Tag Archive for: Naas

Elimay returns to action on familiar ground before Cheltenham

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Elimay is expected to face a tough task as she kicks off her Cheltenham Festival preparations with a hat-trick bid in Saturday’s BBA Ireland Limited Opera Hat Mares Chase at Naas.

Willie Mullins’ runner first landed the Listed contest in 2021 before going on to take second in the Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham, while last year she added to her Naas laurels when repelling Pink Legend by half a length to win at Prestbury Park too.

Elimay went on to finish second at the Punchestown Festival, but has been off the track since trailing home a 16-length fourth on her return at Clonmel back in November.

The nine-year-old must concede weight all around at Naas and will be giving 12lb to fellow Closutton inmate and JP McManus-owned mare Dinoblue – a factor Mullins’ son and assistant Patrick expects will prove crucial.

Elimay was a Festival winner in 2022
Elimay was a Festival winner in 2022 (Mike Egerton/PA)

He said: “Elimay had a slight setback over the winter, so it is great to have her back out and going before Cheltenham. This is not going to be easy for her giving away all the penalties.

“Dinoblue is stepping up against more experienced mares, but she is getting all of the allowances and we’d like to think she can take advantage of all the weight she is receiving.”

The Henry de Bromhead-trained Magic Daze, a Punchestown Festival winner last season, is also among the seven runners for a race Mullins has won in six of the last seven years.

Another key Cheltenham player turns out in the Naas Farm Machinery Hunters Chase as the Mullins-trained Billaway looks to win the extended three-mile contest for a fourth year on the bounce.

Billaway (left) went from Naas to Cheltenham last year
Billaway (left) went from Naas to Cheltenham last year (David Davies/PA)

Billaway, winner of the St James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase at last year’s Festival, will team up as usual with Patrick Mullins and much like Elimay, his major rival could be a stablemate.

Annamix, who was third in last year’s Topham at Aintree, returns to racecourse action proper after a couple of point-to-point starts this winter, although longer-term targets are in mind for the 10-year-old.

Mullins said: “Billaway has won this race the last three years and we are putting a tongue-tie on him for the first time. We are expecting a big improvement from his first run which he normally has in him.

“Jamie Codd rides Annamix in the same race. We are trying to qualify him for the Aintree Foxhunters’, so hopefully he can finish in the first three on Saturday.”

Brazil took the opening event at Naas 12 months ago
Brazil took the opening event at Naas 12 months ago (Nigel French/PA)

The opening Jim Nolan Transport Supporting Kill GAA Rated Novice Hurdle is another race to watch with an eye on the Festival.

Brazil won this last year before claiming the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham and three of this year’s contenders are entered in the Triumph Hurdle.

The Gordon Elliott-trained Jazzy Matty, Andrew Slattery’s Sir Allen and Almuhit from Denis Hogan’s yard are engaged in the Festival heat, while Metamorpheus and Byker were both last-time-out winners.

Bistro serves up a feast for Mullins in victory at Naas

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Seabank Bistro appears to have earned himself a place on Willie Mullins’ Cheltenham Festival team after making it third time lucky over hurdles at Naas.

A winner on his racecourse debut at the County Kildare circuit on this day last year, the six-year-old went on to finish fourth behind esteemed stablemate Facile Vega in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham.

He was beaten at odds-on in his first two races over hurdles at Punchestown and Limerick, but made no mistake as a 1-2 shot for the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle – travelling strongly to the lead under Paul Townend and coming home with just under three lengths in hand.

Mullins said: “He’s a big immature horse. He did it nicely, he jumps well and is more of a chaser, I think.

“He’ll go out in trip I’d say, maybe to three miles. He was just gawky when he got to the front, he was just idling.

“Paul had to get after him to get up the straight, but that’s twice he’s won around Naas and it’s always a good sign when you can win on this track.

“I’d imagine he’ll get entries in Cheltenham in the Albert Bartlett and Ballymore, I’d be thinking more the Albert Bartlett at this stage.”

Seabank Bistro’s win was the middle leg of a treble on the card for Mullins, with Echoes In Rain impressing in the Limestone Lad Hurdle and Western Diego dominating from the front in the bumper.

A £125,000 purchase after winning an Irish point-to-point, Western Diego was ridden by the trainer’s son Patrick on his rules debut and comfortably justified 6-5 favouritism.

