Russell grabs success with Mind's Eye

The Henry De Bromhead trained, Gigginstown House Stud owned Mind’s Eye (2/1cf) got the rub of the green when gaining a first win in the Christmas Parties At Fairyhouse Maiden Hurdle at Fairyhouse today, under a canny ride from jockey Davy Russell in an informative race.

The race featured the returning-from-injury Blow By Blow (2/1cf), winner of the Grade 1 Punchestown Champion Bumper in 2016, and while he ran with plenty credit when ultimately fading to finish third, the outcome of the race was decided in an in-running manoeurve between jockeys Russell and Paul Townend, on runner-up Quick Grabim approaching the second last flight.

Russell, on Mind’s Eye, made his challenge on the outer turning into the straight and held Townend on Quick Grabim (heavily backed from 9/2 this morning in to 2/1cf) into a pocket jumping the second last.

The manoeurve was ultimately the difference between the pair as Mind’s Eye went clear approaching the final flight. In the end held Quick Grabim's late challenge on the run-in, by half a length with Townend also dropping his whip in the closing stages.

Mind’s Eye, a son of Stowaway had finished second in each of his four previous starts, in a point to point, two bumpers and latterly in a Punchestown maiden hurdle last month but today, as a result of his winless spell, escaped without a winners’ penalty and received 8lbs from both runner-up Quick Grabim and Blow By Blow.

After the race, trainer De Bromhead stated “Davy gave him a super ride and he’s a horse we have always liked. It’s nice to see him go and do that. He jumped well, and showed a nice turn of foot after the second last.

“There is a rated novice hurdle on John Durkan Chase day at Punchestown that he could go for but I’ll have to talk to the O’Learys before deciding where we go. He’s a real chaser like a lot of ours.”

“Monalee will probably run at Punchestown on Saturday. That’s the plan at the moment and I’m happy with him.”

Quotes from Alan Magee