RACING/FAIRYHOUSE REPORT:SPREAD BETTING on how many finishers there will be in today's Irish Grand National could be interesting based on the evidence of Jadanli's 25 to 1 success in yesterday's Powers Gold Cup slog at Fairyhouse.
Just three of the 10 runners in the €100,000 Grade One feature managed to cross the line and the favourite, Shakervilz, needed to be re-mounted to finish third after unseating Ruby Walsh at the last.
More evidence of the gruelling nature of the race was littered around the last fence with Roberto Goldback taking some time to get to his feet after falling, and Let Yourself Go, who had set a cut-throat gallop on the heavy ground, pulled up exhausted on the take-off side.
The third last fence had earlier claimed the error-prone Zaarito who looked to be in control in the lead when crashing out.
However, it was Jadanli who kept going best to maintain a purple patch of success for his jockey Andrew Lynch and Craughwell, Co Galway trainer Paul Gilligan.
Both men combined for a Cheltenham Festival success with Bertie’s Dream last month but yesterday’s Grade One resonated for Gilligan on any number of levels.
“Eric McNamara told me a Cheltenham winner is like a hundred other winners but this is one is hard to believe. This is a family horse who had two years off with leg problems so to come back and win a race like this crowns everything,” he said.
Jadanli is named after three of Gilligan’s children – Jack, Danny and Liam – and is owned by his father, Eamon. “There’s been another child since, Ollie, so we might have to change it!” Gilligan said with a grin. “We were thinking of the Irish National but left him for this. He’ll go for the three-mile novice at Punchestown next and the aim will be the Irish National next year.”
Zaarito’s fall was his fourth in seven starts this season and his trainer Colm Murphy said: “He hadn’t put a foot wrong up to then so it is a little frustrating. But he got up alright and someday everything will go right for him.”
Everything did go right for Murphy in the following €60,000 novice handicap hurdle final as Quito De La Roque thrived on the desperately tiring conditions to overhaul Ad Idem and win in a time 72 seconds slower than the 2009 renewal. “He got his conditions, three miles and the softer the ground, the better. He’s a half-brother to Kazal so really wants about five miles,” Murphy said. “He’s a big baby with a lot of growing up to do but he could be pretty good. That was a fair performance in his first handicap.”
Quito De La Roque’s victory completed a 99 to 1 treble for jockey Davy Russell who had earlier conjured a renewed effort from Luska Lad to overhaul Blackstairmountain in the Grade Two Rathbarry and Glenview Novice Hurdle. “He battles forever, a real hero,” summed up Luska Lad’s trainer “Shark” Hanlon.
“The ground was unreal and I think he will be better on good going. He won’t go to Liverpool after a hard race like that and we’ll aim at Punchestown, I’d say for the two mile novice.”
Russell, who picked up a one day whip ban on Luska Lad, partnered For Bill to a popular win in the Grade Three mares hurdle as she comprehensively reversed Limerick form with the favourite Morning Supreme over the longer distance. For Bill races in the colours of retired Killarney pharmacist Donie Sheahan, a selector of the 1975 All-Ireland-winning Kerry football team, who will celebrate his 84th birthday later in the month.
“That was my All-Ireland today, and it was as good as Kerry winning!” Sheahan said.
“She will be some mare to go chasing with.”
It could have been an even better day for Russell as he was right in contention on Annual Report in the Beginners Chase when he and his big danger, Fort George, as well as Another Flutter, all crashed out at the second last fence.
It was left to Noble Concorde to take advantage for trainer Jim Culloty while the joint-favourite, Our Girl Salley, proved too good for her opposition in the bumper.
Easter figures
FAIRYHOUSE’S Easter Sunday fixture attracted a crowd of 6,449, a drop of 700 on last year’s figure.
Tote turnover was slightly up from last year’s €227,649 to €230,387 but the bookmaker tally of €682,882 was a substantial drop from 2009’s total of €962,444.