Western Diego looks a smart prospect
Western Diego looks a smart prospect (PA)

Mullins added: “It’s nice for Steve Parkin (owner) who is more associated with the Flat. He did it well making all his own running which is a hard thing to do around here.

“That books his ticket to go across the water (for the Champion Bumper) if Steve wants to go, which I’m sure he will.

“He stays well, he’s by Westerner. He looks like a nice staying novice for next year.”

Oliver McKiernan’s Aarons Day (3-1 favourite) secured his first win in almost three years in the Buy Your Naas 2023 Membership Now Novice Handicap Chase, with Phillip Enright the winning jockey.

The nine-year-old had been highly tried in novice company over fences and made the most of having his sights lowered with a seven-and-a-half-length verdict on his handicap chase debut.

Trainer Oliver McKiernan at Leopardstown
Trainer Oliver McKiernan at Leopardstown (Julien Behal/PA)

“We’re delighted and it was a great ride by Phillip,” said McKiernan.

“He was keeping better company than that for a while, maybe too good, but it taught him a bit. I think it told today that it taught him how to race a bit.

“He liked the ground and the track. We were hoping he’d do that but we were hoping before that he’d do different things!

“He’s a big moody gent. He’s difficult to handle and can blow a fuse very quickly. He’s big and powerful so it’s not simple. Hopefully he’s developing and getting better now.

“I have no plans really. He’ll probably stay at the likes of that and will stay further in time.”

The father-son team of Charles and Philip Byrnes teamed up to land the Cheltenham Trials Day At Naas February 11th Maiden Hurdle with 9-1 shot Byker.

Byrnes senior said: “He’s a lovely, big horse. He had a nice run in Limerick and came forward from that. We were hopeful today but there was so much word for a few others that we were getting worried.”

When asked if he could get an entry in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham, he added:- “He could but he’d need another run. We won’t rule it out.”

Doyen Ta Win was a 6-1 winner of the Congratulations Naas On Cleanest Town In Ireland In 2021 & 2022 Handicap Hurdle.

Echoes In Rain pours it on to take Limestone Lad honours

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Echoes In Rain got her season back on track with a runaway victory in the Naas Racecourse Business Club Limestone Lad Hurdle.

The seven-year-old had previously won five times since joining Willie Mullins, including Grade Two and Grade One wins in novice company over hurdles and a lucrative handicap success on the Flat at the Galway Festival last summer.

She was subsequently beaten a neck by Waterville in the Irish Cesarewitch before falling two flights from home on her return to the jumping game in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse last month.

Dropping in trip and class for this two-mile Grade Three, Echoes In Rain was the 5-6 favourite and those who took the cramped odds will have had few concerns as she cruised into contention under a motionless Paul Townend before pulling 10 lengths clear of stablemate Cash Back.

Dual Cheltenham Festival winner Bob Olinger stuck to his guns to finish third after coming under pressure leaving the back straight, but in truth looks a shadow of his former self.

“She did it nicely, probably better than I expected,” Mullins said of the winner.

“We thought we probably had the fastest horse in the race so Paul wasn’t in any rush to get to the front. He was happy enough to let someone else make it.

Trainer Willie Mullins at Leopardstown
Trainer Willie Mullins at Leopardstown (Brian Lawless/PA)

“She was keen enough as well and probably the few runs on the Flat lit her up a bit. That’s the problem you have when you mix it. With a faster-run race she’ll be all right.

“When you go up a grade, to Grade One, I’m not sure she’s sharp enough at two miles.

“The Mares’ Hurdle (at Cheltenham) is two and a half and maybe that’s where she’ll go. That would be the first port of call, I’d think.”

Paddy Power cut Echoes In Rain to 6-1 from 10-1 for the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle on March 14.

Thedevilscoachman awarded Grade Three prize at Naas

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Thedevilscoachman was awarded victory in the stewards’ room following a dramatic conclusion to the Finlay Ford At Naas Novice Chase.

Five runners went to post for the Grade Three contest, with the Willie Mullins-trained Ramillies the 13-8 favourite to follow up a successful fencing debut at Thurles last month.

Amirite and Rachael Blackmore took the quintet along for much of the three-mile-one-furlong journey, with Ramillies always his nearest pursuer under Paul Townend.

With Cheltenham winner Chemical Energy weakening disappointingly, it turned into a three-way fight, with Amirite and Ramillies joined by Thedevilscoachman and Bryan Cooper halfway up the home straight.

