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Leopardstown round-up: Grangeclare West comes good for Willie Mullins

Updated / Friday, 29 Dec 2023 16:34
Jockey Paul Townend celebrates on Grangeclare West after winning the Neville Hotels Novice Steeplechase
Jockey Paul Townend celebrates on Grangeclare West after winning the Neville Hotels Novice Steeplechase

Grangeclare West could finally deliver on his huge price tag and early promise, judging by a runaway success in the Neville Hotels Novice Chase at Leopardstown.

The seven-year-old cost Cheveley Park Stud £430,000 (€495,000) after winning his only start in the point-to-point field, and he looked an exciting recruit for champion trainer Willie Mullins after landing a Punchestown bumper and a maiden hurdle at Navan on his first two appearances under rules.

The wheels fell off in the second half of the campaign, though, with Grangeclare West disappointing in successive Grade Ones at Naas and Leopardstown, and while he made the most of having his sights lowered at Punchestown in the spring, he began the current campaign with something to prove.

But having made all the running on his chasing debut at Naas last month, the Presenting gelding proved he does have what it takes to make his mark at the highest level, with the 4-1 shot travelling and jumping with elan in the hands of Paul Townend before easing to the lead rounding the home turn.

As he did aboard Thursday's scintillating Savills Chase winner Galopin Des Champs, Townend angled Grangeclare West to the stands’ side rail in the home straight and he safely negotiated the final fence to seal a six-length victory over favourite Corbetts Cross without being extended.

After adopting his customary pacesetting role for much of the three-mile contest, dual Stayers’ Hurdle hero Flooring Porter faltered in the straight and passed the post well held in third.

Mullins said: "I didn’t expect that now – I thought he would run well, but that was a top race.

"Paul was worried about him pulling too hard and he’d want to be as fit as he is because he just pulled his arms out for the three miles. To do that, on that ground and win like that going away was a huge performance.

"His jumping was excellent. He just came out of Paul’s hands at the first fence and from then on Paul was just trying to settle him back. He got him back jumping normally.

"He’s just a natural chaser."

Looking ahead to the Cheltenham Festival, Mullins added: "He might go for the Brown Advisory and Fact To File (won at Leopardstown on Thursday) might go for the Turners. We’ll see, it is a nice problem to have.

"We might come back here to the Dublin Racing Festival first. I’m delighted to win a Grade One at Leopardstown over Christmas with him."

The Closutton handler also confirmed another high-class staying novice chaser in his yard, Klassical Dream, will miss the rest of the campaign after suffering injury when being prepared for this race.

He said: "Unfortunately, he is out for the season after his last bit of work. We will just let the injury settle down over Christmas, but it is very unfortunate."

Jetara continued her rise through the ranks with a comprehensive success in the BeattheBank.ie Irish EBF Mares Hurdle.

Jessica Harrington's inmate is bred to be pretty smart, with her dam Jelan being a sister to several top-class performers – including Jetson, Jett, Jered and Champion Hurdle hero Jezki.

Listed bumper winner Jetara did not manage to get her head in front during her first season over obstacles but did chase home one-time Classic contender High Definition and smart mare Ashroe Diamond, and her lack of a victory meant she retained her novice status for the new campaign.

The five-year-old was well beaten in a Down Royal Grade Three on her reappearance, but bolted up in a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse next time before adding another Listed win to her CV at Punchestown, and she was prominent in the market at 5-2 as she returned to Graded company at Foxrock.

Always travelling strongly in the hands of Jack Kennedy, Jetara was sent to the front jumping the final flight before the home turn and she was not for catching thereafter, galloping up the straight to score by seven and a half lengths from Pink In The Park, with favourite Risk Belle back in third.

Harrington said: "She jumped and settled and he (Kennedy) said he couldn’t believe how much she picked up. He thought he had got there plenty soon enough and, when he asked her, she picked up well.

"We are delighted with her. She will be better on better ground – the whole family want better ground. She is the only one of them that is happy on that soft ground.

"She will probably come back here for the novice hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival. We might as well, as she is still a novice. She jumps very slick and they (geldings) will have to give her 7lb.

"Then we will probably wait for Fairyhouse, which is early this year, for the mares’ Grade One. That will be kind of her programme."

Ballyburn, with Paul Townend up, on their way to victory

Ballyburn is clear favourite for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham with most bookmakers after predictably outclassing his rivals.

Unbeaten in a point-to-point and two outings in bumpers, the Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old suffered an odds-on reverse at the hands of Firefox on his hurdling debut at Fairyhouse four weeks ago but was a 2-9 shot to bounce back to winning ways in the Pigsback.com Maiden Hurdle.

The result was never really in any doubt, with Ballyburn taking a lead from Saddle Her Up for much of the two-and-a-half-mile journey before taking over before the home turn.

With the final flight omitted, Paul Townend only had to keep the short-priced favourite up to his work in the straight and he passed the post a full 25 lengths clear of nearest pursuer Cleatus Poolaw.

"He did what we were hoping he might do in Fairyhouse," Mullins said.

"We were happy – he jumped well and galloped to the line, so he is improving. He has improved hugely from Fairyhouse, where he was probably beaten in a sprint.

"We are hoping there is plenty more improvement to come as well, we think there is anyway."

Mullins added: "He settled well enough – that’s what I was worried about, he would get too keen. He was more in his comfort zone today over two and a half miles.

"I’m not thinking of anything (future plans) – I’m just delighted we got today out of the way. He did it impressively. You’d be thinking he is more of a two-and-a-half-mile horse.

"Paul told me he appears keen, but it is just the way he carries his head low. He said every time he gave him a little feel on the reins, he came back underneath him. I’m very happy that the horse is learning all the time."

Stable debutant Linden Arden was all the rage for the Mullins team in the Timeless Sash Windows Irish EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle, but he could finish only sixth as Pat Fahey's 12-1 shot Champagne Admiral made every yard of the running under a well-judged ride from Michael O’Sullivan.

Galon De Vauzelle was a 10-1 winner of the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase for trainer Philip Rothwell, while the concluding bumper went to Gordon Elliott’s 9-4 shot Jalon D’oudairies.

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