Search
Cheltenham 2024
- Main Site
- Cheltenham Home
- Cheltenham Cards
- Cheltenham Results
- Cheltenham Offers
- Cheltenham Odds
- Cheltenham Tips
- Cheltenham News
- Prestbury Cup
- Cheltenham Videos
-
Cheltenham Statistics
- Leading Trainer
- Leading Jockeys
- Leading Owners
- Previous Years
- Previous Appearances
- Breeding Profile of Winners
- Lady Jockeys at The Festival
- Leading Jockey Award Winners
- Most Successful Jockeys of All Time
- Current Jockeys Competing at Cheltenham
- Most Successful Jockey In..
- Leading Trainer Award Winners
- Most Successfull Trainer All Time
- Current Trainers Competing at Cheltenham
- Most Successful Trainer In..
- Cheltenham Trainer/Runner Index
- Desktop Site
Cheltenham 2024
- Home
- News
Donal Murphy
Impound shows great battling qualities
Impound (leading) under Pat Smullen gets the better of Hall Of Mirrors in the first at Killarney
© Photo Healy Racing
After narrowly failing to run down Sugar Boy at Galway last time out, Impound got it right today as he out battled Hall Of Mirrors to take the first at Killarney, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF 2yo Maiden.
Trained by Dermot Weld and ridden by Pat Smullen, the son of Oasis Dream opened at 15/8 on track and touched 2/1 before being returned the 15/8 second favourite.
Hall Of Mirrors (wearing cheekpieces for the first time) for Aidan & Joseph O’Brien was as big as evens this morning with Paddy Powers before he was backed into 4/6 favourite at the off.
Impound was always prominent and was third at the halfway stage. He moved into second and was ridden to challenge as they entered the straight.
He hit the front two furlongs out but was soon strongly pressed by the odds-on favourite, Hall Of Mirrors.
However he pulled out more when challenged and stayed on well inside the final furlong to assert with 100 yards to go and win by half a length at the line.
Hall Of Mirrors had to settle for second while the David Wachman trained newcomer Orator ran a fine race on his debut to finish a further two and a half lengths back in third at 8/1 under Wayne Lordan.
Kris Weld, son of winning trainer Dermot Weld, said afterwards: "That's as strong a drive as you will see.
"He had the form in the book and he might come back to the Kingdom later in the month for a Nursery at Listowel."
Kevin Manning reported that his saddle slipped after two furlongs aboard the Jim Bolger trained newcomer Mac Lir
The 16/1 shot was eventually pulled up in the early straight.
(On-course reporting by Alan Magee)