3 minute read
Grangeclare West looks another hot prospect for Willie Mullins and owners Cheveley Park following an impressive display on hurdling debut at Navan.
Not seen for 547 days since recording a facile nine-length success in a Punchestown bumper, the £430,000 purchase from the pointing field was equally as destructive when jumping obstacles under rules for the first time.
Paul Townend was motionless as he stalked market rivals Kudasheva and Firm Footings down to the final flight and the rider simply had to push the button on the six-year-old as he stretched away to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle by 13 lengths.
The Closutton handler is now tempted to test the son of Presenting in Grade One company, with the Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle on January 8 identified as a potential target for the 2-1 favourite.
"He impressed me considering he was so keen early on and jumped a bit big during the race," said Willie Mullins.
"Then he settled, and Paul got him together and got him balanced. Once he got down to gallop, he impressed me.
"I'm not sure he's entered in the Grade One at Christmas and if he's not then the obvious race would be the Lawlor's in Naas.
"He surprised me in the manner he did it. As I said to the owner before racing, we could run well here and finish fourth or fifth. It looked a good race."
Jessica Harrington had to settle for second in the feature Troytown Chase, but the Moone-based handler picked up some compensation in the concluding Coolmore N.H. Sires In Swoop Irish EBF Mares INH Flat Race.
Jetara, who is out of a sister to Harrington's Champion Hurdle winner Jezki, was always doing enough to hold off Mullins' Lily Du Berlais and claim Listed honours at 5-1.
Harrington said: "It's some family and you can't beat breeding! She's tough and we kind of got it wrong in Gowran where she stayed on really well and we didn't make enough use of her.
"I was worried about the ground as most of the family like good ground, but she's by Walk In The Park and she seems to cope very well with it."
When asked about going hurdling, she added: "I don't know. She's still only four and we'll see."
