GRAND National-winning trainer, Martin Brassil has a smart recruit on his hands in Double Seven who landed his third race in-a-row when victorious in the Woodlands House Hotel Handicap Hurdle at last Sunday’s Super Sunday meeting in Tipperary.
Sent off the well-backed 9/4 favourite, the son of Milan, who races in he colours of leading owner, JP Manus had the visiting 15-time British champion jockey, Tony McCoy on his back and the duo landed the spoils with the minimum of fuss.
A Sligo maiden hurdle winner last season, Double Seven has come back in great form and, following wins over flights at Tipperary and the Galway Festival, he returned to the Limerick Junction track in search of further glory.
McCoy was cool aboard the favourite allowing the six-year-old settle in the early stages before producing him to challenge in between the final two flights. Once safely over the last, Double Seven really began to motor and, with McCoy getting down to work on the market leader, he stuck his neck out gamely to beat runner-up Mubrook by a length and a half.
Newmarket-on-Fergus native, Brassil is based at Dunmurray, County Kildare where he trains a string of 20 horses and he was quite pleased by Double Seven’s display.
“They went no pace early on and it turned into a bit of a sprint at the end. I was worried about the conditions coming here today after all the rain but I met Barry Geraghty, he said it was just soft ground and my horse handled it well. He’s tough and seems to be taking his races well.”
Whatever Double Seven achieves over hurdles is a bonus as his long-term future will surely be over fences. He has the scope and ability to develop into a leading staying chaser and is a name to bear in mind as his career unfolds in the seasons ahead.
One of the most impressive performances at Tipperary on Sunday came from Edward O’Grady’s The Real Article who landed quite a punt (5/1 to 11/4F) in the two-mile Grade 2 Friends Of Tipperary Hurdle.
The subject of much controversy when narrowly defeated by Captain Cee Bee over course and distance in July prior to running fourth to Moon Dice in the Galway Hurdle at Ballybrit, The Real Article showed his true colours on this occasion when powering clear in the closing stages under Barry Geraghty to beat Shark Hanlon’s Luska Lad by eight lengths.
The winner is a classy sort and O’Grady was full of praise for his charge in his post-race comments. 
“He was a sick horse back in the spring and I’m delighted with today’s success,” said the Thurles handler.  “I had decided last night not to run him but I walked the track early this morning and was pleasantly surprised so I opted let him take his chance. He’s improving all the time and we’ll take on the good novices in another Grade 2 at Down Royal early next month with him now.”
Favourite backers were also on the mark in the Grade 3 Dolores Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle where 4/5 favourite Tavern Times (from 11/10) scored for Tom Mullins and Davy Russell.
Settled last of the five runners in the early stages, Tavern Times improved to lead off the home turn and the son of Presenting made no mistake when sauntering to a 17-length verdict over 20/1 outsider Bleakfield Lady.
National Hunt fans were eagerly awaiting the fencing debut of Mouse Morris’ Cheltenham Festival winner, First Lieutenant in the Like A Butterfly Novice Chase and the odds-on favourite didn’t let his fans down when claiming a debut success over the major obstacles.
The second leg of a double for jockey, Davy Russell, First Lieutenant (8/15) was workmanlike rather than spectacular yet he got the job done with the minimum of fuss when forging clear following a slight peck at the final fence to beat main market rival Slievedaragh by a length and three-quarters.
Derek O’Connor was a busy man on Sunday when, having ridden in the first three races at the Westmeath Hunt point-to-point fixture at Castletown-Geoghegan – where he won the opener aboard Wilson Dennison’s 4/1 shot Ballymoat for trainer Colin McKeever – he dashed to Tipperary to ride St Gervais in the concluding winners’ bumper.
Unfortunately, the Tubber rider was out of luck aboard John Kiely’s 4/5 favourite who could manage only fifth behind the Linzi Dowdall-Blake ridden filly, Shu Lewis, who made it three wins from three starts when denying second-placed Maller Tree by three-quarters of a length.

Fortunate success for champion Sizing

REIGNING Queen Mother Champion chaser Sizing Europe made a winning return to action at Gowran on Saturday but the Ann and Alan Potts-owned nine-year-old had luck on his side when gifted the PricewatherhouseCoopers Champion Chase.
Five went to post in this Grade 2 two and a half-mile contest, which only went ahead when the Kilkenny track survived an early morning inspection.
Heavy rain over the previous 24 hours meant the going was testing but Rubi Light didn’t seem to mind the conditions when bowling along up front under Davy Russell.
Turning into the home straight, Rubi Light had the race at his mercy only for Robbie Hennessy’s charge to crash out at the final fence when home and hosed.
Rubi Light’s departure left the chasing Sizing Europe in front and Andrew Lynch’s mount took full advantage when running on well to beat the never-nearer Coolcashin by a length and a half.
This was a really fortunate success for Henry De Bromhead’s even-money favourite but they all count and his connections won’t be complaining, having picked up a winner’s cheque of over €25,000. Where Sizing Europe will appear next has not been confirmed, but the J.N Wine Chase at Down Royal early next month is a strong possibility.
Interestingly, Ruby Light was remounted by Davy Russell to finish a remote third. The practice of remounting horses has been banned in England but the rule does not apply here and Russell’s actions meant the six-year-old was able to claim the four grand on offer for third as a consolation.
The major jumping action this weekend centres on Limerick Racecourse on Sunday where their biggest meeting of the year, Ladbrokes Munster National Day, is set to attract a huge crowd.
This three-mile €80,000 test has been won some very good horses in the past and this year’s renewal has attracted more of the same.  Michael Winters’ highly-regarded mare For Bill looks to carry top weight and, having finished well when runner-up to Finger On The Pulse at Listowel recently, she will be fancied.
Adrian Maguire won this race 12 months ago with Golden Kite who also features among the 26 entries while Bideford Legend from the Charles Byrnes stable – who only found Alfa Beat too good when runner-up in the recent Kerry National – is another strong contender.