Minella Indo impresses on Punchestown return
Winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2021 and runner-up in 2022, Minella Indo made a successful seasonal debut when landing the Grade Three Irish Daily Star Chase at Punchestown.
The 10-year-old made virtually all the running under Rachael Blackmore, jumping fluently, and stayed on to beat Hurricane Georgie, the outsider of Gordon Elliott’s three runners, by a length and three-quarters, with a 13-length gap back to Delta Work in third.
Elliott’s dual Grade One winner Conflated chased the winner for most of the journey but tired from the second last to finish last of the five runners.
“He has given us so many great days and I’m delighted to see him start his season so well,” enthused winning trainer Henry de Bromhead. “His work has been good, but it was good before this year’s Gold Cup and it didn’t happen for him there.
“Rachael said that he really enjoyed himself out there — he jumped from fence to fence, with his ears pricked.”
Looking ahead, he added: “We entered him in the north (the Grade One Ladbrokes Champion Chase), but that’s only a couple of weeks away. This was very encouraging and we’ll enjoy it. We can decide in the next few weeks where we’ll go. The Grand National is something we can discuss.”
In the other Grade Three on the card, the BetVictor Proud Sponsor Of Irish Racing Novice Chase, the Willie Mullins-trained Hercule Du Seuil completed a fabulous five-timer over fences, justifying 4-11 favouritism in the hands of Mark Walsh.
The JP McManus-owned six-year-old was involved in a fascinating duel with Lucid Dreams, who made a lot of the running, for most of the journey until that rival dropped away going to the second last.
And it was Senecia, who beat Hercule Du Seuil on his fencing bow in Ballinrobe, who came from the back of the field and, staying on strongly on the run-in, got within a neck of the favourite, with Luci Dreams 12 lengths back in third.
“It’s a great performance to win five in a row,” stated winning trainer Mullins. “Lucid Dreams kept him honest all the way and Mark had to change to Plan B and take a lead.
“Mark said the ground was as soft as he’d want. We might get another run into him, if the weather holds up, before he gets a break before coming back in the spring. He could go out to two and a half miles but, if possible, I’d like to keep him to the minimum trip.”
Mullins completed a double when keen-going 10-11 favourite My Great Mate, bought by the Temple Bloodstock Syndicate since his win at the Galway festival, made all in the bumper, digging deep for Patrick Mullins in the closing stages to hold Fleur In The Park, whose rider Adam Ryan received a four-day whip ban, by a head.
Earlier, in the absence of A Dream To Share, the Tom Mullins-trained Fascile Mode, highly-tried in bumpers last season, justified 1-2 favouritism in the opening BetVictor Maiden Hurdle.
Michael O’Sullivan’s mount made minor mistakes at the third last and last but came home, hard held, 12 lengths clear of Barometer, prompting his trainer to comment: “He was gawking everywhere, before and during the race, but, overall, I’m happy with everything.
“He’s a chaser and everything he does this season is a bonus. His two immediate targets are a novice at the November meeting and the (Grade One) Royal Bond at Fairyhouse.”
Banntown Girl, trained locally by Sonny Carey, convincingly reversed recent Navan form with favourite First Dare when defying top-weight under 7lb claimer Rob James in the Get a Run For Your Money With BetVictor Mares Handicap Hurdle, the Stowaway mare forging clear to score by 19 lengths.
The winner will be aimed at the Paddy Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle (Leopardstown) at the Dublin Racing Festival in February.
And trainer Ted Walsh was full of praise for veteran Derek O’Connor following his victory on Hardwired (9-1), at the expense of He Fitz In, in the Make Your Best Bet At BetVictor Amateur Handicap Chase.
"Derek O’Connor is in a league of his own — I’m 73 and there has never been a better amateur in my lifetime," Walsh said.
