. We had given her a pop this morning, when she was very good, and Paul Carberry actually schooled her on Saturday and got a good tune out of her.

“She isn’t a winter ground mare and is a lovely mare going forward for next year. It wouldn’t have been the end of the world if she didn’t win today as she’d have been a novice for next year, but now the Grade One Boylesports Gold Cup at Fairyhouse is a possibility.”

Gerri Colombe continues progression at Limerick

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Gerri Colombe maintained his unbeaten record with a clearcut victory in the Guinness Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick.

A winner in the point-to-point sphere a couple of years ago, the six-year-old had since landed two bumpers, two novice hurdles and a beginners chase for Gordon Elliott and was the 4-5 favourite stepping up to Grade One level for Limerick’s St Stephen’s Day feature.

Gerri Colombe was opposed by four rivals, three of which were trained by Willie Mullins, with 6-4 chance Kilcruit seemingly the first string ahead of Adamantly Chosen and Authorized Art.

Kilcruit briefly looked set to make a race of it with the strong-travelling Gerri Colombe early in the home straight, but his effort petered out and in the end it was left for Adamantly Chose to pick up the silver medal – beaten four and a quarter lengths by the decisive winner.

With stable jockey Jack Kennedy in action at Leopardstown and Davy Russell recently retired, Jordan Gainford came in for the plum ride aboard Gerri Colombe and was thrilled to secure his first Irish Grade One success, having been beaten a short head on Farouk D’alene in this race last year.

Gainford, who in October steered Shark Hanlon’s Hewick to glory in the American Grand National, said: “It’s unbelievable and first I want to thank Gordon and Robcour (owners). From the first day I walked into Gordon’s he’s looked after me and he had the confidence to put me up today.

“Last’s year’s defeat was something I didn’t want to happen again and a big thank you to Jack Kennedy too as he told me about him and how to ride him.

“His jumping was brilliant and for him to do what he did today was very good. Plans will be left to Gordon but the one thing he loves is soft ground and he had that today.”

Gordon Elliott trains Gerri Colombe
Gordon Elliott trains Gerri Colombe (David Davies/Jockey Club)

Elliott’s assistant, Ian ‘Busty’ Amond, said: “It’s great for Jordan and with the likes of Davy retiring it opens doors for these lads. They have to step up and did it and he did it, but he had the horse too.

“He loves that ground, Jordan said he was unbelievable to jump and did it well. He is laid back but keeps doing what he is doing and is six from six now.

“It is great for Robcour who put a lot of money into the game so it is important to get days like this.

“He is a right horse going forward, he has got his Grade One win now and would have no bother stepping up to three miles but well see what Gordon thinks.”

Betfair cut Gerri Colombe to 5-1 from 8-1 for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Speaking from Leopardstown, however, Elliott revealed he is considering a different target.

He said: “He just keeps winning. He doesn’t do anything fancy at home but we are lucky to have him.

“We’ll have a look and see where we go next. He might go for the National Hunt Chase if the ground was soft. He wouldn’t want it very quick.

“He was a big baby last year and is a nice horse now.”