Racing Down RoyalThis morning's long journey back to Tralee from Co Antrim will seem like a short stroll for Tom Cooper after Total Enjoyment put in the sort of hurdling debut at Down Royal yesterday that had a growing band of fans dreaming of a return to Cheltenham.
Last season's Weatherbys Bumper winner made the six-and-a-half-hour cross-country journey on Thursday night to turn the Grade Three Scarvagh House Novice Hurdle into a procession.
On a day when the Champion Hurdle contenders Macs Joy and Brave Inca emerged with credit from the Anglo Irish Bank Hurdle, there was no denying the mark made by Total Enjoyment.
"Flying machine", "absolute natural", "unreal," were some of the phrases being flung around after the mare emerged three and a half lengths ahead of Sanghasta with 15 lengths back to the third.
Bookmaker reaction was uniformly positive with Boylesports going so far as cut Total Enjoyment to 7 to 1 for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
Cooper declared that a Cheltenham target has yet to be finally decided, but apart from that there was no holding back on the possibilities opened up by yesterday's display.
"It's a great start and she'll improve two stone for it," said an exultant Cooper who will now target Fairyhouse's Grade One Royal Bond Hurdle at the end of the month. "She winged the first, got in close to some others, she can do anything. She's been like that at home and now she's done it here."
With Jim Culloty sidelined through injury, Ruby Walsh rode Total Enjoyment for the first time and not surprisingly offered his services for the Royal Bond as well! "He said she's a machine," grinned Cooper, who said he will delay the trip back to Kerry until this morning.
"We were worried about the ground but the good ones can win like that on any ground," he added.
The celebrations weren't quite as raucous after the clash of Macs Joy and Brave Inca but there was no denying the quite satisfaction from both camps afterwards.
Macs Joy ultimately won as comfortably as an odds-on shot should but Brave Inca, who had been shaken up from fully half a mile out, was just a length behind despite conceding 10lb.
"Absolutely delighted, couldn't be happier. With that run under his belt, and all being well, he'll go for the Hatton's Grace," said his trainer Colm Murphy.
Ladbrokes cut Macs Joy's Champion price to 16 to 1 but a long-term target before that for Jessica Harrington's horse will be Newbury's Tote Gold Trophy in February.
"He did it well there but he was entitled to win like that getting the 10lb from Brave Inca. I've put him in the Hatton's Grace but we will see about that," she said.
Mariah Rollins overcame a mistake at the fourth from home to overcome the favourite Strike Back in the Beginners Chase and book a place in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse.
But if the big guns were happy it was almost nothing compared to the satisfaction of the North Co Dublin trainer Steve Mahon who won the first with the £10,000 purchase Stromstad, but then saw the ex-John Oxx-trained Dawadari complete a treble of course and distance wins in the bumper.
"I'm not sure if he's qualified to run in the Cheltenham bumper but either way he's going to Cheltenham," said Mahon. "You haven't seen anything until you've seen him jump. He's unique. I know it's a big statement but I think this fella is the next Limestone Lad."
