Thyne for Burke to shine
Liam Burke sent out his first Grade One winner as Thyne Again proved a cut above his five rivals in the Baileys Arkle Perpetual Challenge Cup Novice Chase at Leopardstown.
Although the race was robbed of some of its sheen when favourite Scotsirish crashed out five fences from home, there was no doubting the 13-8 winner’s authority.
Davy Russell, who went on to complete a double aboard The Budgee, allowed the seven-year-old to ease clear rounding the home turn and despite a less than fluent leap at the last the partnership powered clear for a 15-length call.
Burke said: “Davy said he was going too easy and was in front sooner than he wanted to be.
“It would have been interesting if Scotsirish had stood up as we would have a better idea of where we stand.
“I will talk to the owners about Cheltenham as I am terrified of the place, but on that performance you would nearly have to go there.
“If the owners are anxious to go then we will, and the Powers Gold Cup would be the alternative.”
William Hill and totesport make Thyne Again a 10-1 chance for the Arkle, while Ladbrokes and Coral offer 14-1 and Cashmans a stand-out 20-1.
Willie Mullins may have lost the injured Glencove Marina from the SunAlliance picture but an able substitute emerged as classy French import Pomme Tiepy hacked up in the Grade Two Woodlands Park Novice Chase.
The mare was always to the fore in the hands of Ruby Walsh and pulled away nicely leaving the back straight to oblige as the 11-10 favourite and complete a hat-trick.
But Mullins warned: “She might not run at Cheltenham at all, although she would have a huge weight allowance in the SunAlliance. I don’t know if I’d want to run her on quicker ground at Cheltenham, though.
“I need to sit down and think about plans because I also have J’Y Vole and she is another possible for Cheltenham, but she is another that might not go there at all. She could go to the Powers Gold Cup.
“I really need to sit down, have a look at the programme book and decide where they will go.”
Coral were most impressed and offer the five-year-old at 10-1 for the SunAlliance, while William Hill and Boylesports are biggest at 14s.
On an afternoon bursting with Cheltenham clues, Liskennett (8-1) responded well for pressure to secure a hard-fought victory in the Grade Two Toshiba Novice Hurdle.
“She’ll have an entry in the three-mile novice race at Cheltenham (Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle) and on her best form she had a good chance here,” commented trainer Charles Byrnes.
Siege Of Ennis (8-1) opened his account as he scooted in under Andrew McNamara in the Frank Conroy Memorial Maiden Hurdle, earning a 25-1 quote with Coral for the Triumph Hurdle in the process.
Trainer Eddie Harty said: “I was half-reluctant to run him but I love Leopardstown and he was getting almost a stone from the older horses.
“I will stick him in the Triumph and see what the next month brings.”
Luck was on the side of 7-2 favourite The Budgee in the Clarkson Financial & Property Handicap Chase as the three leaders came down at the final fence allowing him to stay on and collect by three lengths.
Trainer Michael Hourigan junior said: “I put him in the Arkle at the first stage and we could go there but I’d be inclined to just go back to other novice races for the rest of the season as he does need soft ground.”
