Hispanic Moon and Darragh O'Keeffe© Photo Healy Racing
Trainer Henry De Bromhead completed a double today as Hispanic Moon (11/2) landed Punchestown's four-runner Grade 3 Bet Victor Quevega Mares Hurdle, in a race where Triumph Hurdle runner-up Gala Marceau disappointed in third.
Dual Grade 1-winner Gala Marceau (2/7f) was expected to build on a Doncaster reappearance run last month but failed to match either Hispanic Moon or runner-up Saylavee in the final quarter mile, and tired badly.
Hispanic Moon, under Darragh O'Keeffe and for the Cork-based Mariga family, finished fastest beating Saylavee by eight lengths, to score for last March's same Cheltenham Grand Annual-winning connections.
De Bromhead, earlier successful with the Rachael Blackmore-partnered Majestic Force was represented by Robbie Power who said “she's beaten Saylavee a lot easier today than she did here back in November and hopefully there is a bit more in the locker.
“She's in the Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham and we'll see how she comes out of this but we might take a punt. You'd have to be tempted.”
He added “she was impressive here back in November and I don't know what went wrong during Christmas, there was no real excuse for her and she just didn't run her race for some reason.
“That was much more like it today and Darragh knew himself after jumping two hurdles that she was back to herself. She was a different mare, travelled and jumped really well. She winged the last and went from there to the winning post with her two ears pricked.”
Bookmakers generally later cut Hispanic Moon from 40/1 to 12s for the Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham next month — a race which her owners also have 16/1 chance, and recent Red Mills Trial Hurdle winner, Lantry Lady.
Regarding disappointing beaten favourite Gala Marceau, her trainer Willie Mullins later reported “Paul thought she ran a bit keen and she was very disappointing, especially after her promising run in Doncaster.
“I haven't seen anything wrong with her yet but she was blowing quite hard when she came in. Unfortunately it's one of those things.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
