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Alan Magee

Alan Magee

Grade 3 win for Tornado Flyer in Klairon Davis

Sat 7th Dec 2019, 15:19

Tornado Flyer (nearside) and I'm A Game Changer battle it out on the run-inTornado Flyer (nearside) and I'm A Game Changer battle it out on the run-in
© Photo Healy Racing

Tornado Flyer landed the odds for Danny Mullins and his uncle Willie when taking the Grade 3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Klairon Davis Novice Chase at Navan.

The Flemensfirth gelding, a Grade 1 bumper winner and also a useful novice hurdler last term, has taken well to fences and was making it two from two at this discipline.

The 4/5 favourite met some traffic problems approaching two out where the Gordon Elliott-trained pair I’m A Game Changer and Eclair De Beaufeu both made mistakes.

Danny Mullins got a renewed effort out of Tormado Flyer to lead just after touching down at the last and stayed on well to beat I’m A Game Changer by four lengths.

Eclair De Beaufeu weakened to finish 21 lengths further adrift in third.

Danny Mullins said, "He was always going to be a class horse. Willie said 'just keep you powder dry early on'. For a race of that class they probably didn't go that much of a gallop for the first half mile and he was caught a little bit flat footed off the hill.

“Once I got him balanced down to the last I knew he'd have a good jump in him and he put it to bed nicely then. For a race that wasn't run at break neck speed I thought it was a good performance over 2m1f you wouldn't have to say he'll go further but it will be an option.

“He has got a bit of class, over hurdles maybe he's not a two-miler, but over fences there could be more to come at that trip and he can step up also.

“Davy kept me a bit tight but then I kept him tight around the home-bend. It was touche but there was a smile on my face as I got by him and that's race-riding. I knew once we straightened up for the last that I'd gallop strong to the line and a good jump at the last put it to bed fairly nicely.

“Most of these horses have either come from France or been point-to-pointers and have huge experience jumping whereas this lad went straight into a bumper.

“Paul Hennessy had him as a young horse and I remember we used to do a bit of popping at home and I'd ride a few for Paul. We always liked him then but he's a lad that's going to be improving all the time. He's got the engine there and that's the main thing.”

Paddy Power and Betfair cut him into 14/1 (from 20/1) for the JLT Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

(GC & AM)

About Alan Magee
Alan has worked in the racing industry for well over 30 years including with the Sporting Life, Turform and Irish Racing Services. He took up his current role as Irish Racing Team Leader with the Press Association in 2013. He has a keen interest in most sports and plays golf.