Down Royal win for Miss Mary Mac

CRATLOE trainer Declan McNamara continued his recent rich vein of form at Down Royal last Friday evening where his smart mare, Miss Mary Mac, made a winning debut over fences when registering an impressive victory in the two-and-a-half-mile Beginners’ Chase.
A dual point-to-point winner, Miss Mary Mac, who also won two bumpers, a maiden hurdle and a handicap hurdle prior to Friday, found favour at 10/1 in the morning before going off at an SP of 7/1 and she justified that support when making no mistake with a promising display.
Wexford jockey, John Cullen was on board the daughter of Dushyantor, who hit the front two out with the seven-year-old running on best in the closing stages to beat runner-up Hazeymm by 13 lengths.
Commenting on his mare’s success, a delighted McNamara said, “She’s a very good mare and the fact that she’s owned by my father, Sean, made it all the sweeter. Having won two point-to-points we knew she jumped well and the race was run at a fast pace, which suited her as she’s a good stayer. She’ll probably get a good whack from the handicapper for this win, so we’ll keep her to the novice route for now.  There’s a winners of one at Limerick in a fortnight’s time, which looks suitable.”
McNamara was hoping for a quick double when his stable star Mossey Joe lined up in the following Galway Plate Trial at the northern venue but this was not to be as the talented eight-year-old lost his unbeaten tag over the larger obstacles in dramatic fashion.
Barry Geraghty, who partnered the son of Moscow Society to his two previous chase wins at Killarney and Cork, was again on board the 151-rated chaser who, not surprisingly, went to post a well-backed 11/10 favourite to complete his hat-trick.
Keen in the early part of the race, Geraghty allowed his mount stride on after jumping the third fence and the duo were all off 15 lengths clear at one point. Heading towards the third-last fence, Mossey Joe’s advantage was about six lengths but things changed very quickly here at the market leader, who didn’t jump this obstacle with his usual fluency, seemed to sprawl on landing, thus forfeiting a huge amount of ground.
With all chance of winning now gone, Geraghty stood up in the irons, allowing Mossey Joe freewheel home before eventually filling fifth behind the JP McManus-owned winner, Harold’s Cross.
While one can never be sure of how the final stages of the race will pan out, McNamara was philosophical about his charge’s bad fortune.
“That racing for you,” said the popular Cratloe handler. “Barry (Geragty) said he was just giving the horse a breather and seemed sure he had plenty left in the tank. He sprawled on landing, losing his momentum in the process and that was that.”
Looking further down the road, McNamara is confident his Willie Clifford-owned chaser will be a major force in all the big races next winter. “We’ll give Mossey Joe a good break now and bring him back for all the better novice races next term. Thankfully, he has gained quite a nice bit of experience over fences, which was the object of the exercise and the Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse will be his major early season target.”

Derby weekend at headquarters
THE Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby heads up a terrific three days of racing at the Curragh this weekend with the Queen’s Carlton House looking set to go off favourite for Sunday’s showpiece, should he make the final line-up.
Third behind Frankel at Epsom earlier this month, Sir Michael Stoute’s charge is said to have sparkled in a piece of work at Newmarket last Saturday morning and while his presence at the Kildare venue would definitely add colour to proceedings, he is still not a certain runner.
If he travels over, Carlton House is sure to meet with strong resistance from Aidan O’Brien’s powerful team. The Ballydoyle maestro was crowned leading trainer at last week’s Royal Ascot meeting following a hugely successful week that included a memorable victory for the gambled-on Fame And Glory in the Gold Cup. He is likely to have three runners in Sunday’s classic, headed by Epsom runner-up Treasure Beach.
This fellow ran a blinder on that occasion when making most of the running under Colm O’Donoghue and was just mugged on the line when pipped by the last-gasp effort of French raider, Pour Moi.
Memphis Tennessee also ran well at Epsom where, despite being a 20/1 shot, he was in thick of things until fading close to home to fill fourth. Seville, who finished tenth at Epsom, is also likely to go to post while Recital, on whom Pat Smullen deputised for the grounded Kieren Fallon, will miss Sunday’s race.
Native Khan was the subject of much controversy prior to his run at Epsom where he could manage no better than fifth and he is also a likely runner, while Kevin Prendergast’s Dunboyne Express could prove a lively outsider.
Paddy Power: 7-4 Carlton House, 7-2 Treasure Beach, 4 Recital, 10 Native Khan, Seville, 12 Memphis Tennessee, 20 Dunboyne Express and 25 Notable Graduate.

French Champion Hurdle success for Walsh and Mullins
IT may well be the middle of the flat season but top national hunt trainer Willie Mullins is not resting on his laurels as he showed when sending his Thousand Stars over to land the French Champion Hurdle at Auteuil last Saturday.
Ruby Walsh took over the reins on the seven-year-old from his sister Katie, who finished fourth on Mourad, in this three-mile, one-furlong test and the Kildare rider produced his mount with expert timing when pouncing late to land the prize.
Held up in the early stages, Thousand Stars, who races in the silks of the Hammer And Trowel syndicate from Clane, made steady progress approaching the final flight with the consistent grey overtaking leader Bel La Vie with 150 yards to run en route to a snug victory.
Without a victory since his 2010 success in Cheltenham’s Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle, Thousand Stars had been placed at Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown this season, a fact reflected upon by Walsh, who stated, “The horse deserved it. His form all season with Hurricane Fly was top drawer and I’m thrilled he’s won.”