Maxxum (100-30) made most of the running to take the opening race, a chase over 2m4f, at Clonmel on Thursday.
Gordon Elliott’s experienced campaigner, owned and bred by Athenry-based Patrick Rabbitt, has now nine wins registered from 33 starts - a pretty healthy strike-rate by any stretch.
All bar one of the five runners appeared to hold some sort of chance as the field prepared to enter the home straight with two fences to negotiate. The 5-4 favourite Look To The West exited at the second last leaving Maxxum clear to oblige by two lengths.
Winning jockey Jack Kennedy said: “He’s been a great horse. It is hard to find opportunities for him over hurdles but I had no worries about him over fences. He has his own way of doing things, but he gets there. Maybe Gordon will find something suitable for him again before the season is out.”
Elliott later added: “We are between a rock and hard place with Maxxum. The owner was a bit nervous about him running over fences so we are delighted he won. We will see if we can find another conditions hurdle or chase.”
The senior jockeys dominated at Cork on Saturday and Colin Keane went home with a treble in the bag to follow his double at the Curragh on Friday.
Both of the Listed races on the programme went the six-time champion’s way, the first of those being Navassa Island in the Irish EBF Cork Stakes over six furlongs for trainer Michael O’Callaghan. It was a deserved first black-type success the five-year-old mare.
“She seems to appreciate that bad ground. She gets through it very easily,” Keane said.
Jumping is the name of the game and Koktail Brut and Jack Kennedy did what was required in the Grade 2 Donohue Marquees Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Easter Sunday.
The winner, trained by Gordon Elliott, was locked in a battle with Blake, trained by Noel Meade and ridden by Donagh Meyler, over the last hurdle.
The latter, however, sprawled on landing, leaving the way clear for a nine lengths success at odds of 13-2.
To his great credit, Koktail But was backing up after three straight defeats in Grade 1 races, most recently in the Supreme Novices at Cheltenham. He had won the Grade 2 Royal Bond at this track in November by a head from the same rival Blake.
“He jumped well. I think my lad would have held him [Blake] off, to be honest,” Kennedy said.
Upcoming Fixtures
Weds April 8 Gowran Park (first race 1.30pm)
Thurs April 9 Gowran Park (first race 4.30pm)
Friday April 10 Dundalk (first race 5.07pm)
Friday April 10 Wexford NH (first race 3.45pm)
Saturday April 11 Bellewstown (first race 4.17pm)
Sunday April 12 Leopardstown (first race 2.05pm)
Sunday April 12 Down Royal NH (first race 1.55pm)
