RACING LEOPARDSTOWN REPORT
IT WAS A mixed afternoon for Michael Kinane at Leopardstown yesterday but the most important result in terms of the future was positive as Mourayan justified odds-on favouritism in the Eyrefield Stakes. The John Oxx-trained colt ran out a two-length winner of the nine-furlong event which has proved a classic indicator in the past for the likes of Vinnie Roe and Yesterday.
Not surprisingly Mourayan attracted classic quotes of his own on the back of yesterday’s defeat of Oh Goodness Me and is as low as 25 to 1 with VC Bet for next year’s Derby. “He’s very idle and only works ordinary at home. But he’s a lovely horse who will get a mile and a half and will do well I think,” said Oxx afterwards. “I would imagine we will start him off in a Derby trial, something like the Ballysax.”
Mourayan had been an intended starter in the Racing Post Trophy but worked “worse than ordinary” in the build-up and also gave a few coughs which scuppered a trip to Doncaster. “He’s a quiet horse at home and it has taken us some time to get to know him. But his form is very good and he will do well when he’s able to come off a strong pace. He was just doing enough today and there was plenty in the tank,” Oxx added.
Kinane, who also landed the concluding handicap in spectacular style on Dolphin Bay, had a less happy time in the day’s other Listed event as the English hope Al Qasi could never secure a run in time in the Knockaire Stakes and trailed home third behind Almass.
Solwhit justified strong market support with a comprehensive victory in the Leopardstown November to initiate a double for the up-and-coming apprentice Paul Townend.
Townend has been one of the jockey finds of the year in both codes having memorably secured last summer’s Galway Hurdle on Indian Pace. “His father (Bob Townend) trained my brother’s first horse so he’s bred to be good,” said Solwhit’s trainer Charles Byrnes. “The horse just needed a few cracks of the whip to win today and he’ll go handicapping over hurdles now.”
Alone He Stands brought up the Townend double, and secured the jockey a 19th winner of the season on the flat, when overhauling Hard Rock City in the mile handicap. David Wachman brought the 2008 turf flat season to a successful conclusion with a double as Oasis Sunset made all in the fillies maiden and Chorus Of Angels won the Nursery for the South African jockey Keegan Latham.
The newcomer Chief Lone Eagle was the 16 to 1 outsider of Aidan O’Brien’s pair of runners in the seven-furlong maiden but he emerged a neck too good for Toraidhe to give jockey Seán Levey a ninth win of the season.
Smart novice hurdler Tranquil Sea looks to be going places over the larger obstacles after impressing on his fencing debut in the paddypower.com EBF Novice Chase at Cork yesterday.
Eighth in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and a winner in Grade One company at Punchestown, Edward O’Grady’s charge was sent off the 7 to 4 favourite and obliged by four and a half lengths from the hat-trick seeking Baltiman. O’Grady said: “He has a great appetite for a fence and the Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse on November 30th is the next logical step.”
