Tag Archive for: Navan

Peking Opera performance sets up bigger and better things

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Derby entrant Peking Opera picked up where he left off with a smart victory in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Yeats Stakes at Naas.

Aidan O’Brien’s Galileo colt ended his two-year-old season with a win in a one-mile Leopardstown maiden that has produced several subsequent winners.

Running for the first time this term he was the 5-2 favourite under Seamie Heffernan and duly went on to prove his stamina with a half-length triumph markedly up in trip to a mile and five furlongs.

Stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “The form of his Leopardstown race over a mile has worked out well.

“He has done well over the winter and is a horse that is going to stay very well.

“This was a lovely race to start him off in and he is one to look forward to going forward over a staying trip.

“He could be one for something like the Queen’s Vase over one mile and six furlongs at Ascot. You could bring him back a fraction to one mile and four furlongs

“He has good options and he did well to win on seasonal debut.”

When asked about the Derby entries, he replied: “He has (those entries) and it is an option for him. He is versatile between a mile and four furlongs and a mile and six.”

Jessica Harrington’s Givemethebeatboys struck on debut to land the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden under Shane Foley.

The Bungle Inthejungle colt was a 12-1 chance and raced in the group travelling down the centre of the track, eventually making up a huge amount of ground in the final furlong to prevail by three quarters of a length.

Foley said: “If he hadn’t run well today, we would have been scratching our heads a bit! We have had a few two-year-olds disappoint, so we are glad he did that.

“We took him out the last couple of times because of ground and I was adamant that I think he is a good horse, and good horses handle any ground. He’ll be better on better ground, he couldn’t really quicken in it (today).

“I thought the race was gone, but his class got him through.

“The pace was on the far side and he had to do a bit of running to get on top, but the good ones can get you out of trouble!”

When asked if he sees him as a Royal Ascot horse, he replied: “Definitely I’d say, and Con (Marnane, owner) likes Ascot.”

Emily Dickinson enhances Gold Cup claims at Navan

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Emily Dickinson could be a ready-made substitute for Aidan O’Brien to fill the void left by Kyprios in the Gold Cup following her easy win in the Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan.

O’Brien often uses the Listed contest over a mile and three-quarters as a starting point for his Gold Cup horses – indeed Kyprios was successful 12 months ago before going on to Ascot glory.

With the chestnut on the sidelines O’Brien needed a stayer for the Cup races and this filly, who signed off last year with a Group Three win, looks just the ticket.

Never far from the pace under Ryan Moore, she bounded clear in the heavy ground to beat the useful French Claim by five lengths.

She is now a general 4-1 shot for the Gold Cup.

O’Brien said of his 11-8 winner: “She loves a trip and she relaxes, that’s the key. She stays well and she has class as well. She’s an exciting filly, she has a big engine.

“The plan was to come here and then go to Leopardstown for the Saval Beg. Then, hopefully, she will go from there to the Gold Cup.

“She is a filly that we always thought when she went beyond a mile and a half, we would see the best of her.

“She handles an ease in the ground well, but she also handles quick ground.”

River Tiber rockets to most impressive Navan win

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Aidan O’Brien’s River Tiber was introduced into the Coventry Stakes betting in the wake of a sparkling debut in the Irish Stallion Farms Maiden at Navan.

The Wootton Bassett colt was expected to oblige and was sent off the 5-6 favourite, but even so connections will have been delighted with what they witnessed.

Ryan Moore waited until just over a furlong out before pressing the button and the result was impressive.

River Tiber – who cost 480,000 guineas – streaked to a 10-length victory over Zona Verde with Betfair going 8-1 for the Ascot contest.

Stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “A lovely introduction, he was very impressive. His work has been strong at home and it is great he brought the same to the track.

“He’s a lovely horse and you love everything about him – athletic, physical and a good mind.

“He’s one that could go to the winners’ race in Naas or maybe something like the Marble Hill at the Curragh, and then hopefully on to Ascot. Something like the Coventry.

“He’s very exciting and another nice horse hopefully for Wootton Bassett.”

He went on: “It is unfortunate the rain coming today, but Navan is a lovely track to start them. Aidan has brought a lot of good horses here before – we start them here and they have always progressed plenty from it. It is a lovely track and always well presented.

“I suppose his class got him through (the ground), he travelled very strongly and when Ryan asked him to lengthen and pick up, the response was there immediately.

