Annie Power
is likely to be the star attraction at Punchestown on
Wednesday and the scene could also be set for Gordon Elliott to secure a first century of National Hunt victories in Ireland, after a Navan double took the Co Meath trainer to 99 winners for the season.
A maiden century has been an ambition for Elliott for some time and both Automated and Nickname Exit took him to the brink with hurdle victories yesterday.
Elliott has five entries on Wednesday, including Water Sprite in the mares hurdle which, it has been confirmed, is likely to be Annie Power’s first start since last year’s Punchestown festival.
"I think she will run. She seems in good form and likes the track," Annie Power's trainer Willie Mullins said. "She worked nicely at the weekend."
It was Mullins who denied Elliott his century at Navan as Noble Endeavor came up five lengths short of Measureofmydreams in the Ten Up Novice Chase, after Automated and Nickname Exit had earlier hit the bullseye.
"Conditions suited him well, bottomless ground and a trip, so we'll try and find something similar for him," Elliott said after Bryan Cooper guided Nickname Exit to victory. Jack Kennedy was in the plate on Automated, who was six lengths too good for Stuccodor in the opening maiden.
Upbeat bulletin
Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown Stud enjoyed other Sunday victories with Measureofmydreams and Blow By Blow, and
Noel Meade
issued an upbeat bulletin on Road To Riches following his Irish
Gold Cup
defeat the previous week.
"He lost a few pounds after it but he seems OK and the plan is to go to Cheltenham with him," said Meade, although he couldn't confirm if Road To Riches will try to improve on his third in last season's Gold Cup or switch instead to the Ryanair Chase, sponsored by his owner.
First winner
Also at Navan, Eoin O’Connell rode his first winner as a professional, and a fifth overall, after guiding Admiral Brian, trained by his father, Eamonn O’Connell, to win the Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.
O’Connell senior said: “My horses haven’t been right and we’ve had to back off them. That’s my first runner since November, so hopefully it’s a good sign.”
In other news, jockey Danny Mullins faces a race to be fit for Cheltenham after damaging a knee-cap in a fall from Dicosimo in Saturday's Betfair Hurdle at Newbury. He was taken to hospital for a precautionary x-ray after the race.
"He's not as sore. They are worried there might be a little fracture on his kneecap, so he's going to see a specialist on Monday," said his agent Ken Whelan.
“He’s mobile. At the moment they reckon he could be back in three to four weeks maximum with a bit of rest. He will know more tomorrow. All being well, he’ll be back for Cheltenham,” he added.
Mullins hit the Grade 1 scoresheet for his uncle, Willie Mullins, when Footpad took the Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown this month.