The drama began after jumping the second fence from the finish, with Noel Meade’s Thedevilscoachman (100-30) seemingly having the door closed on him when going for a gap between the front pair.

Cooper angled his mount wide of his rivals to mount his challenge on the run-in and was was clawing back Ramillies all the way to the line, but the latter held on by a neck.

However, following a subsequent enquiry the stewards reversed the result.

Meade said: “I know I’m biased, but I think it was the right decision.

“What probably made the decision was when Paul jumped the second-last he came over in front of him. You could say why didn’t he go round him, but he never actually had a chance to go round him because once Paul blocked him up he had nowhere to go except to keep going straight.

“Rachael came out and Paul went in (at the last), but I think he was the best horse.”

Trainer Noel Meade
Trainer Noel Meade (Niall Carson/PA)

Considering future plans, the trainer added: “I’ll have to talk to Frank (Berry) and JP (McManus) before I can say where he’s going to go because I don’t know. Frank is away on holidays with the boss.

“I do think wherever he goes he does need soft ground, that’s essential.

“I didn’t put him in the National Hunt Chase, I put him in the Brown Advisory. I think three miles is far enough for him.

“I think Cheltenham mightn’t be soft enough for him, if it was good ground there. We might even be thinking more of a handicap there, that might be an idea.”

Ramillies at Naas
Ramillies at Naas (Gary Carson/PA)

Prior to the placings being amended, Mullins’ assistant David Casey said: “There was a bit of race-riding at the back of the second-last and I think Paul just held his position.

“He’s a grand horse and stays well. He seems to have put it together better over fences than he did over hurdles.

“He’s in the National Hunt Chase and to me he looks like a horse for that, but the trainer will make the decision.

“He did it well and Paul said he was happy all the way round.”

Grangeclare West team retain faith after Naas defeat

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A viable reason appears to have been discovered for Grangeclare West’s disappointing effort in Sunday’s Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle.

A £430,000 purchase for Cheveley Park Stud after winning his sole start in the Irish point-to-point field, the Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old looked every inch a top-class prospect in the making on his Rules debut in a Punchestown bumper, but then spent 18 months on the sidelines.

However, having proved his ability remains very much intact with a sparkling hurdling bow at Navan in November, Grangeclare West was a hot favourite to successfully step up to Grade One level at Naas.

Paul Townend’s mount travelled well for a long way, but weakened from the home turn and was ultimately well beaten in fifth place as stablemate Champ Kiely stole the show.

A post-race examination from the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board veterinary officer found Grangeclare West to be blowing hard and coughing, though.

Cheveley Park director Richard Thompson said: “I think we’re still confident the horse can do a good job long-term.

“It was disappointing yesterday of course, we’d have loved to have seen him win that, but it was not to be.”

Grangeclare West is 14-1 with Paddy Power for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Leg fracture confirmed for Jack Kennedy

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Jack Kennedy looks set for a prolonged spell on the sidelines following confirmation he suffered a fractured leg in a fall at Naas on Sunday.

Now very much the number one jockey for Gordon Elliott following the recent retirement of Davy Russell, the 23-year-old was riding for his boss aboard Top Bandit when the pair came to grief at the fourth fence in the Rathmore Stud Irish EBF Novice Chase won by Appreciate It.

Top Bandit was unfortunately fatally injured in the incident and Kennedy was stretchered off the track and transferred to Tallaght Hospital for further assessment.

Jack Kennedy (second right) after winning last month's Savills Chase at Leopardstown on Conflated
Jack Kennedy (second right) after winning last month’s Savills Chase at Leopardstown on Conflated (Niall Carson/PA)

Elliott said later in the afternoon the injury “didn’t look good” and following X-rays, his agent Kevin O’Ryan has confirmed a fracture has been discovered.

He said: “It looks like it’s a fracture of his lower leg and he’ll go and see a surgeon in a couple of days.

“It’s a big blow, but it could always be worse.”

Supporters of Kennedy will be heartened by the fact he returned to Naas on Monday morning to watch some of Elliott’s youngsters being put through their paces.

However, whether he will be fit to ride at the Cheltenham Festival in just over nine weeks remains to be seen.

When asked how long he felt Kennedy will be on the sidelines for, O’Ryan added: “How long is a piece of string? Everybody heals differently.

“He’ll be doing his damnedest to be back as quickly as possible, but how long that will be, nobody knows.”

