RACING: THE IRON Ladyis one of the movies of the moment and Blazing Tempo was labelled "The Iron Mare" after maintaining her form yet again to win yesterday's Grade Two feature at Fairyhouse.
Winner of the Galway Plate during the height of the summer, Blazing Tempo has been kept busy throughout the winter by champion trainer Willie Mullins and yet shows no signs of getting in anyway weary.
Instead she upset the odds-on favourite Noble Prince in the Normans Grove Chase and propelled herself into the betting for the Ryanair at Cheltenham with Paddy Power making her as low as 8 to 1 for that March highlight.
“I don’t know whether she’s good enough for that,” Mullins said before adding: “But she’s like an iron mare.
“She’s been on the go since Galway and has been running on all sorts of ground but she’s really holding her form.”
Mullins added: “We had the choice of coming here or going to the Boylesports Hurdle but rather than take on a handicap with 20 runners, we decided to take our chance today even though the ground might not be suitable.”
Noble Prince had been ante-post favourite for the Ryanair going into yesterday’s race, but didn’t appear totally at ease on the gluey surface and drifted out to 9 to 1 in the Cheltenham betting.
“He just wasn’t good enough on the day, but it’s straight to Cheltenham for the Ryanair,” trainer Paul Nolan said.
Blazing Tempo was the highlight of a 16 to 1 four-timer for Mullins with three of them carrying the colours of American owner, Rich Ricci.
Vesper Bell earned 25 to 1 quotes for the Albert Bartlett after grinding out a nine-length success in the opening maiden hurdle and Cheltenham appears to be on his radar.
“We’ll look to up him to two miles and six or three miles. I would imagine that includes looking at the Bartlett,” said Mullins.
“The owner is anxious for them to go across if they can so that’s where he’ll probably go.”
Champagne Fever could be another festival traveller after landing 1 to 4 odds with the minimum of fuss in the bumper, a performance that propelled him to the top of some lists for the Cheltenham Bumper.
Mullins declared: “He learned a lot from his run at Christmas and the ground there was a big help. Our intention after this was to go jumping but we might reflect on that now.”
One horse unlikely to travel to Cheltenham, though, is Ceol Rua who landed yesterday’s Listed mares hurdle and will be aimed instead at another mares event later in the season at Punchestown.
After looking set to trot up for much of the race, Walsh had to apply pressure after the last when Shadow Eile challenged and briefly led. But Ceol Rua rallied again and scored by half a length.
“She got there a bit too soon but I was impressed the way she dug it out when passed. Her jumping has improved and will improve again on better ground,” Mullins said.
Shot From The Hip got the better of a good duel with Ninetieth Minute in the Beginners Chase.
Trainer Edward O’Grady said: “I was delighted with his jumping after being horrified with it at Christmas.
“He will get entries at Cheltenham; where he will go I don’t know.”
