The connections of Raikkonen certainly had luck on their side when the four-year-old gelding recorded a very fortunate victory in the featured Woodlands Park 100 Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle at Naas.
Truly Gold looked set for an easy win when ten lengths clear approaching the last until taking a heart-breaking fall after clipping the top of the hurdle, and then Polly's Joy unseated her rider when set to take advantage.
Raikkonen was the chief beneficiary under Paul Carberry, holding on by a length and a half from Bodakker with Friend's Amigo staying on a neck further back in third. 'I thought he was going to be third or fourth,' admitted trainer Willie Mullins before adding, 'That's his first time over the trip (two and a half miles), and we think he'll stay all day. We'll find another similar handicap for him.'
Carberry was completing a double having partnered Mark The Man to an impressive debut over fences half-an-hour earlier in the three miles novice chase. Noel Meade's charge put in a fine round of jumping, and his two and a half length margin over Prince Of Tara bore no relation to his superiority. 'He's schooled well over fences, and I decided to play safe and not run him at Galway last week as he had a slightly sore shin. He's made for fences, and the race at Christmas (William Neville at Leopardstown) is a likely target and he'll be entered for the Drinmore,' said Meade.
Ladbrokes cut him to 16/1 (from 25's) for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham, while Cashmans introduced him at 14/1 for the same race.
Royal Paradise (8/13) gave odds-on punters a scare before rallying on the run-in under Conor O'Dwyer to deny Petertheknot by half a length in the two miles and three furlongs novice hurdle. 'He's very, very lazy and when he gets it too easy he tends to switch off. He goes on any ground, and we'll aim him now at one of the good novice races at Fairyhouse or Navan,' said trainer Tom Foley of the front-runner.
Dual bumper winner Feathard Lady maintained her unbeaten record on her jumping debut when leading before the last for Barry Cash to beat Emotional Article by three lengths in the maiden hurdle. Recent Curragh Listed winner Tipperary All Star was sent off the 9/10 favourite on his first hurdle outing but didn't jump that fluently and could find no extra after the second last to finish fourth. 'She hasn't stopped improving, and is really genuine. All she wants to do is please you, and we'll give her a break before Christmas,' said successful trainer Colm Murphy.
Murphy reports stablestar Brave Inca in great form, and on course for his reappearance in the Anglo Irish Bank Hurdle at Down Royal next Friday. 'He's in serious order and I couldn't be happier with him, although he will need a couple of runs before he's really right. It's a long time until next March!' said the Wexford handler.
Monte Solaro was the subject of a running and riding enquiry after staying on into eighth, and jockey Kevin Coleman was suspended for ten racing days for making insufficient effort.
There was a pile-up at the first in the latest leg of the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle Series when Singh Street fell and brought down five other horses. Tom Ryan and David Boland were both taken to hospital for collar-bone x-rays, while Paddy Flood was stood down for the remainder of the day with a bruised leg. Victory here went to Sanghasta, a seventh success for Robbie Molloy (18), although her task was eased when Almier fell at the last.
Carneys Cross was prominent throughout in the two miles and three furlongs handicap chase, and stayed on strongly in the straight under Mark Grant to beat Old Kilminchy by three lengths. 'That distance is a bit below his best but he likes the ground and we decided to jump out and make it a test of stamina. He'll go to Down Royal next Saturday for a two and three quarter miles handicap,' said trainer Sean Treacy.
Albert Mooney led over a furlong out in the bumper, and came home strongly for J P Magnier to beat Alexander Neville by three and a half lengths.
Alan Magee
