GOWRAN PARK REPORT:CHELTENHAM GOLD Cup hero War Of Attrition brought the house down at Gowran Park yesterday as he recorded an emotional success in the Alo Duffin Memorial Galmoy Hurdle.
The Presenting gelding was top dog in the world of steeplechasing when landing National Hunt racing’s most coveted prize in 2006, but injury later that year meant he spent almost two years on the sidelines.
Results since his return have been mixed but having shown up well in a hurdle race at Leopardstown over Christmas, Mouse Morris’s pride and joy was sent off at 6 to 1 for this Grade Two contest.
Sporting cheekpieces for the first time, the 11-year-old jumped impeccably throughout for Niall “Slippers” Madden at the head of affairs and had all of his rivals in trouble turning for home.
He found plenty for pressure in the straight to beat Powerstation and Tony McCoy by four lengths.
A delighted Morris said: “I got great pleasure out of that – it was great to see and he did it well.
“There were no excuses for the others. They all had their chances. He had a real sparkle about him today and his ears were pricked the whole way.
“I haven’t had that much pleasure since he won the Gold Cup. He’s in the World Hurdle but the (Aintree) Grand National is the plan and he’ll be retired after that.”
William Hill go 33 to 1 from 40s for the John Smith’s-sponsored Grand National at Aintree.
Whinstone Boy stayed on best in the testing conditions to land the feature Tendrleen Thyestes Handicap Chase, the second leg of a double for jockey Seán Flanagan.
The well-backed 5 to 1 chance was ridden prominently throughout the three-mile contest and was disputing the lead with Siegemaster when turning for home.
A couple of mistakes meant the latter dropped away but Jimmy Mangan’s Whinstone Boy galloped all the way to the line in the testing conditions to beat Hangover by a length and three-quarters.
William Hill introduced the winner at 40 to 1 for the National.
Flanagan had earlier struck on Dick Donohoe’s Carnbridge (9 to 2), who recorded his first success in well over three years in the Kilkenny Handicap Hurdle.
Willie Mullins was out of luck with each of his five runners in the Thyestes but still enjoyed a treble on the day courtesy of Secant Star, Uimhiraceathair and Paul Kristian.
Secant Star gained compensation for an unlucky defeat over Christmas with an impressive display in the Ballyhane Stud Maiden Hurdle.
Victor Chandler go 8 to 1 from 16 to 1 about his chance in the Triumph Hurdle and Mullins said afterwards: “He’s fairly decent and we’ll up him in grade now. I’ll look for another nice graded hurdle for him before too long. He’s a fine big horse and is a chaser really.”
Mullins and Ruby Walsh then struck with Uimhiraceathair, who cruised to success in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders’ Fund Novice Chase.
The hat-trick was completed in the Duninga Gallops INH Flat Race as 8 to 13 favourite Paul Kristian hit the bullseye under the trainer’s son, Patrick.
Philip Rothwell’s Ard Agus Fada (12 to 1) took the Carey’s Cottage Cup Handicap Chase, denying Flanagan a treble on the narrowly beaten Borolee.