Elliott expresses layoff concerns for injured Kennedy

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Gordon Elliott fears stable jockey Jack Kennedy will be out of action for the “foreseeable future” after suffering a leg injury in a fall at Naas on Sunday.

While firmly established as one of Ireland’s leading jockeys, the 23-year-old has suffered more than his fair share of injury setbacks, including previous breaks to both legs.

Kennedy is now Elliott’s number one rider following the recent retirement of Davy Russell and was in action for his boss aboard Top Bandit in the Rathmore Stud Irish EBF Novice Chase.

The pair came to grief at the fourth fence with Top Bandit fatally injured in the incident, while Kennedy was transferred to Tallaght Hospital for further assessment.

The severity of Kennedy’s injury is yet to be confirmed, but Elliott told Racing TV: “It didn’t look good. I went down to the fence when he got the fall and he looked pretty sore.

“He has a bit of a bump on his lower left leg. He’s gone for X-rays and we’ll hear later on, but I didn’t like what I saw.

“We’re not going to have (him) for the foreseeable future from what I’ve seen, not unless there’s a miracle.”

The injury looks set to be a major blow to Kennedy’s hopes of being crowned champion jockey for the first time. He currently holds an 18-winner lead over reigning champion Paul Townend.

It also threatens his participation at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Jack Kennedy (second right) after winning the Savills Chase at Leopardstown on Conflated
Jack Kennedy (second right) after winning the Savills Chase at Leopardstown on Conflated (Niall Carson/PA)

“We’ll see how he is and see what the doctors say. Obviously we’ve eight weeks to Cheltenham and it’s not ideal,” said Elliott.

“He got a terrible fall there – he just hasn’t been getting the rub of the green.

“It looked like he was in pole position to be champion jockey. If it’s not going to happen this year, hopefully it will happen sometime for him.”

Asked whether Kennedy’s expected absence gives some of his other riders an opportunity, Elliott added: “It looks like it, they are going to have to take it with both hands. It’s their chance now to step up.

“I’ve got Jordan (Gainford), I’ve got Sam (Ewing), Denis O’Regan is in a few days a week and a couple of other jockeys as well, so they’re all going to get their chances.”

Champ Kiely makes all for Grade One gold

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Champ Kiely led from pillar-to-post to provide Willie Mullins with a ninth victory in the Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle.

The seven-year-old was one of two runners for the champion trainer in the Grade One contest, with the previously unbeaten Grangeclare West the apparent first string as the 15-8 favourite.

Champ Kiely won a Limerick bumper, a Galway maiden hurdle and Grade Three at Tipperary on his first three starts under Rules, but could only finish fourth as the 10-11 favourite for the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse last month and was a 100-30 chance stepping back up in distance.

As is often the case, Danny Mullins got his fractions spot-on in front and Champ Kiely answered his every call in the straight to see off Royal Bond runner-up Irish Point by two and a quarter lengths.

Coral halved Champ Kiely’s odds for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham to 8-1 from 16-1.

“It was a good performance. I got a great feel off this fellow in Tipperary,” said the winning rider.

“The Royal Bond was a bit of a messy race, he was only beaten four and a bit lengths. I believed he had something like that in him, which is easy to say but he’s gone and proved it.

“He’s won over further so the trip was never going to be an issue.”

Grangeclare West was ultimately disappointing in fifth place.

Danny Mullins steered Champ Kiely to victory
Danny Mullins steered Champ Kiely to victory (Tim Goode/PA)

Asked if he was surprised by the finishing order, Mullins’ assistant David Casey said: “Not really – they are two very good horses in their own right.

“I’d say tactically the race didn’t work for Champ Kiely in Fairyhouse. We’re back to what he’s good at today and I’d say the step up in trip was a help as well, and soft ground.

“It all fell right and Danny said he was very happy with him, he gave him a great ride.”

Of Grangeclare West, he added: “I haven’t spoken to Paul yet, it looked like he travelled all right and didn’t seem to get home for whatever reason.

“I’ll speak to Paul and we’ll get him checked out and see.”

Jack Kennedy taken to hospital following Naas fall

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Jack Kennedy was taken to hospital after suffering a leg injury in a fall at Naas on Sunday.

The 23-year-old is now very much first jockey to Gordon Elliott following the recent retirement of Davy Russell and was riding for his boss aboard Top Bandit in the Rathmore Stud Irish EBF Novice Chase.

