Tag Archive for: Leopardstown

Gaillard Du Mesnil breaks chasing duck with Grade One glory

Gaillard Du Mesnil finally enjoyed his day in the sun over fences with a facile victory in the Neville Hotels Novice Chase at Leopardstown.

Although winless in six previous outings over the larger obstacles, the dual Grade One-winning hurdler had never finished out of the first three and has been placed three times at the highest level.

With his Drinmore conqueror Mighty Potter a non-runner, Gaillard Du Mesnil was the 5-6 favourite to open his chasing account and ultimately did so in fine style in a race marred by fatal injuries suffered by both Unexpected Depth and Three Stripe Life.

Amirite also unseated Rachael Blackmore, but Gaillard Du Mesnil managed to keep himself out of trouble under a patient ride before pulling seven and a half lengths clear of Churchstonewarrior to provide Willie Mullins and Paul Townend with yet another Grade One success this week.

“He had the experience and he had the rating. He was still a maiden, but we had kept him to good class company all the time and he got his experience against that type of company,” said Mullins.

“Paul said he just flew fences down the back for him. They went very fast and he was even taken off it a bit early on.

Gaillard Du Mesnil after winning at Leopardstown
Gaillard Du Mesnil after winning at Leopardstown (Gary Carson/PA)

“He just glided into the race down the outside, kept out of trouble and kept away from the loose horse (Amirite) the best he could. He just kept jumping and landed in front.

“He deserved a crack at two and a half (miles) last time, though it was a little bit short for him. He probably learned a lot going that pace.

“All that experience counts for a day like today.”

Paddy Power make Gaillard Du Mesnil their 6-4 favourite from 9-4 for the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, while he is 6-1 from 10-1 with the same firm for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

Willie Mullins continues Mares Hurdle run with Shewearsitwell

Shewearsitwell provided Willie Mullins with a sixth victory in the last seven runnings of the BeattheBank.ie Irish EBF Mares Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Two subsequent Cheltenham Festival heroines in Let’s Dance and Concertista are among the champion trainer’s recent winners of the Grade Three contest and Shewearsitwell was actually sent off favourite for last year’s renewal, but suffered a nasty fall at the fourth flight.

With her confidence seemingly dented, results since have been mixed – but she got back on the winning trail in a Pertemps qualifier at Punchestown last month and was a 15-8 shot stepping back up in class.

The six-runner contest looked a match on paper and that was the way it transpired, with 8-13 favourite Queens Brook leading Shewearsitwell into the home straight.

But it was soon clear that the Mullins runner had more to give in the hands of Paul Townend and she picked up well passing the dolled off final obstacle to seal a four-and-a-half-length verdict.

Paddy Power cut Shewearsitwell to 8-1 from 25-1 for the Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Mullins said: “It was very good, she wasn’t very brave over her hurdles so I was very happy the last hurdle was taken out twice.

Shewearsitwell pulls clear at Leopardstown
Shewearsitwell pulls clear at Leopardstown (Niall Carson/PA)

“I thought going down the back she wasn’t going to race much but once Paul got after her, she just kicked into gear. She improved and enjoyed herself then.

“Paul said they went a right good gallop and he was at his best just trying to keep her in touch with the race.

“She was losing a half-length here and there at her hurdles which wasn’t good for her, but she eventually got it right and when it came to staying she outstayed the rest of them.”

Sharjah bids for record-breaking fifth Matheson Hurdle title

Patrick Mullins feels it is a testament to Sharjah’s constitution that he is bidding for a fifth successive victory in the Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown on Thursday.

Should he be successful, and it is by no means a given as he faces two very smart stablemates in State Man and Vauban, he will overtake Istabraq and Hurricane Fly as the most successful horse ever in the Grade One.

Despite being an amateur, Mullins has struck up an incredibly successful partnership with the nine-year-old, trained by his father, Willie, and a place in Irish racing history will be assured if he manages to come out on top once again.

While he may not appear to be the yard’s first string, one positive Sharjah fans can cling to is that for the first three of his wins in the race he was not, either.

“It is not often you get an opportunity to top Hurricane Fly and Istabraq, so I’m looking forward to it,” said Mullins.

“Leopardstown at Christmas, on the inside track, really suits him. It’s a quick track, it’s usually nice ground and he was even going to win his novice race at this meeting five years ago when he fell jumping a shadow.

