Hurricane Steals The Show
As Ruby Dominates At Leopardstown
Hurricane Fly cemented his position as one of the greatest hurdlers of recent decades at Leopardstown on Sunday by once again seeing off the best young hurdlers in Ireland in the Grade 1 BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle. Willie Mullins' stable star had to fight for it, with Our Conor narrowly heading him on the run-in, but Hurricane Fly responded to Ruby Walsh's urgings and drew away to score by 1? lengths. Ruby had no less than three other winners on the card, riding the Willie Mullins-trained Sure Reef to victory in the Grade 2 Synergy Security Solutions Novice Hurdle as well as teaming up with Tony Martin to ride Quickpick Vic to success in the Leopardstown Sports Lounge Maiden Hurdle and Wrong Turn to victory in the Leopardstown Racecourse Handicap Chase. The other Grade 1 on the card was the Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase and it saw the Charles Byrnes-trained Trifolium run out the impressive nine lengths winner under Bryan Cooper.
Gilgamboa Prevails In
Boylesports.com Hurdle
The Boylesports.com Hurdle at Leopardstown is always one of the most competitive races of the Irish National Hunt season and Saturday's renewal was won by a very promising sort in the shape of the Enda Bolger-trained Gilgamboa. Having just the fourth start of his career, the six-year-old was always prominent under Mark Walsh and forged on to score by 1 and a half lengths. The other big handicap on the card was the Leopardstown Handicap Chase and the Paul Fahey-trained He'llberemembered ran out the game Half-length victor under Shane Butler.
Keane Doubles Up At Dundalk
Colin Keane may have come out second-best in the race for the title of Champion Apprentice in 2013, but he served notice that he means business in 2014 by riding a double at Dundalk on Friday evening. He got off the mark on the John Oxx-trained Palace Of Winds in the Crowne Plaza Hotel Race & Stay Apprentice Maiden, riding the daughter of Monsun to a hard-fought half-length victory. He doubled his tally 30 minutes later, riding Captain Cullen to a last-gasp half-length victory for his father Gerald Keane in the http://www.jamiemcdonald.org Handicap.
Mullins Scoops The Thyestes
Willie Mullins joined the legendary Tom Dreaper as the winning most trainer in the history of the prestigious Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park on Thursday, saddling On His Own to give Mullins his fifth win in the race. Ridden by Paul Townend, the 10-year-old made most of the running and came home six lengths in front despite idling. It was On His Own's second win in the race having won it back in 2012. Mullins saddled two other winners on the card, with Abbyssial winning the Nugent Spirit 25 Horsebox Hurdle under Ruby Walsh and Black Hercules running out the impressive winner of the P.J. Foley Memorial INH Flat Race under Patrick Mullins.
Big Day For John Cullen At Fairyhouse
John Cullen had a day to remember at Fairyhouse on Wednesday as not only did he saddle the first winner of his training career, he also rode a double on the card. He opened his account in the saddle when riding the Darrell Deacon-trained Tudor Fashion to a hard-fought neck victory in the Book Online @ fairyhouse.ie Mares Maiden Hurdle. However, Cullen's highlight undoubtedly came in the Follow Fairyhouse On Twitter Handicap Hurdle, with him training and riding Misty Lady to record a 2 and a half lengths success that he will never forget.
Racing News
Annie Power Makes It 10 From 10 At Doncaster
The Willie Mullins-trained Annie Power is undoubtedly one of the most exciting horses in training and the mare made it 10 wins from 10 career starts at Doncaster on Saturday, bolting up in the Grade 2 OLBG.com Mares' Hurdle. Ridden by Ruby Walsh, the six-year-old made all the running and didn't have to be asked a serious question on her way to recording a 15-lengths victory.
Irish Off The Mark At Meydan
David Marnane became the first Irish trainer to saddle a winner at Meydan this season by sending out Jamesie to win the valuable Gulf News Tabloid Handicap on Thursday. The six-year-old wasn't winning a big one out of turn having finished second in highly-valuable handicaps at the Galway Festival, Royal Ascot and Leopardstown in the past and Fergal Lynch delivered him with a well-timed challenge to record a cosy victory. 35 minutes later, Mick Halford got in on the act by saddling Certerach to win the GN Focus Handicap under Shane Foley.
Dettori Returns From Injury With A Double
Frankie Dettori made a stunning return from injury at Lingfield on Wednesday, securing a double on the card. Riding for the first time since breaking his ankle at Nottingham in October, Dettori took just three rides on the card and looked as good as ever in riding the first two of them to win their respective races.
Barney Curley Lands Massive Coup
A massive betting coup was landed in England on Wednesday and the legendary punter Barney Curley is strongly suspected to be the mastermind behind it. Four horses with various connections to Curley were declared to run at Lingfield, Catterick and Kempton and were combined in a multitude of multiple bets. With the eyes of the racing world on them, all four won in dramatic style, with pay outs estimated to exceed €2.5m.
Upcoming Fixtures
Thurles – Thursday 30th January (First Race 1:35)
Dundalk – Friday 31st January (First Race 6:15)
Fairyhouse – Saturday 1st February (First Race 12:55)
Punchestown – Sunday 2nd February (First Race 1:40)
Down Royal – Wednesday 5th February (First Race 1:15)