“He has plenty of class and is a lovely horse to look forward to. He has got plenty of speed and travels.”

Jessica Harrington enjoyed a Listed-race double, with Ocean Quest (10-1) in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Committed Stakes and Village Voice (7-1) in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil Stakes.

Ocean Quest booked her ticket to the Commonwealth Cup
Ocean Quest booked her ticket to the Commonwealth Cup (PA)

Of Ocean Quest, Harrington’s daughter, Kate, said: “She was going to the Cheveley Park last year and pulled a muscle the week before, so we put her away for the rest of the season.

“We knew she was good last year – she won the first two-year-old race of the season and we bided our time with her and let her strengthen up.

“Her owners have been rewarded with waiting with her, I thought she looked a picture in the paddock beforehand.

“She’ll go to the Commonwealth Cup, that’s what mum said on the phone! Obviously, mum will have a chat with the owners and everything, but it looks like the likely aim at the moment.

“The form of her Ballyhane run (in third at Naas) is top-notch.”

It was not long before Village Song followed up, with Harrington adding: “I’d imagine we will go Ribblesdale now.

“It has been a good day and a great tonic for mum. I think it is the quote of the year – I rang her coming in here and she said ‘why are you ringing me? They are about to go into the stalls!’. I told her the race had finished and she obviously pressed pause and didn’t fast forward it again!

“I told her Village Voice won and Foniska was third and she said ‘oh, brilliant!’.”

French Claim puts down marker for staying honours at Navan

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Irish Derby third French Claim is to be campaigned over staying trips in future having landed short odds on his comeback at Navan.

Trained by Paddy Twomey, French Claim was beaten only five lengths in the St Leger at Doncaster before disappointing in the Irish Cesarewitch.

Sent off the 4-9 favourite, he had no trouble in winning the Navan Racecourse Race under Billy Lee, with his main predicted market rival Okita Soushi an absentee, and Twomey is now eyeing up the Vintage Crop Stakes back at Navan next month.

“It was a nice to get a lead (from front-running Oriental Eagle), he has form on that (soft) ground, won on it in Listowel and Cork but he is pretty versatile. He’s good fresh,” said Twomey.

“The end of last year was a bit of a mess so hopefully this year we’ll have a good year. I’d say he’ll come back here for the Vintage Crop Stakes.

“He was third in the Irish Derby, but he hasn’t won a stakes race yet, so we’ll try to win one and take the steps from there.

“Today was just to take the first step and hopefully he’ll improve. Staying isn’t a problem to him.”

Aidan O’Brien’s Gooloogong (5-2 favourite) stepped up markedly on his Dundalk debut to defy a market drift and win the NavanRacecourse.ie Maiden under Ryan Moore.

Fifth of 10 on the all-weather, the Australia colt – who is entered in the Derby and Irish Derby – was always to the fore this time around and pulled nicely clear with Dermot Weld’s Nation’s Call.

Gooloogong found more close home to win by two and a quarter lengths.

Stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “He obviously had the one run at Dundalk last year and it stood to him.

“He’s been progressing nicely over the winter and he’s a horse that we thought had come forward an awful lot.

“Ryan gave him a lovely ride and spoke very nicely of him. He’ll fit into one of the trials now and we’ll see how he goes.

“He’s a mile-and-a-quarter plus horse. He has a lovely attitude and is a typical Australia. He’s a nice horse to go forward with for the year, hopefully.”

Any Second Now firmly on course for third crack at the National

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Any Second Now tuned up for this third attempt at the Randox Grand National by winning Navan’s Webster Cup for a second time.

Ted Walsh’s 11-year-old won the race by 10 lengths in 2021 before finishing third in his first crack at the Aintree marathon and having skipped Navan in favour of the Bobbyjo Chase 12 months ago, returned to the County Meath venue in top form – pulling seven lengths clear of fellow National candidate Velvet Elvis in the closing stages.

The Grade Two contest – which was originally scheduled for March 11 before being lost to the elements – is a well-used route to Liverpool by Walsh, who also won the Navan feature with Rince Ri 20 years ago and the Kill-based handler was full of praise for his stable stalwart who obliged as the 5-4 favourite.

He said: “He did it nicely, he didn’t do any more than he had to do. Denis (O’Regan) was happy with him.