“It’s incredible for a horse to be running at Grade One level for six years, very few horses do that, very few have the soundness – or the ability – to do that. It says a heck of a lot about his constitution.”

Sharjah was beaten by State Man on his return to action this term, with last season’s County Hurdle winner four lengths too good in last month’s Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown.

Mullins admits it will be be hard to close the gap on his much younger stable companion.

“I was a little bit disappointed with him in the Morgiana, more that I had to come off the bridle to get by Saldier, but then I liked how he finished the race and he chased State Man to the line,” said the assistant trainer and jockey.

“I’ll need him to improve from that but I would hope that he will. I’ve four lengths and four years to find!

“It won’t be easy and we’ll be the underdog, but I’m looking forward to giving it a go.”

Vauban was far and away last year's leading juvenile
Vauban was far and away last year’s leading juvenile (Mike Egerton/PA)

In the same Susannah and Rich Ricci silks is last season’s Triumph Hurdle winner Vauban, who was not expected to run in the race.

“Vauban had the option of running against his own age at Limerick, but Willie decided he wants to find out where he lies with the big boys,” said Mullins.

Pied Piper, third to Vauban in the Triumph, runs for Gordon Elliott after two comfortable wins at Cheltenham and Down Royal this season.

Joey Logan, racing manager to Pied Piper’s owners Caldwell Construction Ltd, said: “He has to step up now and see where we are, but his work is very good at home and Gordon is very happy with him.

“This is going to tell us if he’s a Champion Hurdle horse or a Coral Cup horse or whatever. We’ll know more after this, that’s for sure.”

Norman Lee’s rank outsider She Is Electric completes the field.

Gaillard Du Mesnil aiming to open his chase account in style

With former rival Mighty Potter declared a non-runner, Gaillard Du Mesnil appears to have been found an excellent opportunity to belatedly open his account over fences in the Neville Hotels Novice Chase at Leopardstown on Thursday.

Although winless after six starts over the larger obstacles, the Willie Mullins-trained Gaillard Du Mesnil has been placed on each occasion, with three of those efforts coming at Grade One level.

The grey, who won twice in Grade One company over hurdles, was third behind esteemed stablemate Galopin Des Champs at last season’s Dublin Racing Festival before occupying the same finishing position behind L’Homme Presse at Cheltenham and when favourite for the Irish Grand National.

The six-year-old again had to make do with minor honours when filling the runner-up spot behind Mighty Potter on his reappearance in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse last month – but with plans for the rematch shelved by connections of the latter, Gaillard Du Mesnil is a hot favourite to enjoy a deserved day in the sun.

Patrick Mullins, assistant to his father, said: “He has lots of experience which is always a help and he ran a cracker in the Drinmore.

“The Drinmore turned into a bit of a sprint which didn’t really suit him as he stays very well, so we’re expecting a very good run.”

Mighty Potter had the option of testing the water over three miles for the first time, but he will instead stick a shorter distance for the foreseeable future.

Joey Logan, racing manager to owners Caldwell Construction Ltd, said: “He’s a non-runner – he was declared by mistake.

Mighty Potter will not run at Leopardstown on Thursday
Mighty Potter will not run at Leopardstown on Thursday (Brian Lawless/PA)

“We’ll wait for the Dublin Racing Festival with him. He’ll run over two and a half miles there and two and a half at Cheltenham.

“He’s only a five-year-old and there is no point in him going three miles when he doesn’t need to.”

Despite Mighty Potter’s absence, trainer Gordon Elliott is still doubly represented with Three Stripe Life, who was pulled up in the Drinmore after the now-retired Davy Russell’s saddle slipped, joined by Front Assault.

Churchstonewarrior (Jonathan Sweeney), Amirite (Henry de Bromhead), Unexpected Depth (Oliver McKiernan) and Barnacullia (Michael Mulvany) complete the field.

Conflated claims cosy Savills Chase success

Conflated put himself firmly in the Cheltenham Gold Cup picture with a dominant success in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown.

The Gordon Elliott-trained eight-year-old was a surprise winner of the Irish Gold Cup over the course and distance last season and went on to run well before falling two from home in Cheltenham’s Ryanair Chase before pushing Clan Des Obeaux close in the Bowl at Aintree.

