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Ivan holds off Kitten in Fairyhouse opener

Ivan Grozny clears the last under Paul TownendIvan Grozny clears the last under Paul Townend
© Photo Healy Racing

Ivan Gronzy just held off the late surge of Kitten Rock as he landed the Grade 3 Tayto Hurdle, the opener at Fairyhouse on Grand National day, for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend.

The Andrea & Graham Wylie owned gelding finished a disappointing twelfth in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham on his last start, and he was sent off a 5/1 chance (opened at 6/1 on-course) for this two mile contest.

Turning for home he was travelling smoothly under Townend, and he got a lovely run through on the inside approaching two out, and he soon hit the front.

He went a couple of lengths clear before the last, and he kept on well under pressure from there, just holding off the late surge of Kitten Rock (3/1) and Barry Geraghty by a head. Lindenhurst (8/1) finished a further three and a half lengths back in third under Mark Bolger for John McConnell, while Clarcam who was sent off the 5/2 favourite, was a further half a length back in fourth under Noel Fehily for Gordon Elliott.

Willie Mullins said afterwards: “I think the chiffony (type of bit) and the hood made a big difference to him. Also the fast ground and they went a faster pace so it was easier to settle him.

"He is starting to look like the horse we thought he was earlier in the season.

"I don’t know whether Punchestown will come too soon, we will see how he comes out of this.

"He is not a chaser, whether he goes back to the flat or not I don’t know but he is an out and out hurdler. He hasn’t got the scope to jump fences."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

1st
5/1
Tote €10.00 €2.50
2nd
hd
3/1
€1.60
3rd
3.5L
8/1
€2.40
4th
0.5L
5/2Fav
About Donal Murphy
Donal graduated from Maynooth University in 2010 with a BBS in Equine Business and since attained a diploma in Sports Journalism from Dublin Business School. He holds a variety of roles in the horse racing industry, reporting for the Press Association and p2p.ie, while also working for SIS and the Tote. From Wexford, he is a keen runner and has completed over 100 parkruns at various locations around the country.