One of the most exciting features of any National Hunt season is the transition of talented hurdlers to racing over the larger obstacles. Consequently, Pizarro was always going to be the star of the show on the Clonmel card yesterday and the Edward O'Grady-trained six-year-old lived up to his billing when making a successful chase debut in the hands of new partner, Barry Geraghty.
Putting in a highly competent round of jumping, the 4/5 favourite gave his supporters their only cause for anxiety when having a good look at the last and also by drifting out to his left on the run in.
Connections post race weren't unduly worried about this with O'Grady explaining that the Broken Hearted gelding had two schools in preparation for the run and that he was very pleased with his jumping. The Drinmore Chase at the end of the month is now the objective.
Only two of the nineteen strong field attracted any market attention in the opener. As is so often the case, the 'ring' provided a good guide as Callow Lake (6/1 to 5/1), took up the running three out after hurdling well on his debut and Mark Grant's mount already had the measure of the well-supported favourite, Corrib Boy when that one made a bad mistake two out.
Winning handler, David Wachman commented 'he jumped particularly well and is a tough and genuine sort. He wouldn't want the ground any softer than it was there and he may now be put away until the spring.'
Trainer of Corrib Boy, Joe Crowley quickly bounced back from that reverse when In The Dip took the following maiden hurdle. The horse for money at 5/2 favourite, the son of Shernazar got a particularly well-judged ride from amateur, Gareth Power to lead after two out, before sprinting away on the run in for an easy three and a half length win. Crowley afterwards commented 'I'm glad he handled the ground so well'.
The market also told a story in the two and a half mile maiden hurdle. In this contest, Windswept Leader was despatched a strong 15/8 favourite (from 5/2), but found himself a length and a half down at the final hurdle.
Here though, his cause was greatly helped when leader, Lord Of The Furze came to grief and Paul Nolan's charge was left to saunter to an eleven length victory. Winning rider Johnny Cullen wasn't so sure what way it would have went had his rival stayed standing, saying it would have been a 'ding dong battle'. The winner is a strapping individual and is naturally seen as a real chasing prospect by his trainer.
Having his first start for trainer, Michael Hourigan, Smart Design was put in short for the handicap chase. Despite going off an easy to back 7/2 shot, Paul Carberry elected to go straight to the front and the combination were never headed on the way to an easy four length success.
Carberry was on the well-punted, Lotomore Lad in the last, but after arriving on the scene travelling well entering the straight, he couldn't raise his effort. It was left to Coccinelle under Martin Mooney for trainer, Michael Cunningham to streak away for a comprehensive six length win.
Meanwhile, Elva Express translated his improved form on the flat to the hurdling sphere when battling on gamely in the straight under Shay Barry to take the two mile handicap hurdle by two lengths. Clare man, Joe Quinn who trains the four-year-old described his winner as a 'tough sound horse'.