“He popped away well. Got under the last a bit, the ground is very testing. When he grabbed a hold of him at the back of the last, he quickened up well.

“Each time he has gone to Aintree, his last run has been a win. It has been great to have him and he has been a model of consistency.”

Any Second Now is set to carry the top-weight of 11st 12lb in Merseyside on April 15, but despite his advancing years and that hefty weight burden off a mark 7lb higher than his current Irish figure, Walsh is happy for his veteran to take a third swing at the race having placed in the past two seasons.

He continued: “He has a month from last Saturday (until Aintree) which is grand.

“As long as he stays sound and healthy, he will go there. He has a big task with the top weight on his back.

“He wasn’t unlucky last year, a better horse on the day beat him – a horse (Noble Yeats) on the improve. He was unlucky the year before and he’ll go back and run a good race again, but everything would want to fall right for you.

“It is seven years since he won his maiden hurdle here as a four-year-old.

“He’s grand and a straightforward horse, he’s a bus of a ride.”

Any Second Now (right) ridden by Mark Walsh before going on to win the Tote Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse in 2022
Any Second Now (right) ridden by Mark Walsh before going on to win the Tote Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse in 2022 (Brian Lawless/PA)

Any Second Now was shortened to 16-1 from 20s for the Grand National by William Hill, while Paddy Power went 12s from 16-1.

Earlier on the card, Henry de Bromhead’s Senior Chief got the better of Gordon Elliott’s Landrake to land the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Hurdle.

A winner over two and a half miles at Punchestown previously, the 6-4 favourite relished the extra two furlongs in testing conditions to set up a return to the Kildare venue for the Festival next month.

“I’m delighted with that, he’s a lovely horse,” said De Bromhead.

“I like the way he ground it out there. He’s still a baby, but he is improving all the time.

Senior Chief after winning at Navan
Senior Chief after winning at Navan (PA)

“He only needs to land there, you wouldn’t want to be getting there too soon.

“It does look like that (stay all day), but yet he has a gear as well, funny enough. He was only just beaten in a two mile maiden hurdle in Clonmel.

“He’s qualified for the Red Mills auction final at Punchestown, so he’s entitled to go there. We wanted to get him a bit more experience.”

Sandown and Ayr fixtures given go-ahead

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Saturday’s Betfair Imperial Cup meeting at Sandown was given the green light following a morning inspection.

Racing took place at the Esher venue on Tuesday, but persistent wintry showers since eased conditions significantly and clerk of the course Andrew Cooper admitted the track would have “struggled to race” on Thursday.

With further rain and freezing temperatures forecast, Cooper on Friday called an inspection for 8am on raceday morning – and while the mercury dipped to as low as minus 2.7C, racing was given the go-ahead.

There was further positive news from north of the border at Ayr.

The Scottish circuit staged racing on Friday, but with frost forecast officials called a precautionary check for 8.30am.

However, temperatures did not even dip below freezing at Ayr, meaning the inspection was brought forward and racing will take place as scheduled.

Unfortunately a quality card at Navan, due to stage the Grade Two Webster Cup, was cancelled.

Brendan Sheridan, Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board clerk of the course, said: “Unfortunately the track remained unfit for racing and we had no option but to cancel the fixture.

“Snow remains on the track and there was frost overnight last night meaning that most areas are not fit for racing.”

With the course flooded, Wednesday’s meeting at Huntingdon is already in serious doubt, with an inspection called for 4pm on Sunday.

Indiana Jones scoops Flyingbolt glory

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Indiana Jones made the leap to Grade Three glory as he claimed the PS Supplies Doors & Floors Flyingbolt Novice Chase at Navan.

Mouse Morris’ charge had taken nine attempts to get off the mark over fences, failing to complete on three occasion in the 2021-22 season.

However, he struck gold at Punchestown last month and supplemented that 10-length verdict with a game success over Ha D’Or in the hands of Darragh O’Keeffe.

Ha D’Or, one of two runners for Willie Mullins along with third-placed Flame Bearer, relinquished the lead to Indiana Jones at the last fence, with both producing less than fluent leaps. But it was Indiana Jones who recovered best of the pair to win by two lengths at odds of 15-2.

Morris said: “He’s a huge horse. I’m not sure where he goes now, the race at Thurles (Grade Three Pierce Molony Memorial Novice Chase, March 18) would be an option and is probably more than likely where he’ll go.

