Class act Minella Indo rolls back the years with stunning Star Chase success at Punchestown
The Irish Daily Star Chase has been sprinkled with Gold since its inception back in 2005 and Minella Indo kept up that tradition with a heartwarming success at Punchestown on Wednesday.
Cheltenham Gold Cup legends War Of Attrition and Kicking King fought out the finish of the very first two runnings of the Grade 3 race while Don Cossack is another Cotswolds hero to pick up this early season prize on more than one occasion.
The Henry De Bromhead-trained 10-year-old enjoyed his finest hour in the 2021 ‘behind closed doors’ Gold Cup and he rolled back the years in great style with a commanding length and three quarter success over the rank outsider Hurricane Georgie.
Ridden positively and from the front by Rachael Blackmore, he was the sort of A-list winner that jump enthusiasts crave to see, on a day that many regard as the unofficial start of the National Hunt season in Ireland.
Minella Indo’s last outing was an uncharacteristic poor run in the Gold Cup last March, when pulled up early behind Galopin Des Champs, but he showed he’s still a major force in staying chases by showing far too many guns for the smart Conflated and Delta Work.
The race was a hot betting heat with plenty of early money coming for the 140-rated Panda Boy but as post time neared the support for Minella Indo surged and by the time race started he was backed into 15-8 favourite.
His supporters had little concern as he showed real zest in a superb front-running performance, bossing the proceedings and seeing off his big two rivals, before a late surge from Hurricane Georgie saw Blackmore having to shake him up before the line.
De Bromhead and owner Barry Maloney were thrilled afterwards with the Waterford-based trainer even suggesting afterwards that an attempt at next spring’s Grand National at Aintree might be something he’d consider.
"The Grand National is something we can discuss. Coming here after the Gold Cup, we couldn't make any big plans but we're really encouraged now for the rest of the season."
Paddy Power priced him up at 40-1 to complete the Gold Cup/Grand National double next April, a feat achieved by L’Escargot in 1975 while Betfair gave him a 50-1 showing to regain his Gold Cup crown at Prestbury Park in March.
De Bromhead added: "He's given us so many great days and I'm delighted to see him start his season like that. His work was really good, but it was also good before the Gold Cup and it just didn't happen for him there. It was a messy start and it just didn't happen for him.
"He jumped from fence to fence today, his ears were pricked and Rachael said he really enjoyed it. I'm also delighted that Barry (Maloney, owner) is here as well.
"We entered him in the north (Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal) but that's only a couple of weeks away, so we'll see. We can enjoy today and decide in the next couple of weeks what we want to do.
Minella Indo’s earnings have now reached €850,000 and he has been an important part of the Rachael Blackmore story, giving her only her second Cheltenham Festival winner as a 50-1 shot in the 2019 Albert Bartlett Hurdle.
"That was enjoyable and it's why jockeys love racing, to get to steer him round there. He seemed to really enjoy it and jumped really well and it's great to see him do that.
"Everyone at home said he was in good nick and he showed it today."
Blackmore also still believes he can still be a force at the highest level adding: "It went completely wrong for him in the Gold Cup this year, but that can happen. He's a very good horse and it's great to start off his campaign like that."
Hercule Du Seuil is at the other end of his chasing career to Minella Indo but he has announced himself as a possible Arkle Chase contender with a fifth novice chasing success in succession earlier yesterday.
JP McManus arrived via helicopter to see his Willie Mullins-trained charge just hang on to complete the five-timer in the BetVictor Proud Sponsors Of Irish Racing Novice Chase.
The six-year-old has not looked back since suffering an odds-on reverse on his fencing debut in early May, winning at Ballinrobe, Killarney, Galway and Roscommon in the space of four months.
Hercule Du Seuil was the 4-11 favourite to notch a third successive Grade 3 success for trainer Mullins and jockey Mark Walsh - and while he did ultimately get the job done, his supporters were made to sweat before collecting their winnings.
For much of two-and-a-quarter-mile contest it looked like a straight duel, with the market leader and Lucid Dreams engaging in a nip-and-tuck tussle before Hercule Du Seuil went clear from the third-last.
However, just when it looked like he was home for all money, Senecia came from the clouds to throw down a late but serious challenge and there was only a neck between the pair at the line.
Mullins said: "Lucid Dreams kept him honest the whole way and Mark had to change to plan B and drop him in behind. He jumped well when Mark needed him and it's a great performance to win five in a row.
"If the weather stays dry we might get another run into him and we could then give him a mid-season break and come back in the spring.
"I'd rather keep him to the minimum trip if I could but he can go out to two and a half. Mark felt maybe he didn't want the ground as soft as it was today."
