Irish racing review:Shinrock Paddy confirmed himself an exciting prospect with a runaway win in the Barry & Sandra Kelly Memorial Hurdle at Navan for Paul Nolan and Alain Cawley.
It was a second Grade One win in a week for the pair following Joncol’s success in the John Durkan at Punchestown.
The 7-2 chance joined long-time leader The Hurl four out, travelling strongly, and jumped three from home with a clear advantage.
Rhyl Accord, the 11-10 favourite, was tracking him but Cawley’s mount soon opened up a gap and cruised clear for a 15-length success.
William Hill go 12 from 25s about Shinrock Paddy for the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, while Paddy Power make him 10-1 favourite for the same race.
Paddy Power also quote Shinrock Paddy as 6-1 joint-favourite with Tell Massini for the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham.
Nolan said: “I was a little worried when they were leaving the back straight as ‘Squeaky’ (Cawley) was changing his hands on him.
“It was a brave thing of him to kick on approaching the straight but it worked out well.
“The plan was always to come here and he jumped really well today. We will aim for Cheltenham Festival now.
“We’ll either go for the Neptune Investment Novices’ Hurdle or the Albert Bartlett.”
Cousin Vinny had to settle for minor honours on his fencing debut as Roberto Goldback came out on top in the Larry Rowan Memorial Beginners Chase.
Jessica Harrington’s charge was sent off at 6-4 having fallen five from home in the Drinmore Novice Chase on his latest outing and went to challenge for the lead turning for home.
Cousin Vinny, winner of the 2008 Champion Bumper and placed twice in Grade One company over hurdles, tracked him into the straight under Ruby Walsh and appeared to have his measure jumping the second-last.
The pair took the final obstacle in unison but it was the race-fit Roberto Goldback who got away from it the quicker, running on to score by four lengths.
William Hill left Cousin Vinny unchanged at 20-1 for the Arkle at Cheltenham, with Paddy Power 16s. The latter firm quote Roberto Goldback at 20s for the RSA Chase.
Quel Esprit staked a big claim for Cheltenham Festival honours with an effortless victory at Cork.
The Willie Mullins-trained gelding treated his rivals with contempt as he strolled home in the O’Connell Transport Cork Stayers Novice Hurdle.
Leading after the second-last, the 8-13 shot won unchallenged by three lengths from Last Draw in the hands of Paul Townend to follow up his hurdling debut success at Punchestown a month ago.
Victor Chandler were “massively impressed” and make him 8 1 clear favourite from 14-1 for the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle.
Mullins and Townend completed a quick big-race double when Golden Silver landed the O’Connell Warehousing Hilly Way Chase.
Watson Lake tried to make all, but he was a sitting duck for Golden Silver (5-2), who loomed up menacingly three out and jumped into the lead at the next.
Despite a mistake at the last, Townend had the luxury of easing down his mount close home as Watson Lake reduced the gap to a length. Blueberry Boy was a further eight lengths away.
Golden Silver was making it a hat-trick of Hilly Way wins for Mullins after Our Ben in 2007 and Scotsirish last year.
William Hill gave the winner a first show quote of 16-1 for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, but Mullins warned: “We’ll stick to the two-mile route on soft ground in Ireland, I don’t know if he would go to Cheltenham. We will go a sort of Nickname path with him, that’s what I’d like to do.”
NAVAN RESULTS
Going: Soft (Chase: Soft to Heavy)
12.20
1 Roberto Goldback (RM Power) 6-4
2 Cousin Vinny (R Walsh) 8-11 Fav
3 Jagoes Mills (DN Russell) 10-1
4 Major Glendinning (J Geraghty) 50-1
12 Ran
NR:Askmeroe
12.50
1 Donnas Palm (BJ Geraghty) 4-9 Fav
2 Give It Time (RM Power) 8-1
3 Chicago Grey (AP Cawley) 7-1
4 Scotsirish (R Walsh) 4-1
5 Ran
1.20
1 Shinrock Paddy (AP Cawley) 7-2
2 Rhyl Accord (R Walsh) 11-10 Fav
3 The Hurl (NP Madden) 6-1
4 Summit Meeting (RM Power) 5-2
4 Ran
1.50
1 Moville (PW Flood) 11-8 Fav
2 Der Spieler (G Cotter) 9-1
3 Rubi Light (PA Carberry) 5-1
4 Shane Rock (NP Madden) 25-1
11 Ran
2.20
1 Benalma (AP Crowe) 10-1
2 3 Markey Cee (Mr AP Kelly) 10-1
3 2 King Vic (TJ Doyle) 6-1
4 Crotaigh (MP Butler) 5-1
18 Ran
2.50
1 Glenquest (NP Madden) 7-2 Fav
2 Benefit Night (BM Cash) 16-1
3 High Fidelitay (AP Crowe) 6-1
4 Judge Deed (L Mcniff) 6-1
12 ran
3.20
1 Drumbaloo (Mr RP McNamara) 5-2
2 Tornedo Shay (Mr RP Quinlan)1-3 Fav
3 Lisrenny Lady (Mr AT Duff) 25-1
4 Mighty Snazy (Mr M J Scallan) 16-1
5 Ran
NR:Monastrell, Smouldering Shadow
CORK RESULTS
Going: Heavy (Hurdles: Soft to Heavy)
12.30
1 Questions Answered (RJ Jones) 9-1
2 The Sneezer (SJ Gray) 7-4 Fav
3 Carrigdhoun (S Clements) 9-1
4 Odonimee (M Darcy) 12-1
24 Ran
NR:Chellah, Pullbangdust
1.0
1 Quel Esprit (P Townend) 8-13 Fav
2 Last Draw (DJ Casey) 7-2
3 American Job (SJ Gray) 10-1
4 Grange Alainn (AE Lynch) 10-1
8 Ran
1.30
1 Golden Silver (P Townend) 5-2 Jt Fav
2 Watson Lake (DJ Condon) 9-2
3 8 Blueberry Boy (CD Maxwell) 5-2 Jt Fav
4 13 Carthalawn (DJ Casey) 4-1
8 Ran
NR:Copsiano
2.0
1 Royal Choice (AE Lynch) 8-1
2 Brave Betsy (Andrew J McNamara) 9-4
3 Hello Kitty (SW Flanagan) 7-4 Fav
4 Tally Em Up (M Darcy) 20-1
8 Ran
2.30
1 Spring The Que (PT Enright) 10-1
2 Echo Bob (AE Lynch) 7-1
3 Cool Quest (P Townend) 9-2
4 1 Well Insured (Mr DJ O'Leary) 12-1
15 Ran
NR:The Wifes Pet
3.0
1 Kauto Relko (P Townend) 7-4
2 Gold Cygnet (SW Flanagan) 25-1
3 Binocular (SJ Gray) 10-1
4 Shirley Dimple (M Darcy) 33-1
24 Ran
NR:Canyara , Spill The Beans, West Cork Flash
3.30
1 Silver Friend (Mr A McCurtin) 7-2
2 Crannaghmore Mist (Mr MP Fogarty) 2-1 Fav
3 2 Brookville (Mr LC Murphy) 14-1
4 Rock The Bock (Mr MG Nolan) 6-1
13 Ran