Fairyhouse Sunday review: Lossiemouth the new Triumph Hurdle favourite
By Sporting Life
17:03 · SUN December 04, 2022
A review of the rest of Sunday's action from Fairyhouse as Willie Mullins' juvenile filly Lossiemouth made a huge impression.
The Rich Ricci-owned grey was sent off 3/1 in the hands of Danny Mullins, market favouritism being held by stable companion Zarak The Brave (5/4) under Paul Townend. But it was Lossiemouth, already getting on top when the favourite made a mistake at the last, who prevailed in taking style.
She travelled powerfully throughout the Grade Three Bar One Racing Price Boost Juvenile Hurdle and made her challenge still on the bridle heading to the final couple of flights.
Asked for an effort coming to the last, the three-year-old daughter of Great Pretender - a 10-length winner at Auteuil in the spring for previous trainer Yannick Fouin - was spring-heeled and galloped on strongly to win by four lengths, with a further two and a half back to Joseph O'Brien's Comfort Zone back in third.
Paddy Power and Betfair make Lossiemouth their new 3/1 favourite for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, with Sky Bet going 7/2.
Sky Bet's Head of Sports PR Michael Shinners said: "That was incredibly impressive. The way she quickened away from her rivals marked her down as a huge player for the Triumph Hurdle. She's our new favourite at 7/2."
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"That looked very good. She came with a nice reputation from France and has been working nicely at home but that's certainly way better than anything she has shown us before," Mullins revealed.
"Today was just a finding out mission to see what we had and it looks like we have found a good one.
"Danny said he could have gone at any stage. He said her jumping was very good and she has so much scope. She was very good.
"We've found out a lot today and we will look forward to the future with her. We'll have a look at Leopardstown at Christmas and see what the penalty structure is and there is also the Grade 1 at the Dublin Racing Festival."
Rest of the action...
In the opening Bar One Racing Sign Up Bet 10 Get 50 Irish EBF Mares Handicap Chase, Gavin Cromwell’s Malina Girl registered a five-length success in the hands of Luke Dempsey.
“The soft ground brought her stamina into play over the trip and for a small mare, she’s very good to jump. It’s a nice pot,” said the winning trainer.
“I bought her in an August sale for €7,500 and she’s won a bumper, an auction maiden hurdle and a beginners chase and a five grand bonus for winning each race and a 10 grand sales voucher for winning the auction race.
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Just over 24 hours on from landing big-race success at Aintree, Emmet Mullins was on the scoresheet once again when Merlin Giant (9/2) landed the valuable Baroneracing.com Handicap Hurdle scooping €59,000.
The winner is now set for a break before being targeted at the spring festivals early next year, while the Galway Hurdle could also be on the radar.
“He has more of a Flat pedigree, and we were slightly concerned about the ground, but he coped with it,” said Mullins.
“The trip might have been a bit far for him the last day, but it was good to get that run under his belt coming here for a big, competitive handicap hurdle. You need experience for these races, although it didn’t turn out like that in the end as Danny strung them out.
“We’ll give him a break now and maybe come back for the festivals in the spring.
“The Galway Hurdle could well be the aim next summer and he’ll be well up into that bracket now in the weights.”
Punitive (9/2) and Fakiera gave Gordon Elliott a one-two in the Bar One Racing Porterstown Handicap Chase and the Cullentra House handler brought up a four-timer on the day when Better Days Ahead (15/8) opened his Rules account at the second attempt in the concluding Bar One Racing Giving Cash Back Daily (Pro/Am) Flat Race (replay below).
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The son of Milan got the better of the well-regarded 4/6 favourite Chapeau De Soleil and was cut to 10/1 from 20s with Paddy Power for the Champion Bumper, while the runner-up was eased out to the same price from 13/2 by the same bookmaker.
Elliott, who also took the Drinmore with Mighty Potter and the Hatton’s Grace with Teahupoo, said: “He’s a nice horse. We thought he would win the first day but he’s a proper horse and is one to look forward to. He’ll stay in bumpers this season."
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