REPORT FROM NAVAN:THEY MAY have raced over the big fences at Aintree yesterday but Beroni could have provoked some Grand National dreams of his own with a resounding Troytown Chase success at Navan.
In weather conditions that only masochists and National Hunt fans could enjoy, the Willie Mullins-trained horse turned a usually ultra-competitive handicap into a rout, coming home four lengths clear under a motionless Paul Townend.
Strewn behind him were the flotsam of an eventful contest which saw three horses exit at the first fence including one of the three 6 to 1 co-favourites, Paddy Pub, where another of the trio, Treacle, was badly hampered.
The other co-favourite, Operation Houdini, unseated his jockey at the fourth last, all of which counted for little as Beroni made light of the testing ground to saunter clear.
Formerly a winner for both Michael O’Brien and Mags Mullins, Beroni is one of a group of horses that Willie Mullins has taken over this season with startling results such as the Cork National winner Our Monty.
A winner over hurdles on his only previous start for the champion trainer, Beroni became Mullins’s first Troytown winner and yesterday’s victory has opened up a series of options over extreme distances with Ladbrokes installing the horse as a 33 to 1 shot for the Aintree spectacular in April.
“He does stay and that opens up a good few options. He might get too much of a penalty for the Paddy Power so we might wait for something like the Thyestes,” Mullins said.
“It’s good to get a race like this on the CV.”
Sports Line is a 14 to 1 shot for Cheltenham’s Arkle following an impressive debut over fences in the Beginners Chase.
Ruby Walsh’s mount made all the running and the only blip in the 5 to 6 favourite’s performance was a mistake at the third last that didn’t even momentarily allow his rivals a sniff of pegging him back.
The winner sported ear-plugs and Mullins said: “He is quite a hyper horse and I think this two-mile game will suit him.
“I thought he was a decent horse coming here and I’ve seen nothing there to change my mind. He looks a lovely prospect.”
The Grand National winning rider Robbie Power scored a double yesterday, kicking off with Shanrod’s success in the opening three year old hurdle.
“This one could be alright. He was schooling very well and to do it from where he was off that fast pace was good.
“He picked up easy and we might be brave and go for the Grade One at Leopardstown,” said Shanrod’s trainer Michael Halford.
Power also pounced late in the maiden hurdle aboard the 14 to 1 shot Bostons Angel who overhauled Cadspeed in the final strides.
The favourite Perfect Smile was pulled up after a bad mistake at the second last saw him lose his action. Noel Meade’s runner was found to be lame afterwards.
“At Thurles he didn’t jump a hurdle so he has been schooled extensively and jumped a lot better,” said Boston Angel’s trainer Jessica Harrington.
Ex-Kerry GAA selector Donie Sheahan had his colours carried to an impressive victory in the Listed mares bumper by For Bill who led early in the straight under Michael O’Connor to beat off the challenge of Araucaria.
The bookmakers got a result in the Grade Two Monksfield Novice Hurdle as the 2 to 5 favourite Judge Roy Bean could only manage third in the five runner race behind another all-the-way winner The Hurl.
