Archie Meade takes Christmas spoils for Hassett

Santa Claus came early for popular Quin trainer Malachy Hassett when his 4-1 shot Archie Meade ran out a good winner of the two-and-three-quarter-mile INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle at Thurles three days before Christmas.
Ridden by Miltown Malbay jockey Danny Howard for Spanish Point owner Ted O’Sullivan, Archie Meade had run well when fourth on his previous outing at Punchestown 10 days earlier and he built on that effort here when scoring in authoritative fashion.
A full brother to Paddysparks, who won a point-to-point for Hassett at Lisronagh back in April, Archie Meade challenged for the lead two out and, having finally shaken off the attentions of long-time leader Jack Bene at the final flight, the son of Beneficial ran on best to beat that rival by two-and-a-quarter lengths with Howard even allowed the luxury of a wave to his supporters as the successful duo crossed the line.
Hassett, who is one of the really colourful characters of the racing game, said, “We fancied this horse today as he had a great run the last day. Archie Meade won his point-to-point at Kinsale and is a good horse on his day. He jumped very well and Danny gave him a great ride. We’ll have a look at something for him sometime in the new year and I expect he’ll win a few more for us.”
Limerick’s four-day Christmas Festival kicked off last Monday (St Stephen’s Day) where Willie Mullins’ hot-pot Sir Des Champs was a lucky winner of the featured Grade 2 Greenmount Park Novice Chase.
The 4-7 favourite turned into the home straight chasing Charles Byrnes’ Knockfierna appeared to be going much the better of the pair but the complexion of this €37,500 contest changed dramatically when Knockfierna ducked violently to her right at the wings of the second-last, unseating Niall Madden.
Her untimely departure left Sir Des Champs clear under Emmet Mullins, who only had to push Michael O’Leary’s five-year-old out hands and heels to see off runner-up Four Commanders (also in O’Leary’s Gigginstown House colours) by seven lengths.
Madden had earlier taken the O’Kelly Bros Contractors Hurdle aboard the Byrnes-trained, O’Leary-owned Trifolium (8-11F) and the Kildare rider, whose father Niall Senior hailed from Parteen, had compensation for his mishap in the feature when completing a double aboard JP McManus’ 9-4 favourite Fahamore in the Guinness Handicap Hurdle.

Big Zeb scores impressively at Leopardstown

Cheltenham 2010 Champion Chase winner Big Zeb confirmed his prowess in the speed division over fences when running out a comfortable winner of the Paddy Power Dial-a-Bet Chase at Leopardstown on Tuesday.
Colm Murphy called up the services of Robert ‘Puppy’ Power to deputise for Big Zeb’s Kempton-tied regular partner Barry Geraghty and the Meath jockey proved very capable as he steered the 8-11 favourite to a comprehensive victory.
Forpaddydeplasterer set a good pace in this two-mile, one-furlong test and he was challenged by Noble Prince off the home bend. Power was biding his time in this pair’s slipstream however, and, getting a dream run up the rail, he pounced at the last before quickening up nicely on the run-in to beat Noble Prince by a length and a quarter.
Gorey-based Murphy nominated the Tied Cottage Chase at Fairyhouse (a race he won last season) as a stepping stone to Big Zeb’s return to Cheltenham, where he will bid to regain his Queen Mother Champion Chase crown, which he lost when runner-up to Sizing Europe last March. 
A huge field of 26 faced the starter in the three-mile €190,000 Paddy Power Chase with victory going to Noel Meade’s 7-1 chance, Cross Appeal.
Paul Carberry did the steering aboard this John Corr-owned five-year-old, who made full use of his light weight of 10st 4lb to beat Tom Taffee’s 20-1 shot Treacle by three-parts of a length. Groody Hill, one of the nine runners in the race to carry the JP McManus colours, finished third, with Montan back in fourth.
Noel Glynn’s leading Aintree Grand National hope Becasuseicouldntsee was among the fancies here but he was well held when falling two out.
Jumping is very much the name of the game when it comes to steeple chasing and this was illustrated in the featured €85,000 Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown on St Stephen’s Day where Tony Martin’s hot favourite Bog Warrior bit the dust.
Following a flawless round of fencing when winning the Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse at the start of the month, Bog Warrior went off a very prohibitive 4-5 favourite but, having been very keen in the early stages, he paid the price when crashing out at the third fence.
His exit certainly opened up this valuable opening-day contest and it was Willie Mullins’ Blackstairmountain who took full advantage when staying on powerfully from the final fence under a well-timed Paul Townend drive to beat David Pipe’s English raider Notus De La Tour by two-and-a-quarter lengths.  

