Tough Genie wins at Naas again

His three time winning half-sister Missyspet got a fall when still in there pitching at Gowran yesterday. Today at Naas A Genie In Abottle brought up a double for Gigginstown House Stud when seeing it out best in the Panoramic Restaurant At Naas Maiden Hurdle under Bryan Cooper.

Sandra Hughes and David Mullins had teamed up for Gigginstown's earlier winner, Sub Lieutenant in race two, and in the case of promising youngster A Genie In A Bottle it's Noel Meade that's in the training role.

The former Donnchadh Doyle-trained point-to-point winner, was already a course bumper victor at Naas, but he threatened to give this one away with a second last flight mistake.

However he soon had odds-on favourite Call It Magic in his sights again.

A Genie In Abottle eventually got the better of the 'jolly' from the last and went away to prevail by three and a half lengths.

"We were talking about going for another bumper with him and keeping him a novice for next season but I don't see him as a hurdler," said Meade.

"If he takes to jumping fences then a fence could be worth two lengths to him. He's a big, long horse and he'd want a big track too. He could have another run or two now before the end of the season."

On Cheltenham hope Road To Riches the Tu Va handler stated: "There's no decision yet on which race he will go for. I honestly think the Ryanair Chase will be too short for him, and he'd be better in the Gold Cup. The ground will have a big bearing on which race he goes for.

"He's well which is the main thing. He hasn't done too much since his last run. He's done a few bits of schooling and is in good shape."

D.J.Mullins, rider of Cahirconree trained by Seamus Neville, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount never travelled.

(AM & EM)