By Andrew Atkinson
Rachael Blackmore landed the Carey Glass Hurdle on Gentlemansgame tipped by fromthehorsesmouth.info at Thurles on Saturday, gaining a 8 1/2 lengths win ahead of Unexpected Depth.
Gentlemansgame (11-8) made virtually all in the 2 miles 7 furlongs race, with conditions good, good to yielding in places.
Blackmore, fresh from the triumph of winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup, kicked on after the third-last and kept on well.
Trainer Mouse Morris, said: “That was much better today, than either of his runs this season. Rachael gave him a lovely ride.
“He loves that ground. He got injured and was off for six or seven weeks but it was straightforward and we’re just waiting for him to jump fences next season.
“He’ll run again this season, but we have no big plans for him until he jumps a fence.”
Morris saddled French Dynamite, under Darragh O’Keeffe, to win the feature Grade 3 Pierce Molony Memorial Novice Chase in a shock result, thwarting 4-11 favourite Ciel De Neige, tipped, in a photo finish nose verdict.
“It’s nice to see him back, that ground suits him well. I know he stayed on well there but I think he might be better over two miles, maybe on a stiff track,” said Morris.
“Darragh gave him a lovely ride and he got him jumping well. The horses have been running well, but they have been hitting the crossbar, and unfortunately they’re mostly moderate.
“I ran two at Cheltenham, Foxy Jacks and Whatsnotoknow, and they both ran well to a point.
“There are a few there who have run well and been placed and I have a couple of nice four-year-olds who can hopefully do well next year,” added Morris.
Willie Mullins trained Micro Manage, heavily 1-8 odds-on favourite tipped by fromthehorsesmouth.info, landed the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle, gaining an 11 lengths win ahead of Fanoir.
Tips, Pale Blue Dot (13-8f) finished second in the Jimmy Neville Memorial handicap, and Petram (4-1) finished third in the Flat race over 1m 7f, beaten a neck and a head in a three way photo finish. Tip, Fighter Allen (2.20) was a non-runner.
