Fortune favours the brave and that certainly was the case at Cork on Sunday where 11/2 shot Raz De Maree continued the good run of trainer, Dessie Hughes with a fortuitous success in the Paddy Power Cork Grand National.

Successful in the Munster National at Limerick last month, Raz De Maree appeared to have it all to do under regular partner Bryan Cooper in second as former point-to-pointer Outlaw Pete led on the approach to the final fence.

A few strides from that obstacle, however, the Alan Crowe-ridden Outlaw Pete ducked out to his right going out through the wing and out of the race leaving Raz De Maree with the simplest of tasks as he strode to a nine-length win over runner-up Bundle Of Fun.

Hughes, who was saddling his eighth winner in 14 days, said, “I don’t know if he (Raz De Maree) would have won, he was probably struggling to pass the other horse but we won’t be giving it back now.

“Bryan gave him a fantastic ride again today and even though he is only a handy horse he’s a fabulous jumper. The Beecher Chase at Aintree is his next target and I think he’ll jump around those Aintree fences no problem at all,” added the in-form Hughes.

Mouse Morris is also enjoying a purple patch and his Bailey Green completed a rare feat when landing his seventh race in a row in the Paddy Power Text 51465 EBF Novice Chase.

Sent off 5/4 second favourite, Baily Green never gave his followers a moment’s concern as David Casey’s mount jumped for fun en-route to a one and a half-length win over 11/10 favourite Toffino Bay.

The successful son of King’s Theatre started his winning run at Roscommon back in May and Casey has been on board the six-year-old for all seven victories.

“I had his hind shoes off and he was out in a field after he won the last day, but he was knocking down the door so I brought him back in,” said Fethard, Tipperary-based Morris.

“He’ll let me know when he needs a break and he could run in a Grade 3 at Punchestown over two miles in a couple of weeks time. I won’t overdo it with him as he done so much already and it’s a great achievement to win seven races in a row,” concluded Morris.

The opening Paddy Power Mobile Betting three-year-old hurdle threw up a good winner in the shape of odds-on favourite Brog Deas (2/5) who proved much too strong for his six rivals.

Andrew McNamara did the steering aboard Brog Deas who, despite an untidy leap at the second last flight, had way too much in the tank for the opposition when quickening up impressively to beat Austin Leahy’s Danequest by a length and three-quarters.

The winner is owned by Ballinruan, Crusheen native, Michael John Hanrahan, who ran a successful shoe shop in Carlow (hence the name Brog Deas) until his retirement a few years ago. Victorious trainer, Pat Flynn indicated that the successful youngster will now be aimed at the high profile Christmas meeting at Leopardstown.

Sent to the front from flag fall by jockey Andrew Lynch, the well-backed Our Vinnie (9/4 from a morning price of 4/1) appeared to be in a spot of bother when headed by Rule The World in the home straight, but the son of Vinnie Roe was in determined mood as he stuck his neck out in game fashion to get back up to beat that rival by a head in a driving finish.

Byrnes, whose operation is based in Ballingarry, Limerick, mentioned in his post-race musings that Our Vinnie’s long-term target is the Albert Bartlett Hurdle at next March’s Cheltenham Festival.

On the point-to-point front, last weekend’s sole fixture was the Kilkenny Foxhounds meeting at Thomastown, Kilkenny. Tubber jockey Derek O’Connor took his tally for the season to seven following his success aboard Serious Mixture in the first division of the opening five-year-old maiden.

The 5/1 shot made all the running under a well-judged O’Connor ride coming home five lengths to the good over the John Thomas McNamara-ridden, Brian Hassett-trained runner-up Bravehearted Harry.

Pat Doyle trains the winner at his Holycross, County Tipperary yard for his wife Mary and the son of Fair Mix is now likely to be among the Wildcards for the Brightwells Sale at Cheltenham later this month.

 

Another Kauto scores at Down Royal

Last week Paul Nicholls announced the retirement of the wonderful Kauto Star after a star-studded career that saw Clive Smith’s chaser thrill jump followers everywhere.

Purchased from France where he won a Grade 3 over hurdles as a three-year-old, Kauto Star went on to be real hero as he did Nicholls and regular partner Ruby Walsh proud with a string of big-race successes that included two Cheltenham Gold Cups (2007& 2009), five King George V1 Chases and four Betfair Gold Cups.

Kauto Star also won the JN wine.com chase at Down Royal on two occasions and last Saturday another Kauto emerged as his half-brother Kauto Stone took the big-race for Nicholls at the northern venue.

While unlikely to emulate the feats of his more revered sibling, Kauto Stone showed he is no mug himself when, under a good ride from Wexford-born Darryl Jacob, he came home with a storming run to get the better of Gigginstown House runner First Lieutenant by a length.

Kauto Stone won a Grade 2 chase on the corresponding card 12 months earlier and showed on Saturday that he has matured over the summer and seemed to get the trip well on what was his first start over three miles.

Colm Muphy’s Quito De La Roque went off 2/1 favourite following the withdrawal of Henry De Bromhead’s Sizing Europe due to the soft ground and he stayed on one-paced for third with Noel Meade’s Realt Dubh just edging out Joncol for fourth.

Nicholls and Jacob had further cause for celebration when they joined forces to take the following Grade 2 €50,000 Ladbrokes Chase with 2/1 shot Cristal Bonus.

Like Kauto Stone, Cristal Bonus races in the silks of UK owner Robert Jeffen and the cross-channel raiders had a day to savour at the six-year-old powered clear from two out to beat runner-up Jacksons Lady by nine lengths.

Tony Martin’s Bog Warrior went off 11/10 favourite here but, having assumed his customary front-running role, the Gigginstown House runner was well held in second when shipping a crashing fall at the final fence.