RACING THURLES REPORT AND NEWS: CAILIN ALAINN landed her first Graded win since 2006 as she ploughed her way through the Thurles mud to take the MacLochlainn Road Markings Ltd Kinloch Brae Chase yesterday.
Charles Byrnes’ mare notched up a string of wins three years ago culminating in Grade One victories at Fairyhouse and Leopardstown. However, she failed to live up to that promise and her sole victory since came in a moderate event at this track in March last year.
Sent off a 7 to 2 chance for this Grade Two feature, Cailin Alainn was always travelling well under Niall Madden and was one of only three in with a chance turning into the straight.
As Ponmeoath’s early charge faded away, Glenfinn Captain was left to battle it out with the winner but he blundered his way through the last with jockey Barry Geraghty losing his irons.
That left Cailin Alainn in the driving seat and Madden still had a little up his sleeve to prevail by two lengths at the line.
Byrnes said: “It is good that she is paying her way again. She was well in at the weights and the strong pace suited her. If there is a handy field in the Hennessy she might run there but it is unlikely as she is a long way behind the best. She might go for a handicap like the William Hill at Cheltenham in March.”
The non-runners were Scotsirish who was declared in error and Light On The Broom who was lame.
Moskova (7 to 2) took the other headline event at Thurles, landing the Grade Three Coolmore National Hunt Sires EBF Mares Novice Chase by three lengths for Paddy Flood.
Tony McCoy inched closer to a landmark 3,000th winner over jumps with victory on his only ride of the day at Wincanton yesterday. The 34-year-old landed the spoils on Stradbrook for his boss JP McManus and trainer Jonjo O’Neill to take his total to 2,998.
However, McCoy picked up a one-day ban (February 12th) for using his whip with excessive frequency.
Sent off the 3 to 1 favourite for the Bruton Handicap Hurdle, seven-year-old Stradbrook hit the front early in the straight and appeared to have the measure of all his rivals. However, first Richard Johnson challenged on Oiseau De Nuit and then Timmy Murphy charged home on Tender Falcon. The three crossed the line in unison, a trio of riders at the top of their game, and while none had done anything wrong, yet again it was McCoy who prevailed by the narrowest of margins.
The McCoy roadshow moves to Chepstow today where the 13-times champion jockey originally had only two booked rides – both in the colours of McManus – but has since picked up a spare on Jim Best’s Man Of The Moment.
McCoy rides Gabreselassie in the opening EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle and is in action 30 minutes later aboard Fourball in the Jenkinsons Handicap Chase. Both horses are trained by O’Neill.
Meanwhile, Paul Barber, joint-owner of Denman, has voiced concerns about running the Gold Cup winner in the John Smith’s Grand National.
The Paul Nicholls-trained nine-year-old was one of 123 entries revealed on Wednesday – and is as low as 7 to 1 favourite for the Aintree showpiece.
Barber is not enthusiastic about the idea, however, and would instead prefer to wait until the horse is a year older.
“I would much rather that he went for the Grand National next year,” said Barber. “He would be a 10-year-old then, rather than nine as he is this year. I also know that Harry (Findlay, joint-owner) is now not as keen as he was.”
His comeback run before heading back to Cheltenham is likely to be in the Aon Chase at Newbury on February 7th.