“He took some purlers of falls last season and ‘Puppy’ (Robbie Power) did a great job with him, he went up to his for a while. The girls in the yard also did a lot of ground work at home with him.

“It’s an unbelievable family (Indiana Jones is a half-brother to Mighty Potter and French Dynamite) and there are still two young ones running around.

“It was hard to work out Mullins’ horses today as they ran so bad the last day. I thought if they might not be on song, we might have a squeak.

“I know we had a bit to find on ratings, but a graded race is a graded race and it was a nice pot.”

Earlier on the card, We Got This recorded a shock 100-1 win when making a successful debut in the Wesco Electrical Mares Maiden Hurdle.

Representing local trainer Finbar Hand, the five-year-old grabbed the lead in sight of the post and held off Broomfield Bijou for jockey Paddy O’Brien.

Hand said: “I really fancied her, all her work has been really good. I’m absolutely delighted for the owner/breeder Maura (McGuinness), who is a long-time friend of mine.

“We might look at something at Fairyhouse over Easter for her, over maybe two and a half mile. Paddy said not to go two again and they went plenty fast enough early there.

“We might go the novice route, there is a lot of improvement in this mare. I wouldn’t be happy with her coat today, with a bit of heat coming she’ll turn inside out.

“I’ve just four in training, but they are four nice horses.”

Churchstonewarrior battles for Ten Up triumph

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Churchstonewarrior secured a deserved first victory over fences with a determined display in the William Hill Ten Up Novice Chase at Navan.

Jonathan Sweeney’s stable star has a bumper success and two wins over hurdles to his credit, but had to make do with the runner-up spot in his first three chase starts – most recently coming home behind Gaillard Du Mesnil in a Grade One at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Easing in class for this three-mile Grade Two, Churchstonewarrior was a 9-4 chance in the hands of Aidan Coleman, with John McConnell’s recent course-and-distance winner Mahler Mission the 5-4 favourite.

In the end it came down to a fight between the front two in the market, with Churchstonewarrior digging deep to get the better of Mahler Mission by three-quarters of a length.

Flanking Maneuver travelled strongly for a long way on his first competitive appearance in over two years and connections will undoubtedly be delighted with his performance in finishing a close-up third.

“That’s great, he was good. Aidan was very happy with him and said he jumped well,” Sweeney of the winner.

Churchstonewarrior with connections at Navan
Churchstonewarrior with connections at Navan (Gary Carson/PA)

“I’ll talk to the lads now and see, but he’s in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham. We’ll get over today and see how he is tomorrow.

“He’s developing away and improving all the time. I’d imagine he could be a National horse in time.

“I’m delighted for the owners, they are a great bunch of lads. They were getting a fair bit of money for him last year. He was vetted and was going, Tom (Hegarty) rang me one evening and asked what I thought and I said ‘I’d have to sell him if he was mine’ but they kept him anyway, which was great.”

Blazing Khal too hot for Boyne Hurdle rivals

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Blazing Khal moved to the head of ante-post lists for the Stayers’ Hurdle after making a successful return from from a lengthy absence in the William Hill Boyne Hurdle at Navan.

The Charles Byrnes-trained seven-year-old won a couple of Grade Two novice events at Cheltenham in the autumn of 2021, but a subsequent injury kept him off the track for 428 days.

Byrnes suggested early in the new year his stable star was “50-50 at best” to make this year’s Cheltenham Festival – but having been pleased with his subsequent progress, he allowed him to make his comeback in Grade Two company at Navan.

Under a patient ride from the trainer’s son Philip Byrnes, the seven-year-old moved smoothly into contention from the home turn and shook off any rustiness to pull three lengths clear of the gallant Meet And Greet. Even-money favourite Saint Sam was a little disappointing in fifth.

Blazing Khal after winning at Navan
Blazing Khal after winning at Navan (Gary Carson/PA)

Stayers’ Hurdle sponsors Paddy Power make Blazing Khal a 5-2 joint-favourite for the three-mile hurdling showpiece, along with Teahupoo. Coral cut the winner’s odds to 3-1 from 5-1.

Byrnes said: “It’s relief really with the young fella riding him and all. I thought he gave him a lovely ride and he settled grand for him.