King Kauto rules at Kempton

Kauto Star stamped himself a real hero when turning in a five-star display to land the King George VI Chase for a record-breaking fifth time in front of a bumper crowed at Kempton last Monday.
At one stage last season – after a few uncharacteristic below-par runs – it was thought in some quarters that Kauto was heading for an honourable retirement but his trainer Paul Nicholls and owner Clive Smith were happy the 11-year-old wasn’t quite ready to call it a day.
Back in November, their judgement was vindicated as Kauto Star thrilled all jumping fans on his seasonal debut when slamming reigning Cheltenham Gold Cup incumbent, Long Run, in the Betfair Chase at Haydock. 
While that was a fantastic effort by Kauto, form students felt Nicky Henderson’s champion would have his revenge at the South London track and punters dispatched Sam Waley-Cohen’s mount an even-money favourite to turn the tables.
Ruby Walsh, who must be very thankful for his association with the now famous French import, was taking no prisoners aboard Kauto Star as he sent the 3-1 shot to head of affairs with a circuit to race.
Jumping like a buck, Kauto Star put his rivals to the sword in no uncertain terms when powering up the Kempton run-in to beat a staying-on Long Run by a length and a quarter.
Captain Chris, who briefly threatened two out under Richard Johnson before fading, was third a further 17 lengths in the rear, with Somersby a well-beaten fourth.
What a performer Kauto is. A host of big-race successes that include two Cheltenham Gold Cups and now a fifth King George (one more than the great Desert Orchid) mark him out a true champion in the mould of past greats like Arkle and Mill House.
An ecstatic Paul Nicholls said, “He’s just awesome and I knew we had him in serious order. It was a massive plus having Ruby on him today as they just get on so well together and he knows him better than anyone else.”
Reflecting on his apparent loss of sparkle last season, Nicholls explained, “He just wasn’t right last year at all and I said to his owner (Clive Smith) after Punchestown I’d retire him if I thought he wasn’t going to enjoy himself again. But he’s been amazing this season and even though he’s 11 now, he works like an eight-year-old at home. If he gets to Cheltenham in March for the Gold Cup in the same order, he’ll be the one they’ll all have to beat.”
Winning jockey Walsh said,  “This is a fairytale. He’s a super horse and is a credit to everyone who works with him. He’s beaten a classy six-year-old in Long Run and he’s going to be 12 next week. They can say what they want about the great steeplechasers of the past but Kauto Star has outlasted them all and that what makes him so brilliant.”
Earlier on the Kempton card, former champion hurdler Binocular has bounced back to form to land the Christmas Hurdle for owner JP McManus and trainer Nicky Henderson.
Beaten last time out in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle by all-the-way winner Overturn, Binocular had to once again square up to Donald McCain’s front-runner but it was Paul Nicholls’ Rock On Ruby who looked likely to prove the fly in the ointment when jumping to the front at the final flight.
Tony McCoy was eliciting a response from Binocular, who didn’t help his cause when a bit flatfooted at the last, with the 15-time champion forcing his mount home to beat the rallying Rock On Ruby by a neck in a thriller.
It is doubtful if Binocular is the horse he was when he won the Champion Hurdle, with the runner-up, who is certainly an improved performer, probably the one to take out of the race as far as the 2012 Champion Hurdle is concerned.
David Pipe’s Grand Cruz looks a real smart chaser in the making and he tasted his first Grade 1 success over fences when running out a cosy winner of the Feltham Novices Chase.
Tom Scudamore sent the six-year-old to the front five out and he had little trouble in scoring as he passed the post two lengths in front of the highly regarded Silvianico Conti. Grand Crus is a classy sort and Cheltenham’s RSA Chase looks his most likely target.