'Time bomb' Ha D'or continues Ricci's roll

Rich Ricci won with his third consecutive runner today, as 'time bomb' Ha D'or won Fairyhouse's BetVictor Support Irish Racing Maiden Hurdle (div I) for trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Paul Townend.

The son of Nidor pulled hard and led at speed, and while briefly pressed by runner-up Celestial Horizon from the second-last, held on for a two and a quarter lengths win.

Mullins later relayed “Paul said it was like being on a time bomb, you’re just waiting for it to go off!

“He did that very well. He looked a bit green but his jumping was very sharp.

“I was very pleased with how he jumped considering the speed he was going over some of those hurdles and if he can transfer that to fences next year he might be an exciting two-miler.

“He’ll go on to the spring Festivals. I’ll have a word with connections before deciding where we go.”

Owner Ricci bagged six Grade 1s last year, along with the Galway Hurdle, and set his 2022 ball rolling with last weekend's Peter Marsh Chase winner Royale Pagaille and Thursday's impressive Gowran winner Mercurey.

Quotes from Alan Magee