Ballyadam delivers for in-form De Bromhead
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Seasonal debutant Ballyadam gave Henry de Bromhead his seventh win of the Christmas period when outpointing two Willie Mullins-trained previous winners of the race, odds-on favourite Saint Sam and Sir Gerhard, in the Make The Tote App Your New Year’s Resolution Hurdle, the feature of Punchestown’s New Year’s Eve card.
A second winner for Rachael Blackmore since her return from injury, the nine-year-old joined Saint Sam at the final flight and, in receipt of 8lb from that rival, dug deep to prevail by a half-length.
Robbie Power, representing De Bromhead, said: “It’s great to get his head back in front. He’s been very consistent and always runs his race.
“The rain definitely helped — the softening ground brough his stamina into play.”
Mullins ended 2024 with a double, scoring with Sainte Lucie (Paul Townend) and Bambino Fever (Patrick Mullins).
“She looks top drawer,” Mullins said after Sainte Lucie, placed in her only start in France and making her Irish debut, ran out an impressive winner of the Celebrate The New Year With Tote 3-Y-0 Maiden Hurdle on her Irish debut.
Always prominent, the 8-11 favourite winged the second last flight and soon asserted her authority over her 19 rivals, powering clear to score by 11 lengths from Luker’s Tipple.
Mullins added: “Paul was very happy with her and said she galloped through that round well. I’d imagine we’ll be going for the top juvenile events with her.”
The Closutton double was completed when 5-2 favourite Bambino Fever ran out a convincing five-length winner of the mares' bumper, beating reliable yardstick Derryville.
The champion trainer said: “She’s a grand strong mare. She was hard on herself through the race but stayed galloping. She’ll be nice when she goes jumping, but we might look at the DRF (the Grade Two mares' event at Leopardstown in February) with her first.”
Gordon Elliott, who enjoyed such a tremendous time at the Leopardstown Christmas festival, was on the mark again when Shannon Royale took the opening, three-mile Your Free Entry Sponsored By Tote Ireland Beginners Chase.
Ridden by Jordan Gainford (who received an eight-day whip ban), the Robcour-owned 2-1 shot made virtually all, although outjumped at a few fences by favourite High Class Hero, and stayed on dourly in the closing stages to beat that rival by two and a quarter lengths.
“He’s a big, honest, galloping horse,” stated Elliott. “He jumps and stays well and Jordan gave him a good ride. I see him more as a handicapper than a graded horse.”
In the other chase action, Folly Master, trained for Declan and Elaine O’Farrell by Tom Dreaper and backed into 10-11 favouritism, delivered under Keith Donoghue in the Tote Guarantee Never Beaten By SP Handicap Chase.
The progressive six-year-old crept into contention leaving the back-straight, was shaken up to master front-runner Rolly Bowley Boy before the final fence and won, readily, by three lengths.
“He’s a lovely horse, very genuine,” said Dreaper. “I was hoping to get him out at the end of October, but didn’t get to run him until two weeks ago. This is what he wants — proper soft ground and, maybe, an extra mile. We’ll look for something similar for him, over a bit further. And he might be one for a bigger day in the spring.”
Farmers Lodge, owned and trained by Barry Connell, defied a 12lb hike for his recent win at Fairyhouse and top weight, when landing the Tote’s Cheers To 2024 Handicap Hurdle, picking up well for Sean Flanagan when he saw daylight going to the final flight before beating Stormbreaker by a length and a half.
Trainer Paul Hennessy savoured his first success since Heaven Help Us, memorably, won Cheltenham’s Coral Cup in 2021, when Falcon Park, in the colours of his wife Susan, won the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle under Niall Prendergast.