Mikael d'Haguenet leads over the last for Mikey Fogarty© Photo Healy Racing
Mikael d’Haguenet may not have scaled the heights that appeared likely when landing the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle five years ago but the French-bred recorded his twelfth career victory in the three-mile conditions hurdle at Thurles.
The contest was reduced to just four runners in the absence of Off The Charts (stone bruise) and Horendus Hulabaloo (change in going), and Willie Mullins was responsible for two of the remaining quartet. Mourad was sent off the 11/8 favourite but it was Mullins’ other runner that proved by far the stronger as he sauntered to a convincing success at odds of 7/4 under man-of-the-moment Mikey Fogarty.
Fogarty recorded his first Cheltenham Festival winner last Friday aboard the Mullins-trained Don Poli, and this is his fifth winner since having partnered a treble at Wexford on Monday. Gold Patrol finished two and a half lengths back in second, with Mourad another two lengths away in third.
Mullins said, “He did no more than he should have done. Mikey said he jumped well and, unless a race comes up over fences that he’s well in, he won’t run over fences.
“Mikey has ridden winners for us in the past as an amateur, and has been riding out most mornings.”
He added, “The rain came at the wrong time for Mourad but at least he’s shown a bit more spark, and he should pay his way in the spring. He’s not in love with fences and I’d imagine this will be his last season and we’ll find a good home for him then.”
Mullins also reported that his powerful Cheltenham squad has come home in good shape saying, “They all came back without leg trouble which is something that hasn’t happened in the past. They are all sound and I’m delighted with all of them.
“Briar Hill smashed his cheekbone and is the only one that won’t run for the rest of this season. I’d imagine all the others will be looking at the Festivals next month.”
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
