Gordon Elliott firmly pressed home his status as Irish jump racing’s rising force by saddling the winners of six of the seven races at Navan on Sunday – but it could be the event that eluded him which has as much significance in the fight to be top dog in Ireland’s training ranks.
Elliott took the day’s main prize, the Troytown Chase, with the 12-1 shot Empire Of Dirt and it increased his already clear advantage in the Turf Club’s trainers’ championship. One bookmaker cut his title odds from 2-1 to 6-4 and eased Willie Mullins, the multiple holder, from 1-3 to 1-2. “I’ve had seven winners in a day before, between Bellewstown and Perth,” the Co Meath trainer said. “I can’t believe it. I’ll keep my feet on the ground and hopefully let the results do the talking.”
Mullins too, however, had a most satisfactory day thanks to Min, his Supreme Novices’ Hurdle runner-up, making a fine start to his career over fences in a beginners chase. Min won easily under Ruby Walsh and is around 9-2 for the Arkle Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival. “He jumped well and I’m really delighted with him,” Mullins said.
Sunday’s success by Min, who is owned by Rich and Susannah Ricci, means the Co Carlow trainer’s unleashing of more of the huge quality in his yard is looming closer. In the next few days, for example, he will decide which of his big guns he runs in Sunday’s Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse. Of the 26 entries Mullins is responsible for 12 – and they include the last two winners of the Champion Hurdle, Faugheen and Annie Power.
Two months ago Gigginstown Stud – owned by the Ryanair chief executive, Michael O’Leary – took 60 of its horses away from Mullins after a disagreement, reportedly over training fees. Many of the 60 were to switched to Elliott’s care. The continuing repercussions are certain to ensure a fascinating, competitive backstory to the big meetings in Ireland as well as Britain in the coming months. The unexcitable reputations of the main protagonists will be fully tested.
Also entering the Navan winners’ enclosure with Empire Of Dirt was Brelade (11-1), Death Duty (11-10), Bull Ride (7-1), Jury Duty (5-1) and Three Swallowsnick (13-8). The six-timer paid odds of more than 41,275-1, though it should be noted that Elliott ran 25 horses at the meeting.
At Leicester on Sunday the track’s stewards took a dim view of Chieftain’s Choice’s running following his fifth-place finish in the final race on the card. They found his connections guilty of schooling the horse on the racecourse.
The Kevin Frost-trained gelding made his first appearance since May in the Waltham-on-the-Wolds Handicap Hurdle and was a 20-1 shot in the hands of Trevor Whelan. An inquiry was held into the running and riding of the seven-year-old after he stayed on “under apparent tender handling”, according to the stewards’ report.
Whelan stated his instructions were to drop in last and get the gelding to finish its race off as it was finishing weakly under front-running tactics in previous starts. The rider added that the gelding had run too freely and began to “gurgle” at the fourth last hurdle. He also said he was conscious it was his mount’s first run since having a wind operation.
Frost confirmed these instructions and added that the gelding had had a hard season the previous campaign and after a break for a wind operation wanted to see Chieftain’s Choice settled and finishing its race.
Having heard evidence from the trainer and jockey, and viewed recordings of the race, the stewards suspended Whelan for 16 days (December 12-22 inclusive and December 26-29 inclusive), Frost was fined £3,500 and Chieftain’s Choice was suspended from running in any race for 40 days.
