Wood is full of Heart to deliver O’Driscoll Whiskey Chase gold
Heart Wood under Darragh O'Keeffe jumps the last before going onto win the O'Driscoll's Irish Whiskey New Year's Day Chase at Tramore. Photo: Noel Browne
A huge New Year's Day attendance enjoyed some competitive fare, and the many locals present were not disappointed as Butlerstown trainer Henry De Bromhead sent out the winner of the featured Grade 3 chase, with Heart Wood the 2/1 joint favourite, taking control of matters from an early stage before motoring clear for a facile success. In front after jumping the first fence, the Darragh O Keeffe partnered ‘Heart’ showed the way throughout to both Croke Park and Champ Kiely. Ile Atlantique crept into contention with half a mile to go, but ‘Heart’ was gone beyond recall at that stage, easing his way clear for a comfortable eight and a half lengths defeat of ‘Ile’. Should ‘Heart’ go on to win any race at the Cheltenham Festival in March, he will earn his connections an additional €50,000 in bonus prizemoney.
The winning trainer-jockey combination of the showcase race went on to record a double when previous course and distance winner, 13/8 shot Captain Ryan Matt, ran out a clear-cut winner of the second contest. When his nearest market rival, Kentucky Beach, ran off the bend past the stands with a circuit to go, the ‘Captain’ was given the order to head for home from Jupiter Du Gite. In a one-sided affair, thereafter, ‘Captain’ cruised to a thirteen-length victory over Beautiful Chaos, who came from off the pace to fill the runner-up position. After refusing to line up for the second race in three months, the stewards slapped a 30-day ban on the Anthony McCann-trained Luminous Light.
In truth, only two runners counted from the start, namely Stede Bonnet 100/30 and the well-supported 4/9 favourite Arslan. They interchanged the lead on more than one occasion, but the Gordon Elliott-trained and Danny Gilligan-partnered ‘Stede’ gradually gained the upper hand. Staying on strongly inside the final quarter mile, ‘Stede’ drew clear over the final flight, eventually proving four and three-quarters lengths good enough for Arslan.
In-form trainer Gordon Elliott and pilot Danny Gilligan recoded a quick double courtesy of 3/1 shot American Jukebox. ‘American’ (jumped carefully) and Did I Ask You That locked horns up front from the drop of the flag ahead of Pookie Holler. ‘American’ gradually got the better of a tiring ‘Did’ and while ‘Pookie’ stayed on into the runner-up spot, American’ sprinted clear up the home stretch, eventually passing the winning post nineteen lengths clear of ‘Pookie’.
Two grey mares, namely Pebble Blue and Lady Nightengale, held the call up front here from Maciver and Aclass. As this race progressed, the leaders began to tire; however, as the 17/2 chance, Roccabaker, who raced in midfield early doors, began to haul herself into contention. Ridden by Cian Quirke and trained by Harry Kelly, Roccabaker struck the front on the run to the final hurdle, and while the always prominent Maciver kept going well to finish second, Roccabaker (8) crossed the winning line five lengths clear of Maciver.
Little Mixup, after losing her early pitch, tipped up at the fourth fence, and as a result, Blue Hop, the 2/1 market leader, was badly hampered. Eye Of A Tiger crashed out three fences from home, causing Cowper Hall to lose his rider. The Philip Rothwell-trained Rockbrook 17/2 was in the vanguard throughout and did well to see off the persistent Butter Fingers, who was later found to have burst a blood vessel. The eventual runner-up Cappucino looked a big danger between the final two fences, but the Shane O Callaghan (claims a valuable 5 pounds) ridden Rockbrook stayed on dourly for a three-quarters of a length win over Cappucino with Blue Hop back in third.
Leading jump jockey Darragh O Keeffe (recording a treble) crowned a great afternoon, taking the lucky last on board a 7/2 chance Ag Obair Go Crua. When a prominent pair of Mahler Appeal and Game And Glory fell independently, Toor Moon, Ag Obair Go Crua, Nolans Rocco and Volez Vous were left to do battle up front. Trained in Tramore by John Flavin, Ag eventually got the better of those rivals. Duffy's Hodey, the 2/1 market leader, gradually crept into contention, but a stumble on the run to the penultimate fence did not aid his cause. In an exciting finish, ‘Ag’ kept on stoutly for a length victory over ‘Dufffys’