“He’s definitely a very good horse. He was working well and doing a lot of work over the last few weeks. We did expect a big run, he was fairly straight.

“With him it’s day by day, but naturally we’ll be thinking of Cheltenham, of course. We’ve had so many false dawns with him. It’s just been little, niggly problems.

“The timing is not too bad, I suppose. We would have preferred to have him out before now, but it is what it is. We can go to Aintree if we don’t make Cheltenham.”

He added: “He was fairly fit today but naturally with race fitness you’d hope he’d come on again.

“You always have the bounce factor and ideally you’d want a second run, but it is what it is and we’re delighted to get him back.”

Hunters Yarn states Supreme case at Navan

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Hunters Yarn further strengthened Willie Mullins’ potential hand for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham next month with an authoritative victory in Listed company at Navan.

The most successful trainer in Festival history already houses the ante-post favourite for the traditional curtain-raiser in Facile Vega, while his Leopardstown conqueror of last weekend Il Etait Temps and Impaire Et Passe are other high-class operators in the mix for the Closutton handler.

Three-time bumper winner Hunters Yarn was beaten at odds-on in his first two hurdle races, but made it third time lucky with an impressive display at Naas last month to earn himself a step up in grade.

American Mike, runner-up to Facile Vega in last season’s Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, was the 11-8 favourite to bounce back from from a below-par effort at the track in the autumn, with Hunters Yarn a 3-1 shot in the hands of Paul Townend.

American Mike cut out much of the running in the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hurdle, but was unable to resist the strong-travelling Hunters Yarn, who ultimately won comfortably by six lengths, with Imagine staying on for second and Inothewayurthinkin pipping American Mike to third.

Paddy Power reacted by cutting Hunters Yarn to 8-1 from 25s for the Supreme in their non-runner no bet market, while Coral offer 16s from 33-1 ante-post.

“He didn’t jump as fluently as I was hoping he would, but he showed a nice turn of foot,” said Mullins.

“I think he is possibly Supreme bound if Simon (Munir) and Isaac (Souede, owners) want to go there.

“He works very smartly at home and we just ran him over the wrong trip last year on his first run when Simon and Isaac were over in Ireland. That taught us a lesson to just keep him to the minimum trip for the time being.”

Firm Footings and Jordan Gainford winning the opening race at Navan
Firm Footings and Jordan Gainford winning the opening race at Navan (Brian Lawless/PA)

Firm Footings (100-30) opened his account over obstacles in the first division of the Navan Ford & Opel Maiden Hurdle.

Gordon Elliott’s Galway bumper winner had been placed on his first three hurdling starts and made no mistake at the fourth time of asking – seeing off 4-5 favourite Horantzau D’airy by a length in the hands of Jordan Gainford.

“He’s a grand horse and he probably wants further, but he has a good attitude,” said Elliott.

“He gallops and jumps. Jordan said he would have been an unlucky loser as he left his hind legs in the second-last.

“I thought this might be a bit short for him, but I needed to get a fourth run into him to qualify for the handicaps at Cheltenham.”

The second division went the way of Mullins and Townend through 1-3 shot Ho My Lord.

An early faller on his Irish debut at Leopardstown over the Christmas period, the French Flat winner put that behind him with a comfortable four-and-a-half-length success over Banjaxed.

Mullins said: “He got his confidence back quickly after his fall at Christmas. He jumped high over the first few but then came down and started to hurdle.

“The further he was going, the better he was going and I’d imagine we’ll go out in trip.

“He’s in the Ballymore (at Cheltenham) and that would look a possible target. He’s earmarked for that, I think he has enough ability to go for it and he showed today that he jumped well enough.”

Firefox impressed in the finale at Navan
Firefox impressed in the finale at Navan (Gary Carson/PA)

Elliott also completed a double in the concluding William Hill Play Responsibly (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race.

Firefox, ridden by Jamie Codd, was the well-supported 11-8 favourite to make it third time lucky after a couple of decent efforts in defeat and pulled right away in the closing stages for a 10-length win.

Elliott added: “He’s good. We thought he was a fair horse and were disappointed that he got beaten in his bumper but he came on plenty from that.

“He’s not going to be a horse until next year really. Whatever he does this year is only going to be a bonus.

“He obviously can’t go to the Cheltenham bumper because he ran in a hurdle race. We’ll probably go to Fairyhouse or Punchestown. We like him.”