Racing:Apt Approach booked his place in Willie Mullins' team for Cheltenham with a game victory in the Matty Ryan Memorial Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles. The Ryanair Chase and the Gold Cup itself are the options for the nine-year-old, who survived a bad mistake at the third-last to capture this Grade Two prize.
Ruby Walsh set out to make all the running on the 9-10 shot, but his error at a crucial stage looked a costly one. He lost the lead and dropped back to third place at the fence before the turn for home. However, he quickly recovered and was soon vying for supremacy with Follow The Plan, who took this race last year.
Apt Approach drew clear on the run-in to score by four and a quarter lengths to complete a hat-trick with Roberto Goldback third.
“He must be a fair horse to win after making a mistake like that, and he’s certainly improving,” said Mullins. “It’s very hard to find a race for him and he’s too high now for handicaps, so he’ll either go for the Ryanair Chase or the Gold Cup. Maybe the Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park next month could be an option before Cheltenham.”
Reflecting on the mistake, Walsh said: “I gave him a chance to get his wind back and get galloping again. He’d have been a good winner without it, but he was good enough to win making that mistake.”
Davy Russell strengthened his grip on the lead in the Irish jump jockeys’ title race with a double on Knockfierna and Folsom Blue. Trainer Charles Byrnes sang Russell’s praises after he had got Knockfierna home in the Coolmore National Hunt Sires EBF Mares Novice Chase.
Russell rode the Charlie Byrnes-trained seven-year-old with supreme confidence despite her having run out at the second last when holding every chance at Limerick on her previous start. He brought the 6-4 favourite to collar long-time leader Belle Brook at the final fence and win by a length and three-quarters.
Byrnes said: “Davy gets on really well with her, and him being on board made up for the 6lb she was giving away. Her jumping was a bit slow at times but when Davy wanted her to jump, she was there for him. She has been a revelation and will go to Limerick on March 18th for a similar race.”
Russell had earlier steered Folsom Blue (9-2) to a comfortable win in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hurdle in tremendous style Successful over two miles at Limerick three weeks ago, the Conor O’Dwyer-trained five-year-old found the extra six furlongs and the testing conditions to his liking.
He cruised past Star Neuville before the second-last flight and pulled clear to win by nine and a half lengths. O’Dwyer said: “I wasn’t sure whether to go novice hurdling or handicapping with him after Limerick. He’s a bit small but I wouldn’t swap him, and he jumps well and stays well.
“He seems to love it here and travels well on that ground. He could come back here for the Michael Purcell Hurdle provided there is cut in the ground.”
Quietly Fancied (8-1) took advantage of the demise of Bishopsfurze at the penultimate fence to land the WT O’Grady Memorial EBF Novice Chase. Mullins and Walsh looked set for a double when Bishopsfurze appeared to take command from the third-last but the 4-6 chance failed to negotiate the next and came down.
With second favourite Frisco Depot pulling up at the same obstacle when a distant third, it left the Oliver McKiernan-trained Quietly Fancied to come home 51 lengths clear of the other runner, Glenlo Abbey, in the hands of 5lb-claiming amateur Roger Quinlan.
Argocat (7-2) could be Cheltenham bound after opening his account in the www.thurlesraces.ie Maiden Hurdle for trainer Tom Taaffe and claiming jockey Brian Hayes. Taaffe said: “Everything he does over hurdles is a bonus as he’s a smashing horse who loves jumping.
“He might turn out to be a good horse in time and it was a fair race that he finished third in the last day. He had the four-year-old’s weight allowance and Brian is also good value for his 7lb claim.
“He’ll get an entry in the Fred Winter and is a staying four-year-old who is going the right way. Bringing him to Thurles was useful to see if he could handle the undulations.”