RACING FAIRYHOUSE EASTER FESTIVAL:NOBLE PRINCE may have secured the Cheltenham honours but a dramatic fall at the second last fence of the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse yesterday left Realt Dubh in for a third Grade One triumph of the season.
Realt Dubh had beaten Noble Prince into second in a pair of top-flight races at Leopardstown through the winter but the latter won the Jewson at Cheltenham last month and appeared set for revenge on his old rival yesterday until taking a heavy fall under Tony McCoy.
Realt Dubh took full advantage to add to an already prolific season and maintain a 100 per cent record in a private family duel at the top of Ireland’s novice tree this season. The winner is owned by Derek Sharkey whose father Des owns Noble Prince.
“3-0!” said Realt Dubh’s trainer Noel Meade.
“You have to jump them. I can’t help feeling pleased. The other fella was obviously tired when he fell!”
Realt Dubh may not be finished for the season either as a fourth Grade One pot could be on the cards at Punchestown next week with Meade declaring: “It’s quite possible he could go, depending on how he is, and how he comes out of it.”
Tony McCoy was happy that Noble Prince would have won had he negotiated the penultimate obstacle and reported: “I don’t know what happened with him but he clipped the top of it. He would have won alright.”
The Grade One feature completed a good day for Paul Carberry ahead of his possible Irish National date this afternoon with Beautiful Sound as the former champion jockey had earlier enjoyed an armchair spin in the novice handicap hurdle aboard Nearest The Pin.
Tony Martin’s runner beat home a trio of JP McManus-owned horses by four lengths and the trainer said: “He has been weak and backward but has come of age today and was very good.”
Davy Russell could finish only third in the Powers Gold Cup on Mr Cracker but the Cork-born rider completed a double of his own to narrow the gap on Paul Townend in the jockeys’ championship to just five.
Russell was at his patient best on Knockfierna in the Grade Two mares hurdle, pouncing on Golden Sunbird on the run-in to score by a length and a half with the favourite, Our Girl Salley, out of the money.
“She’s obviously very good. She tied up badly the last day at Limerick but on her previous run at Cork she had a chance with Golden Sunbird so we were hopeful,” said Knockfierna’s trainer, Charles Byrnes.
“Punchestown is unlikely. We might school her and let her off for fences next season.”
Russell and Byrnes also combined to land the Beginners Chase with Campbonnais who got the better of a sustained battle with the Carberry-ridden Kid Curry.
“He’s game and genuine and he’ll probably mix hurdling and chasing through the summer. He’ll stay three miles,” Byrnes said.
Better ground conditions were credited by Willie Mullins for Sicilian Secret finally getting off the mark over jumps in the opening maiden hurdle at the seventh time of asking.
“Not before time,” Mullins said.
“He is hugely ground dependant and if the weather stays good he could go novice chasing in the new season.”
Barry Geraghty hopes to be back in action for next week’s Punchestown Festival after aggravating a shoulder injury in a fall from Good Time Donie in the novice handicap hurdle final.
The race provided Baracas with a victory at his first attempt at the three-mile trip when Mark Bolger produced him to challenge in the straight and beat off Sir Vincent who was hampered when attempting to launch a challenge at the last.
“The whole secret with this horse is to get him to relax. He can be his own worst enemy. But he’s good and he’ll go over fences next,” said Baracas’ trainer, Eoin Griffin.
Reizovic beat a smart bumper field in good style under jockey David Kiely, winning eased down by four and a half lengths.
The Fairyhouse manager Peter Roe confirmed that 5-6mms of water will be put on both the hurdles and chase tracks ahead of today’s Grand National card.
“We want to keep the ground safe for everyone,” Roe said before reporting a 1,404 increase in a first day Easter attendance of 7,853.
Yesterday’s bookmaker turnover at Fairyhouse of €639,104 was down from last year’s €682,882. Tote turnover was up however to €230,386 from €187,482.