The pair came to grief at the fourth fence with Top Bandit fatally injured in the incident, while Kennedy – who has suffered more than his fair share of injury setbacks – missed the rest of his rides.

Dr Jennifer Pugh of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board said: “Jack Kennedy is being transferred to Tallaght Hospital for further assessment on a leg injury.”

Appreciate It stakes Festival claim with stylish Naas verdict

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Appreciate It cemented his Cheltenham Festival claims with a routine victory on his second start over fences at Naas.

A 24-length winner of the 2021 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Prestbury Park, the Willie Mullins-trained nine-year-old was due to pursue a novice chase campaign last season before injury intervened. He ultimately only made it to the track once – finishing seventh in the Champion Hurdle.

The son of Jeremy looked the part on his belated fencing bow at Punchestown last month, though, and was a 1-9 favourite to follow up in the Rathmore Stud Irish EBF Novice Chase.

Those who took the cramped odds will have had few concerns, with Paul Townend’s mount jumping soundly at the head of affairs throughout and passing the post with 21 lengths in hand over Gaelic Arc.

Paddy Power trimmed Appreciate It’s Arkle Trophy odds to 11-2 from 6-1, while he is 6-1 unchanged with the same firm for the longer Turners’ Novices’ Chase.

“The same as the last day, you’d love to get a lead on him. He’s idle in front and I was trying to teach him today, and win, without doing something silly,” said Townend.

“He showed me the last day that he’s there when I need him. It’s grand to get him out again and you’d have to be happy with everything he’s doing. Every day is experience for him.”

Mullins went on to complete a treble, with Champ Kiely carrying the Appreciate It colours of Michael Masterson to victory in the Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle in the hands of Danny Mullins before Hunters Yarn predictably outclassed his rivals in the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle under Townend.

Hunters Yarn at Naas
Hunters Yarn at Naas (Gary Carson/PA)

The latter won twice in bumpers last season and improved from his third over hurdles at Punchestown on his latest outing to score by 13 lengths at cramped odds of 1-4.

Of Hunters Yarn, Townend added: “He got in underneath one or two (hurdles) but when I wanted him, and I was going on a stride up the straight, he was good and got better at it.

“If I had done that with him the first day he’d probably have won as well. He improved from his first run but I wasn’t happy with myself the first day.”

Telmesomethinggirl secured her first victory since scoring at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival with a determined display in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase.

Four runners went to post for the two-mile-one-furlong contest, but it looked a match on paper and so it transpired, with 5-4 shot Telmesomethinggirl and 6-5 favourite Instit bossing proceedings.

The pair traded positions a few times during the course of the two-and-a-half-mile journey, with Instit the more assured in the jumping department for much of the way.

But a bad mistake from the latter when holding a narrow lead at the final obstacle opened the door for Henry de Bromhead’s Telmesomethinggirl and Rachael Blackmore and she went on to score by six lengths.

The other two runners, Choice Of Words and Pont Aval, failed to complete the course.

Telmesomethinggirl with connections at Naas
Telmesomethinggirl with connections at Naas (Gary Casron/PA)

“She didn’t jump with any kind of fluency at all, so we can definitely work on that,” said Blackmore.

“I thought turning in that I would definitely get there, but then I made a mess of the second-last. It’s a long way (home) after the last here as well and I knew if I got over the last, I’d have a chance.

“She’s got lots of ability, the way she jumped she wasn’t entitled to win. She has a lot of raw ability and hopefully we can improve her jumping.”

Cut The Rope made a successful debut for Paul Nolan in the concluding Fifty Stars Standing At Sunnyhill Stud (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race, ridden by 5lb claimer Eoin O’Brien.

James Nolan, assistant to his brother, said: “He’s a nice horse. We can’t take a whole lot of praise for this as we haven’t had him very long. We bought him off a gallop after Richard O’Brien recommended him to us.

“We made a mistake last year as Richard told us he’d win the bumper here with Impulsive Dancer and we didn’t act quickly enough. He won and Willie (Mullins) bought him. Thankfully we haven’t made the same mistake twice.

“He’s a lovely, relaxed horse. He showed a great attitude here today and is a real pro.

“Barry O’Neill would ride all our bumper horses, but part of the deal was that Eoin would keep the ride. He gave him a super ride and dictated everything in front.

“He’s a very likeable horse. We have no plans but he might go to Limerick for that Listed bumper.”