Expected to improve from his seasonal reappearance in the Champion Chase at Down Royal in October, in the absence of the withdrawn A Plus Tard Conflated was 2-1 favourite and ultimately outclassed his rivals.

Kemboy, winner of this race in 2018 and fourth, second and third in each of the past three years, adopted his customary pacesetting role under Paul Townend, but it was clear the soon to be 11-year-old was struggling to shake off the two years younger Conflated and Jack Kennedy allowed him to stride to the lead heading out onto the second circuit.

In truth the market leader bossed the contest from there home and Kennedy could even afford to begin celebrating on the run-in as he passed the post with five lengths in hand.

Kemboy ran another brave race to be placed once more in second, with the winner’s stablemate Fury Road coming from further back to pick up the bronze medal.

Paddy Power reacted by trimming Conflated’s Gold Cup odds to 14-1 from 33-1, while Coral offer the same price from 40s.

Elliott said: “It was unfortunate that A Plus Tard couldn’t run. The race worked out well and Jack gave him a beautiful ride.

“Paul steadied the pace down and Jack let him stride on. He said the faster this horse goes, the better he’ll be. I thought Jack was wonderful.

“He’s not an easy horse and he’s actually starting to settle now. He was very kinky and Jack said he wasn’t doing a stroke the whole way up the straight. He jumped perfect all the way.

“We don’t gallop him a whole lot and he just does his routine work each day. We left him very short in Down Royal and Jack was thrilled and said he’d come on an awful lot from it.

“I’d imagine he’ll come back here for the Irish Gold Cup but we’ll have to talk to Michael and Eddie (O’Leary) and make a plan.

“There was a lot of talk last season about which race he would go for in Cheltenham but he’ll definitely be going for the Gold Cup this year.”

Conflated with connections at Leopardstown
Conflated with connections at Leopardstown (Alan Magee/PA)

Kennedy, like Elliott completing a treble on the card, said: “Brilliant. The first couple of days have been kind of tough, but we’ve certainly made up for it today anyway.

“Paul slowed it up in front and this lad got a small bit lit up, so I let him on. He dropped it (bridle) again going down the back. He’d actually probably be better off a stronger gallop as well.

“It was a good performance and I’m delighted with him. He’s a brilliant jumper, even short he is able to get up.

“He is a good horse and probably a small bit quirky, but I suppose the penny is after dropping with him and he’s a lot more straightforward now. He was very straightforward today.”

Home By The Lee takes Christmas crown at Leopardstown

Home By The Lee proved his surprise victory at Navan last month was no fluke with a battling success in the Jack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Joseph O’Brien’s charge was a widely unconsidered 28-1 shot for the Grade Two Lismullen Hurdle in mid-November, but knuckled down to see off the strong-travelling Bob Olinger, with Ashdale Bob and dual Stayers’ Hurdle hero Flooring Porter back in third and fourth.

All four were again in action in this three-mile Grade One, with Bob Olinger the marginal favourite to provide Henry de Bromhead with victory in a race named in memory of his late son, just ahead of Flooring Porter at 2-1.

The latter adopted his customary pacesetting role under Danny Mullins, while Bob Olinger was given a more patient ride under Rachael Blackmore.

But it became clear leaving the back straight that both of the market principals were in trouble, with Flooring Porter picked up by both 7-1 shot Home By The Lee and Ashdale Bob, while Bob Olinger found little once push came to shove.

Ashdale Bob looked to be travelling best of all on the approach to the final flight, but it was Home By The Lee who saw out the distance best under JJ Slevin to score by three lengths.

Paddy Power cut the winner to 6-1 from 20-1 for the Stayers’ Hurdle, a race in which he finished sixth last season.

O’Brien said: “I was actually worried how well he was travelling through the race because he never does travel well. I thought he was going to waste too much energy travelling and jumping well but he’s a really good stayer.

Joseph O'Brien trains Home By The Lee
Joseph O’Brien trains Home By The Lee (Brian Lawless/PA)

“He keeps finding and even when he got to the front, he pricked his ears again.

“I was surprised he beat Bob Olinger in Navan but he really was going well. He was discounted in the betting but we hoped he’d be placed and then come here.

