Andrew McNamara’s Enjoy The Dream was a tough winner of the Donohue Marquees Juvenile Hurdle under Darragh O’Keeffe at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday.
At 33-1 only one rival started at a bigger price in the Grade Two contest, but the grey jumped the last behind 8-11 favourite Blood Destiny and then battled him all the way up the home straight to prevail by three lengths on only her second start for new connections.
“We were running her hoping she might run into third or fourth,” said McNamara of the German-bred.
“After the third-last I thought she was going to run a lovely race and when she straightened up I thought ‘we’re in with a big shout now’.
“She only had the one run over hurdles and I thought if we’re going to lose our novice status at this time of year we may as well make it well worthwhile.
“That’s the first race she’s really had so we’ll definitely go to Punchestown, I’ll have a chat with the Dr but I’d say we’ll most likely go there.
“I’d imagine we’ll even keep going after that. I think she has a rating around 90 on the Flat and she could also have the option of going to France for the summer.
“It’s all black type and she has a residual value, but we won’t be going there for a while. She’s a big girl and will jump fences as well.”
That victory came ahead before Asterion Forlonge denied Monkfish a dream return to action when winning the Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Hurdle.
The enigmatic winner was running over hurdles for the second time since pausing a chasing career that brought about mixed fortunes with some good performances but also several falls.
Monkfish, also trained by Willie Mullins, had been absent from the track for nearly two years due to injury but was a very highly regarded novice chaser prior to that.
Asterion Forlonge was the 11-8 favourite under Paul Townend as Monkfish went off at 11-4 and was ridden at the rear of the field by Danny Mullins.
Monkfish gave chase after the last fence and was closing as the line approached, but could not pass Asterion Forlonge and missed out by half a length.
David Casey, Mullins’ assistant, said of the grey victor: “We’re delighted with him, he improved plenty for his run in Thurles and I think he’ll improve plenty from today as well.
“He did everything right, he’s had his issues and we’re delighted to get his head back in front today.
“He’s in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Punchestown and the plan at the moment is to keep him over hurdles for the time being. All going well I’d imagine he’ll go there.”
On Monkfish he added: “We’re thrilled with him. He had plenty of build-up work done, but he’ll improve again for it. Hopefully he’ll be sound enough to go to Punchestown as well, he’s in the same race.
“The idea is to keep him over hurdles for the end of the season and then maybe go back chasing next year. Hopefully he’ll come out of it well and we’re absolutely thrilled with the way he ran.”
Meanwhile, Telecon (14/1) landed the opening race of the day at Fairyhouse for Kildare trainer Mark Fahey.
Ages Of Man led the field for most of the race and found only one runner too good for him in the end as Telecon went on to win by four and a half lengths under a patient ride by Irish Grand National-winning jockey Ricky Doyle.
Gordons Aura and Figaroc filled the other two places ahead of Mary's Pride in fifth.
And in the Fairyhouse Steel Handicap Hurdle, the front-running Ailie Rose (16/1) kept going all the way to the line, winning by five lengths in the end ahead of Galore Desassences, Unanswered and Cadatharla.
See the results below:
2.05pm: 2m Farmhouse Foods Novice Handicap Hurdle (4yo+)
1st: Telecon 14/1
2nd: Ages Of Man 33/1
3rd: Gordons Aura 11/1
4th: Figaroc 9/1
5th: Mary's Pride 16/1
2.40pm: 2m Donohue Marquees Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) (4yo)
1st: Enjoy The Dream 33/1
2nd: Blood Destiny 8/11 f
3rd: Gust Of Wind 5/2
4th: Sir Allen 13/2
3.15pm: 2m5½f (2m5f155y) Fairyhouse Steel Handicap Hurdle (4yo+ 0-140)
1st: Ailie Rose 16/1
2nd: Galore Desassences 28/1
3rd: Unanswered 7/1
4th: Cadatharla 7/2 f
3.50pm: 2m4f Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Hurdle (Grade 2) (5yo+)
1st: Asterion Forlonge 11/8 f
2nd: Monkfish 11/4
3rd: Beacon Edge 7/1
4th: Hms Seahorse 13/2
4.20pm: 2m4f (2m3f200y) McInerney Properties Fairyhouse Chase (Grade 2) (5yo+)
1st: Easy Game 2/1
2nd: Royal Rendezvous 7/1
5.00pm: 3m5f BoyleSports Irish Grand National Chase (Extended Handicap Chase) (Grade A) (5yo+)
1st: I Am Maximus 8/1
2nd: Gevrey 28/1
3rd: Defi Bleu 28/1
4th: Dolcita 33/1
5th: Panda Boy 14/1
6th: Angels Dawn 9/1
5.40pm: 3m½f (3m130y) Thebeautybasket.ie Handicap Chase (5yo+)
1st: Macs Charm 7/1
2nd: Sir Bob 7/2
3rd: Hoke Colburn 16/1
4th: Everglow 12/1
6.10pm: 2m Leinster Reinforcements & Brazil Piling (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race (4yo+)
1st: Firefox Evens
2nd: Il Atlantique 2/1
READ NEXT:
