Lecky Watson benefits from terrific Townend ride to prevail at Thurles

Lecky Watson brought quality to Thursday’s card in Thurles but the real class came from the saddle as Paul Townend produced a superb effort to get the Willie Mullins-trained 4-7 favourite across the line in front in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle.

His mount, fourth in last season’s Champion Bumper, was keen from the outset as Shannon Royale dictated matters. There were four runners still in with a chance turning for home in the two-mile-seven race and it looked as though track newcomer Rushmount, brought with a strong run, was set to prevail.

However, Townend, at his imperious best, urged his mount to find that little bit extra to edge out that rival, with the long-time leader in third.

“His jumping was lovely, but he was gassy and fresh, and I thought to pull it out and hold off the runner-up was a good performance,” said Townend. “It surprised me with him being so keen early on, that he was able to pull it out again.

“For one of ours at this time of year he can only improve, and I loved his attitude towards jumping. He is a lovely horse for the winter, hopefully he can keep developing and eventually he'll be a chaser.” 

Battle Of Ridgeway, whose breakthrough victory came in May at Clonmel when he won a handicap hurdle off a mark of 94, made the most of his revised mark of 101 to make a winning start over fences in the Sign Up To GavinLynchRacing.com Beginners’ Chase.

The way he cut through the field on the final circuit suggests he could be on a steep upward curve, and it is little wonder his trainer, Martin Hassett, is intent on dropping back over hurdles to make the most of his mark in that sphere.

“To be honest, I thought he’d take a run,” said Hassett. “Maybe he’s one of these horses that doesn’t show a whole pile at home. I was taken aback, but we’ve always liked him. I thought this was the Barbados horse, even when he was point-to-pointing, I genuinely did. He looked a bit better than the boys today and, looking at that, we’ll go back over hurdles.” 

Name Me Famous has had his issues jumping but it was an error by one of his rivals which gave him the upper hand at a crucial point of the Littleton Handicap Chase, and Eoin McCarthy’s runner duly obliged. Daniel King’s mount was length down going to the last but the leader, Dundaniel, met it all wrong and lost valuable momentum. That allowed Name Me Famous, who was bought for €2,500 in 2019, to take over and, to his credit, he stayed on stoutly to the line to put a fourth win on his card.

Molly Mango, trained by Gordon Elliott for Caldwell Construction Ltd, proved to be a class apart from her rivals in the Templemore Mares’ Maiden Hurdle.

Winner of a Cork bumper on her second start, and listed placed on her third start, this was her hurdling debut and, with just a couple of exceptions, her jumping was impressive. In a share of the lead through the first half of the race, Jack Kennedy let her stride on down the back and when Missus Beeton threatened to get back into it in the straight, he let out an inch of rein, and the odds-on favourite quickened away in great style.

Out of a half-sister to former Stayers’ Hurdle winner More Of That and Topham winner Eastlake, she ought to be considerably better over hurdles than she was in bumpers and could make up into a Mares’ Novice Hurdle contender.

Winning rider Kennedy said: “We’ve always liked her, so I’m glad she went and did that. She jumped great and, in time, she’ll probably be better over a trip. It’s just great to get that done with her today.” 

The consistent Dragon’s Pass, trained by Denise Foster, gained a much-deserved return to winning ways in the Ballagh Mares’ Handicap Hurdle. The 20-1 chance was under pressure turning for home but responded well to a strong ride by Sam Ewing to deny Costanuci a hat-trick.

Duke Otto left it late to claim glory in the Two-Mile Borris Handicap Hurdle. The well-backed Herculaneum looked to have all bases covered when leading over the last but Gary Noonan, riding for Pat Flynn, got a great tune out of Duke Otto, who got up in the dying strides to ensure a follow up to his recent victory in Tramore.

There was a huge upset in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Auction Bumper in which the heavily backed favourite Charlie Buckett ran a long way below expectation and victory went to the Nigel Slevin-trained Cola Blaze.

On her only previous outing, the winner finished in midfield in the Fairyhouse bumper won by the exciting Brighterdaysahead and has clearly done well in the interim. The only concern for connections came late in the play as she wandered around in front, but Finbar Brickley kept the partnership intact and rode her clear to an impressive victory.