'It was a good idea to come here' - Franciscan Rock wins convincingly at Clonmel
Strang Clonmel Kilsheelan Healy The & Win Jim Racing Brouder Hurdle At Rock Picture: Franciscan Gavin
Tuesday’s feature at Powerstown Park, Clonmel was the Jim Strang & Sons Kilsheelan Peugeot Hurdle and while there were only four runners, it was fiercely competitive, with a single point separating the first three in the betting. Victory for Franciscan Rock, ridden by Gavin Brouder, continued the fine run of form for trainer Mouse Morris.
The winner, successful in a Pertemps qualifier just nine days earlier at Punchestown, was never worse than second, but when he took over on the turn into the straight, he had the strong travelling Sandor Clegane on his outer. However, with race fitness on his side and a clever ride by Brouder, he had plenty left in the locker to see off the market leader quite convincingly.
Said the winning rider: “He ran brilliantly in Punchestown. He ran very strongly to the line, but he had a good blow, and we knew he’d improve from it. He was good and fresh at home over the last couple of days, and it was a good idea to come here.
“He has his own way of jumping. I find you just lie down on his neck and keep the squeeze on whether you’re wrong or right just leave it up to him. He’ll always come up for you.
“I wanted to keep company all the way but didn’t want to leave it too late and have something flash by me. When I kept the squeeze on him turning in, as soon as he went a length clear of Sean (Flanagan, on Sandor Clegane) he idled. And when I stopped pushing him at the line, he pricked his ears straight away. He knew he had it done.”
Of the stable’s form, he added: “They’re all flying. When you’re down there riding work, all the horses are happy and they’re all working and running well. Please may it continue, and I keep the leg over.”
Willie and Patrick Mullins teamed up to record a double with C’Est Ta Chance and Karafon, both of which carried the colours of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.
The former contested the first division of the ClonmelRaces.ie Maiden Hurdle and was initially easy to back but well supported as the race approached. He looked to be going nowhere when losing a couple of places going down the back but found plenty for pressure to quicken away from the well-backed Whatsanotheryear.
The market got the Mullins horses wrong in the second division as Karafon, who was morning favourite, drifted to 7-4 in light of strong support for his stablemate, Karamoja, who was backed into odds-on favouritism. The latter tried to make all but was untidy at a few of his jumps, whereas Karafon jumped particularly quickly when needed and quickened up nicely to see off the promising Uhavemeinstitches, who hung left on the run-in.
Philip Rothwell’s great run continued apace, and he and Tiernan Power Roche teamed up to take the Kilsheelan Handicap Hurdle with Duffys Hodey. The 11-4 favourite could be observed travelling best of all throughout and readily asserted to put a much-deserved first win on his card.
Lazer Wolf also readily justified favouritism when taking the Next Race Meeting January 9 Novice Handicap Chase in the hands of Keith Donoghue. With a good round of jumping and a patient ride, he made stealthy progress to challenge early in the straight, went clear down to the last, and won as he pleased.
There were two big upsets to start the card, the first of which came from the Mark Quigley-trained and James Smith-ridden Eve’s Hope, who comfortably held the late effort of well-backed odds-on favourite Giant Haystacks.
In the Thanks To All For Your Support In 2024 Handicap Hurdle, the spoils went to 28-1 chance Kp’s Ladyofknock, who gave young rider Thomas O’Connor his first winner on the track. The filly, having her first run since recently joining Mark Fahey, led going to two out and was soon in command.
“I’m delighted with that,” said 18-year-old Kerry native O’Connor. “I’m based with Mark six mornings a week and he has been very good to me – he has given me plenty of rides.
“I’m from Dingle and have no background in racing although I’m only a hundred metres over the road from the Kennedys.
“Jack used to ride horses by my house every day of the week, and I got the bug from there and they have been very good to me. I spent a season flapping and another season point-to-pointing with Sam Curling, who was also very good to me.”
There was an exciting finish to the finale, a beginners’ chase, in which Kiltealy Park, ridden by Sean Flanagan for Paul Nolan, got up in the final stride to deny Bleu D’Enfer.