Irish Weekend Review: Surprises abound at Gowran and Navan

Ireland / Timeform / 20 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Irish action came from Gowran and Navan this weekend.

"Rubi Light was the star of the show at Gowran on Saturday and he duly landed his second Red Mills Trial Chase with the minimum of fuss..."

There were five Grade 2s in Ireland this weekend and they threw up a couple of surprise results...

Rubi Light (Timeform Rating 162) was the star of the show at Gowran on Saturday and he duly landed his second Red Mills Trial Chase with the minimum of fuss, in control a long way out and eventually beating Chicago Grey by sixteen lengths.

Robbie Hennessy's gelding only needed to run to the same level as when winning the John Durkan at Punchestown earlier in the season, so it was slightly surprising to see that he was cut from [8.0] to [6.6] for the Ryanair Chase at the Festival.

Those who like to get involved at short odds again had very few anxious moments in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle as the [1.27] shot Zaidpour (158) didn't need to be at his best to see off his five opponents, leading four out and not needing to come off the bridle to pull six and half lengths clear of a back-to-form Kalann (137).

Zaidpour did enough to suggest that he is still fully effective at this trip even though this could hardly be described as a strong race for the grade. He is still in both the Champion and the World Hurdles at Cheltenham but has plenty to find to be regarded a realistic contender in either so it would come as no surprise if he was kept fresh for Punchestown.

Things weren't quite so straightforward for punters over at Navan on Sunday, however. Willie Mullins did supply the winner of the Boyne Hurdle but it wasn't the one most people expected as Mourad (157) bounced back to his very best under a more positive ride than usual to eclipse the long odds-on Mikael d'Haguenet (148).

A most consistent sort, Mourad has already been well beaten by Big Buck's this season so it is difficult to see him bettering last season's third in the World Hurdle. It seems to be a case of back to the drawing board with Mikael d'Haguenet, however, as there seems little point in sending him to Cheltenham on the back of this rather laboured performance.

The was another mild surprise when Donnas Palm (137) improved a little on what he had previously shown over fences to land the Flyingbolt Novice Chase, thus extending his unbeaten record at this track to five. Refitted in blinkers, Donnas Palm needed every inch of the trip to wear down Foildubh (137) in the shadow of the post.

Noel Meade's charge isn't going to prove as good over fences as hurdles and could be difficult to place in the short term as he is unlikely to win a Grade 1 over fences. Nearest The Pin was sent off favourite here but, having trailed in last of the six runners, he was found to be lame post-race.

The biggest shock of the weekend, however, came in Ten Up Novice Chase where the unconsidered [204.0] shot Lion Na Bearnai (129) improved significantly on anything he had shown previously to see off a trio of Gigginstown Stud-owned representatives.

There didn't appear to be any fluke about it on the day though as, having taking over from long-time leader Berties Dream, Lion Na Bearnai battled back bravely after a mistake at the last to master the consistent Four Commanders (128) close home. Berties Dream was coming back for more when pecking badly at the last but it is difficult to say for definite where he would have finished.

Other notable winners over the weekend were Sizing Gold (100), who confirmed debut promise to land the bumper at Navan from another promising sort in Defy Logic (98), while Christy Roche introduced a really nice type in the shape of Ballynacree (122P) in the maiden hurdle at Gowran.

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Timeform ratings were in fine form at the weekend. Click HERE to see the top rated roll call, or click HERE to get race cards & ratings for today's meetings.