Praise for Kilmaley’s O’Brien following bumper success

Kilmaley native, Richard O’Brien, came in for lavish praise following the success of Paul Nolan’s well-fancied newcomer, Cut The Rope (5/1), in the concluding four-year-old bumper at Naas on Sunday.
O’Brien is a very successful trainer based in Ballingarry, County Limerick and it was on his advice that the Nolan camp purchased Cut The Rope, before he made his racecourse debut at the Kildare track.
Cork jockey Eoin O’Brien did the steering aboard the son of Sea The Stars, who jumped off in front. Turning for home the pair still held the call and, quickening smartly off what was a strong enough pace, Cut The Rope held off the late effort of Gordon Elliott’s 7/4 favourite Ankud by two lengths.
The first two home look decent and it was a good sign that they pulled half-a-dozen lengths clear of third-placed Cappucino.
James Nolan, representing his brother Paul, remarked: “We cannot take much of the credit for this, it must go to Richard O’Brien. He recommended this horse to us and we bought him after we saw him do a bit of work.
“Richard won this race 12 months ago (Impulsive Dancer, now with Willie Mullins) and he told us about that horse, but we didn’t act in time and Willie bought him. We weren’t going to make the same mistake twice!
“He’s a lovely, relaxed horse. Richard did a great job with him. He’s trained him basically and he’s not long in our place. Richard is a very straight fella and a lovely man to deal with.
“Normally, Barry O’Neill would ride our bumper horses, but it was part of our deal with Richard that Eoin would ride this fella. He gave him a superb ride and dictated things from the front. We’ve no major plan for this horse, a Listed bumper at Limerick might suit next.”

Mullins in red-hot form

Champion trainer Willie Mullins has an unbelievable army of talent at his disposal.
Having dominated the recent Festive period – the Closutton maestro bagged three winners in Naas on Sunday, including the first Grade 1 of 2023 with Champ Kiely in the Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle.
It can be difficult for punters at times when Mullins is doubly, or even triply represented in big races and that was the case on Sunday as the apparent “second string” Champ Kiely made all under Danny Mullins.
Paul Townend had opted to ride 15/8 favourite Grangeclare West, but Champ Kiely was by no means ignored either, with the ex-Pat Doyle in-mate finding 100/30 from an earlier show of 7/1.
The ground was soft, but that mattered little to Mullins’ mount who stuck tenaciously to his task to beat Irish Point by two-and-a-half-lengths.
This particular race has been a good Cheltenham Festival yardstick in the past and Champ Kiely’s odds for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle have tightened as a result.
On the other hand, Grangeclare West was a big disappointment. He never seemed to travel with his usual fluency (finished fifth) and was a beaten docket from the home turn. He was later found to be coughing.
While Townend could only watch on as Champ Kiely did the business, he did manage a pair of short-priced winners for his absent boss.
The Corkman took the Rathmore Stud Irish EBF Novice Chase aboard classy 1/8 shot Appreciate It and quickly followed up in two-mile maiden hurdle where Hunter’s Yarn (1/4 favourite) continued the great run of owners’ Issac Souede and Simon Munir with a facile 13-length win.
Meanwhile, Peter Molony has stated that it is “highly likely” the only race Honeysuckle will run in at this year’s Cheltenham Festival is the Champion Hurdle.
Henry De Bromhead had suggested after his wonder-mare lost her 16-time unbeaten run in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse in November that the Mares’ Hurdle at the Cotswolds Festival might be an option, but that now appears unlikely.
Speaking after the victory of Tellmesomethingirl – who races in the same Kenny Alexander colours as Honeysuckle – in Naas’ opening Mares’ Chase, Alexander’s racing manager stated: “Kenny has always said that Honeysuckle owes us nothing and if she’s not running to her full potential, we’ll retire her.
“She will get an entry in the Mares Hurdle, because you always have to keep your options open, but is very unlikely she’ll run in it. No decision will be made until after the Irish Champion Hurdle at next month’s Dublin Racing Festival. We are very happy with Honeysuckle at the moment,” he added.

Cruel blow as Kennedy sidelined again

Top jockey, Jack Kennedy, is set for yet another spell on the sidelines having broken his leg in a horror fall at Naas on Sunday.
A star pony rider, Dingle-born Kennedy is just 23 years old, yet has already become a household name in jump racing circles due to his unbelievable talent.
It hasn’t been easy for the softly-spoken Kerryman who has worked his way up to being number-one in Gordon Elliott’s powerful Cullentra House operation.
Kennedy has been dogged with injury over the past few seasons – but it appeared as if he had finally turned a corner this season, banging in winners left, right and centre.
Unfortunately, things came to a shuddering halt for him when his mount, Top Bandit, took a fatal fall at the fourth fence in the Rathmore Stud Irish EBF Novice Chase.
Kennedy was removed to nearby Naas Hospital before being transferred to Tallaght Hospital where it was later confirmed he had suffered a broken tibia and fibula in his lower right-leg. It’s the fifth time in his short career that the luckless Kennedy has suffered such an injury.
Earlier this week, his boss, Gordon Elliott, issued an update, saying: “It’s unfortunate for Jack, but hopefully it’s not as bad as first feared. He’s going to see a surgeon on Friday and, obviously, we’ll know more then. I’d be hopeful he’ll be back for Cheltenham, but let’s see how Friday goes first.
“Jack is a huge part of our team in Cullentra and he was in Naas on Monday morning with us to see some of our younger horses working. We have some great young riders like Jordan Gainford and Sam Ewing, who have big futures ahead of them. Jack is a serious role model for those lads.”