Ian Donoghue pictured with jockey Gary Carroll© Photo Healy Racing
Lisnamult Lad put up an excellent front-running display to win the opening William Hill Top Price Guarantee Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase on an Irish-dominated Saturday at Cheltenham.
Only a second runner at Prestbury Park for trainer Ian Donoghue, older brother of leading jockey Keith, the 20-1 shot jumped with elan throughout the two-and-a-half-mile contest and dug deep up the run-in under title-chasing Sean Bowen to repel the late surge of Weveallbeencaught by half a length.
“That’s deadly,” said Donoghue.
“I was delighted with our Irish mark of 124, but the English handicapper put him up 10lb and I was nearly going to leave him at home. I actually rang the English handicapper and gave out to him when I saw the mark, but he was right!
“I was talking to the owner the other day and we’d love to get him in the Irish Grand National in the spring. Hopefully he might come back here for the Festival, but we’ll just tip-toe away with him and try to get a nice weight for Fairyhouse.”
The John McConnell-trained Intense Approach also led from pillar to post in the William Hill Betting Done Properly Novices’ Hurdle.
A winner at Downpatrick and Kelso during the summer, the five-year-old was last seen finishing best of the rest behind the impressive Flying Fortune in the Grade Two Persian War at Chepstow.
Easing in class just a fortnight later, the 2-1 favourite was soon bowling along in front and found another gear from the home turn to pull six lengths clear of his toiling rivals.
“He got a nice, unharried lead and jumped really well. Jumping has been an issue for him, but you wouldn’t think it judged on today,” said McConnell.
“Harry (Cobden) gets on really with him and once he gave him a little flick at the back of the second-last, he really picked up.
“At home he works like an aeroplane this horse, that is why we started him at shorter trips, but he just has a really high cruising speed.
“It opens up more options having now won over three miles. He’ll probably have to have a break as he’s been on the go a little while.
“We won this race a few years ago with Bardenstown Lad and he came back for the Albert Bartlett at the Festival and finished third in it. We’ll aim towards a big novice hurdle or maybe a handicap hurdle in the spring and see.”
Gordon Elliott struck gold in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle, with 9-2 co-favourite The Wallpark notching his fourth successive victory under Jordan Gainford.
Elliott said: “I thought we might finish third or fourth as he had a lot of weight, but they went very quick up front and I’d say it suited him well as he came from off the pace.
“He’s a great horse who doesn’t show much at home but keeps improving. I thought the ground might be a bit tight for him to be honest, but good horses win on any ground.
“We’ll probably give him a break now and bring him back for the Pertemps Final at the Festival. It’s getting tougher and tougher to qualify for it, so if you’re in it you should take your chance and we can go chasing then next season.”
Hyland won over hurdles at this fixture 12 months ago and repeated the feat over the larger obstacles in the William Hill Most Top Prices Novices’ Chase.
The 9-2 shot won on his fencing debut at Southwell in June and while he disappointed next time at Uttoxeter, he showed his true colours back at Cheltenham with a 15-length verdict under Nico de Boinville.
“He was great and loves this ground. Uttoxeter was only two and a half (miles) last time and he really needs three,” said Henderson.
“I thought it was going against him today when they took the fences out (because of low sun), because the one thing he does is jump.
“The ground is everything for him, but I think he wants to keep going until it gets wet.”
Block Rockin Beats (14-1) got the better of a tight finish with Fortune De Mer to win the closing Junior Jumpers Open National Hunt Flat Race for Oliver Signy and Gavin Sheehan.
Signy said: “It’s absolutely brilliant, I’m so pleased he managed to get his head down and kept on trying. Gavin gave him a brilliant ride and it’s brilliant for the yard.
“I loved his attitude at home, he worked very well and I thought he had a good chance but these bumpers are always hot.
“He’s done everything well at home, but then you need that extra five or 10 per cent, which he has shown here. Hopefully he’s an exciting horse going forwards.”
