Review of Thurles action
Thursday, 9 March 2006Mounthenry will not be in the Cheltenham raiding party this year but he gained his second Grade 2 win the featured novice hurdle and now has the Punchestown Festival on his agenda.
Andrew McNamara was determined to go the shortest way around on the 11/10 market-leader and he got through a narrow gap when he challenged approaching the last.
The son of Flemensfirth stayed on well to beat Tengo Ambro by 2L and his trainer Charles Byrnes is unsure now whether he will run again or not before Punchestown.
"He is a decent horse but he is not a natural jumper of hurdles and the ground there was a bit soft for him," suggested the Limerick handler.
Despite being an easy-to-back 2/1 favourite, Strong Project ran out a comfortable 8L all-the-way victor of the Cashel Fine Art Chase.
Johnny Allen's mount got in close three out and his pursuers got to within striking distance at the next, but it was soon apparent that the 10yo was on the way to a third course success.
His trainer Sean O'Brien said, "Johnny gave him a super ride and when he gets his jumping right he is good. He will go to Aintree if the ground isn't fast."
Haggle Twins made good use of his stamina in the beginners chase under Tom Ryan, always in front, the 8/1 shot dug deepest on the run-in to fend off his rivals by 2 1/2L.
Frances Crowley commented of the winner, "He is tough and because he is high enough in the handicap over hurdles we went chasing and he will go handicapping now."