“He’s always been a fairly good horse. He was a good novice chaser and then lost his confidence jumping fences and we came back hurdling.

“He’ll probably go straight to Cheltenham now for the Stayers’. He likes getting into a nice rhythm and wasn’t beaten a million miles in it last year. He looks a better horse this year.”

Flooring Porter was edged out by Meet And Greet for third, with Mullins banned for five days and forfeiting his riding fee after the stewards judged he had not obtained the best possible placing.

Deep Cave provides minor consolation for De Bromhead team

Deep Cave lunged late to provide Henry de Bromhead with a welcome tonic in the opening Savills Maiden Hurdle at Leopardstown.

The Knockeen handler failed to saddle a winner across the first two days of the Christmas Festival and less than an hour before day three got under way, he was forced to withdraw his Cheltenham Gold Cup hero A Plus Tard from the featured Savills Chase on veterinary advice.

Deep Cave, a £235,000 purchase after winning an Irish point-to-point, shaped with significant promise when runner-up on his hurdling debut at Punchestown last month, though, and was an 11-4 chance to go one better.

Lot Of Joy looked likely to provide Willie Mullins with yet another winner following his Tuesday’s six-timer at the Foxrock track after taking over the lead from Firm Footings.

But the 6-5 favourite wandered under pressure after the final flight and Rachael Blackmore conjured a late run from Deep Cave to get up and score by half a length.

De Bromhead said: “He’s a nice horse and we always liked him. I thought he was going to win in Punchestown and then he just got outbattled.

“Davy (Russell) felt he went a bit soon the last day, so we said we’d take our time. I’m delighted for the owners who are new to the game.

“We’ll look to the spring and see what is there.”

Sam’s Choice and Jack Kennedy (left) jump the final flight at Leopardstown
Sam’s Choice and Jack Kennedy (left) jump the final flight at Leopardstown (Niall Carson/PA)

Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy combined to win the following two races with Sam’s Choice and the fast-improving Maxxum respectively.

Kennedy delivered 8-1 shot Sam’s Choice with a well-timed challenge to secure top honours in the Irish Daily Star Christmas Handicap Hurdle before 11-4 favourite Maxxum routed his rivals in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle to supplement a similarly dominant success at Navan last month.

The latter was cut to 4-1 from 16-1 by Betfair for the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival.

“In fairness, Jack said to run Sam’s Choice in a big field. He followed them around and it worked out well,” said Elliott.

“We thought Maxxum was well handicapped when he came to us and we’re very happy with him. He’s going the right way.

“He shouldn’t have much problem getting into the Pertemps Final now!”

Elliott and Kennedy went on to complete a treble with Conflated in the Grade One Savills Chase.

Gentlemansgame (2-1) made a successful debut over regulation fences in the Ballymaloe Relish Beginners Chase under Darragh O’Keeffe, proving eight lengths too strong for 10-11 favourite I Am Maximus.

Gentlemansgame leads the way at Leopardstown
Gentlemansgame leads the way at Leopardstown (Niall Carson/PA)

Winning trainer Mouse Morris said: “He fiddled a few which was good when he got in a bit close and the faster he was going, the better he was jumping. He’ll come on plenty from that.

“Three miles is his trip and he’ll have to go into Graded races now. He might come back here for the Dublin Racing Festival.

“You only have to look at him and you can’t help loving him. He’s the kind of horse I really like.”

For the second afternoon running Willie and Patrick Mullins combined to win the concluding bumper with a short-priced favourite.

Ile Atlantique, who finished third over hurdles in France on his only previous outing, was a 4-7 shot for the Midland Legal Solicitors Flat Race and knuckled down to beat Feronily by just over two lengths.

Willie Mullins said: “He’s a nice sort and is just learning on the job. He was very green turning for home and when Patrick asked him it took a while for the penny to drop up the straight.

“I think he’s championship bumper class so he’ll be heading down that road.

“He’ll probably come back here for the Dublin Racing Festival.”

Late setback rules A Plus Tard out of Savills Chase

A Plus Tard will miss the Savills Chase at Leopardstown after being withdrawn on veterinary advice

Last season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup hero was a last-gasp winner of the Grade One contest in 2020 and was caught close home by Galvin in last year’s renewal.

