MEADE BLASTS RACING TV AS ‘A DISASTER'

Karl Hedley on the latest action in the Emerald Isle

Trainers will be planning Christmas targets and I have listed a few below that could well be seen throughout the festive period or perhaps early in the New Year.

Paul Nolan was more than surprised with his quickly-improving Mrs Milner who landed a nice touch for connections as she beat the better fancied Flicker Flame in a maiden hurdle over two miles at Thurles. He said: “She got herself into it with her jumping and he (jockey Sean O’Keefe) finished with plenty of mare as well. They had loads left so please god she’ll improve away. I didn’t think she’d be able to do it as good as that but it is nice to get a bit of ground for her.”

The duo made headway to challenge two from home and were travelling supremely well approaching the last. Mrs Milner was ridden to assert her superiority on the day and coasted to a comfortable five length success over the well-regarded Flicker Flame. There is bound to be more to come from the four-year-old daughter of Flemensfirth.

Blackbow was all the rage in the opening maiden on the card at Naas just a couple of days later for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. They clearly hadn’t read the script as mistakes through the race left the door wide open for Embittered to take full advantage. Always prominent under JJ Slevin, the five-year-old son of Fame And Glory improved to dispute the lead two from home. He joined Blackbow at the last before asserting in the closing stages to clinch another win for Joseph O’Brien.

The young trainer said afterwards that, “He was a decent bumper horse and he jumped well. He did well to win as I thought he’d want the race. He was a bit keen in his bumpers but he settled well today. We’ve put a hood on him and spent a lot of time trying to teach him to relax. JJ gave him a lovely ride.”