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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Minella Crooner driven home by Kennedy

Sat 3rd Dec 2022, 12:10

Minella Crooner, near side, gets the better of  I Am MaximusMinella Crooner, near side, gets the better of I Am Maximus
© Photo Healy Racing

Minella Crooner came home best to beat I Am Maximus in an interesting beginners' chase that got Fairyhouse's Winter Festival under way.

I Am Maximus was very strong in the market on his Irish debut for Willie Mullins having transferred from Nicky Henderson in Britain.

Minella Crooner was just beaten by a head on his chasing debut in a Grade 2 novice chase over an extended two miles six furlongs at Punchestown last month.

The trip for this assignment was an extended two miles five furlongs and I Am Maximus was backed down to 4/6 favourite with Minella Crooner 2/1 in what looked a match race.

Minella Crooner led and closely attended to by I Am Maximus before the latter picked it up at the sixth. I Am Maximus showed a propensity to jump left throughout.

There was very little between the pair at the business end but I Am Maximus held a definite lead racing to the last.

However, Minella Crooner was driven past him by Jack Kennedy on the run-in and just held the rallying challenger by a short head on the line. Largy Debut ran well for a long way in third before dropping six lengths off the runner-up.

Gordon Elliott said: “He’s a grand horse. We’ll probably head for Leopardstown over three miles and I’d imagine the further he goes the better he will be.

“He could be an ideal horse for a National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham because he doesn’t do a stroke.

“We were probably handed the race because the other horse jumped left but Jack said he has a great attitude and gallops the whole way.

“He’s very straightforward and was probably a bit fitter and sharper than the last day.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.