2 weeks Ago By Irishexaminer.com
Three days of action in Galway begin on Saturday afternoon and Will Do gets the nap to get off the mark over fences by taking the SANSERV Rated Novice Chase. On his chasing debut, earlier this month over this course and distance, he attempted to make all the running but, in the finish, had to settle for third place behind The Other Mozzie, who reopposes. At the time, most of Gordon Elliott’s winter horses were looking as though they were badly in need of a run, and that appeared to be the case with this fellow.
Given his two wins over hurdles were over a minimum of 23 furlongs and his bumper success was over 19 furlongs, he should have been running hard through the line over the two-mile-two trip, but that wasn’t the case. With the run under his belt and the softer ground also a positive for the seven-year-old, who will have bigger targets later in the season, he can reverse recent form with The Other Mozzie, with the 4lb swing in the weights just an added bonus. The potential fly in the ointment is Canal End, who was a 125-rated hurdler who promised so much more and could be ready to deliver it as a chaser.
That said, he is likely to be seen to better effect as the season progresses. Elliott has plenty of chances over the course of the long weekend and Sporting Glory, who makes his debut for the stable in the Corrib Oil Maiden Hurdle, can be another winner for the trainer. The now eight-year-old made his debut in late 2023 and after a good effort there he pushed his now stablemate Romeo Coolio to little more than a length.
He got his due reward third time up, and then ran a superb race when fourth in a Grade Two won by Mirazur West. At this stage of his career, he doesn’t have much time to waste, and he can get off the mark first time up over hurdles by accounting for a field which includes promising sorts Addragoole and Bridie’s Beau. On Sunday in Galway, Elliott can continue his good run for the weekend by taking the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners’ Chase with Search For Glory.
Last season, he won three times over hurdles, including starting off with a wide-margin victory, at long odds-on, in a maiden at this meeting. He subsequently added two Grade Three victories from his next three starts and should have little trouble reaching a similar level as a chaser. This is a reasonable race to start off in, but he will relish conditions and can make a winning debut over fences.
Mozzies Sister can get straight back to winning ways by taking the opener, a mares’ maiden hurdle. Winner of a point-to-point and two bumpers, she appeared to have been left with plenty to do when runner-up in a listed bumper on her most recent start, but this looks like a good opportunity for her to make a winning start over timber. Declan Queally’s five-year-old will appreciate conditions and is preferred to Fillusin and Half Past Tipsy.
In Wexford, the thus-far frustrating Jasko Des Dames has been found a great opportunity for his chasing debut, in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners’ Chase, while Ballybawn Belter has shown plenty of promise in three outings to date over fences and is of most interest in the Jim And Kay Whitty Memorial Handicap Chase. Aurora Vega will be a short price to take the winners of one Mares’ Hurdle, while Working Away, who won a point-to-point in 2022 and subsequently sold for £330,000, is the most interesting runner in the finale, a mares’ bumper. GALWAY (Saturday) Selections 1:53 Dahab 2:28 Kish Bank 3:03 Sporting Glory (nb) 3:38 Will Do (nap) 4:13 Hgranca De Thaix 4:45 Mahler Appeal 5:18 Gaoithe Glory Next best 1:53 Moutarde 2:28 Arctic Gale 3:03 Addragoole 3:38 Canal End 4:13 Iceberg Theory 4:45 Meehall 5:18 That Danny Feeling GALWAY (Sunday) Selections 12:55 Mozzies Sister (nb) 1:30 Search For Glory (nap) 2:05 Ask Anything 2:35 Doonbeg Don 3:08 Prends Garde A Toi 3:43 I Am Lorenzo 4:13 Koori Star 4:43 Al Arrivee Next best 12:55 Fillusin 1:30 Sa Majeste 2:05 My Immortal 2:35 Pipers Boreen 3:08 Fenway Park 3:43 Beau Walking 4:13 Wajaaha 4:43 Kabylia WEXFORD (Sunday) Selections 1:07 Jasko Des Dames 1:42 Ballybawn Belter 2:17 Taponthego 2:50 Rue Taylor 3:25 Aurora Vega 4:00 Inthenickoftime 4:33 Working Away Next best 1:07 An Peann Dearg 1:42 Walnut Beach 2:17 Fleur In The Park 2:50 Paul Collins 3:25 We Got This 4:00 Duke Silver 4:33 Glens Lullaby.