Despite a disappointing seasonal reappearance when pulling up in last month’s Betfair Chase at Haydock, the Cheveley Park Stud-owned eight-year-old was a hot favourite to get back on the winning trail.

However, A Plus Tard will not line up in the feature event on day three of Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival.

De Bromhead said: “It’s frustrating, but he’s banged his joint and we just don’t want to risk him.

“The vets are going to dig deeper. He’s moving perfect, but he just banged his joint and there’s a bit of heat there, so we’ll see.”

Flooring Porter sights set on Christmas crown

Dual Stayers’ Hurdle hero Flooring Porter bids to get back on the winning trail in the Jack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown on Wednesday.

Gavin Cromwell’s stable star filled the runner-up spot in the Grade One contest 12 months ago behind Klassical Dream, who this year misses out after suffering a setback.

Flooring Porter took his revenge when successfully defending his Stayers’ Hurdle crown at the Cheltenham Festival in March and is expected to improve on his fourth-placed finish in last month’s Lismullen Hurdle at Navan.

He will need to up his game, however, with the first three finishers – Home By The Lee, Bob Olinger and Ashdale Bob – taking him on once more.

Cromwell said: “Flooring Porter is in good form and has come out of his run at Navan fine.

“We are meeting those horses off level weights now, fitness wise he will have improved a lot for it and the extra half-mile suits him well.

“We’re basically replicating what we did last year and we’re looking forward to getting him out.”

Bob Olinger winning at last season's Cheltenham Festival
Bob Olinger winning at last season’s Cheltenham Festival (Tim Goode/PA)

Bob Olinger would certainly be a poignant winner for Henry de Bromhead, whose late son is honoured in the title of this year’s renewal.

In Klassical Dream’s absence champion trainer Willie Mullins launches a twin assault, although both Saldier and Mr Adjudicator appear to have their work cut out.

Zanahiyr appears the pick of three runners for Gordon Elliott ahead of Sire Du Berlais and Commander Of Fleet, while Noel Meade’s Beacon Edge and Meet And Greet from Oliver McKiernan’s yard also feature.

Kemboy and A Plus Tard renew Savills rivalry at Leopardstown

Familiar foes Kemboy and A Plus Tard cross swords once again in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown on Wednesday.

In eight outings at the Dublin circuit the Willie Mullins-trained Kemboy has only been out of the first four once – with his two victories featuring this race in 2018 and the Irish Gold Cup in February last year.

It was so nearly a second Savills Chase in 2020, only to be caught close home by Henry de Bromhead’s A Plus Tard in a thrilling finish, while he was beaten less than a length into third place 12 months ago.

Kemboy’s last outing was another Grade One near-miss, to A Plus Tard’s stablemate Envoi Allen at Down Royal last month.

Mullins also runs Franco De Port and Royal Rendezvous, the latter winning last season’s Galway Plate and now having his first start since Punchestown in April.

“Kemboy loves the track and he always keeps some of his best runs for here,” said the Closutton handler.

“Franco De Port will probably need a bit of luck to win, but he’ll take his chance. He won at the track over two miles.

“Royal Rendezvous hasn’t run over three miles – the Galway Plate is as far as he’s run – and we felt we’d have a look to see how he goes over longer trips.

“He’s a hard horse to place with his rating and is entitled to run in the race. I’m not sure if he’ll get the trip, but we’ll see.”

Rachael Blackmore and A Plus Tard at Cheltenham in March
Rachael Blackmore and A Plus Tard at Cheltenham in March (David Davies/PA)

Last year’s renewal saw a role reversal for A Plus Tard as he was run down by Galvin, losing out by a head.

He went from there to famously lift the Cheltenham Gold Cup in the hands of Rachael Blackmore, but left connections scratching their heads when pulled up in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on his reappearance. A “couple of issues” were subsequently discovered, however, including unsatisfactory blood test results.

Only fourth at Down Royal, Galvin is back to defend his crown and is joined by his Gordon Elliott-trained stablemates Conflated and Fury Road.

Winner of this year’s Irish Gold Cup, Conflated was one place in front of Galvin at Down Royal, while Fury Road was a Grade Two winner at that meeting.

The field is completed by the Mouse Morris-trained French Dynamite, who is trying three miles for the first time over fences after finishing runner-up in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.