Morris celebrates happy returns

Mouse Morris marked his 48th birthday in the best possible fashion when Foxchapel King took the featured £20,000 Heineken Novice Chase in front of a large crowd at Cork yesterday.

The six-year-old, whose owner Tony O'Reilly was in attendance along with his wife Chryss, was ridden up with the pace throughout by Shay Barry, and responded gamely under pressure in the straight to hold Glin Castle by two-and-a-half lengths. "Shay gave him a beautiful ride, and we will go next for the David Austin Memorial Novice Handicap Chase at the Punchestown Festival," said Morris.

Barry was completing a double having earlier partnered Back On Top to land a gamble in the Johnson & Perrott Volvo Handicap Hurdle. The John Hassett-trained gelding, backed from 10 to 1 to 9 to 4 favouritism in this 27-runner event, showed a smart turn of foot to overhaul Bedthem Prince on the run-in for a length-and-a-half success.

Ruby Walsh, rider of the runner-up, was in hot water afterwards with the stewards. The championship leader was adjudged to have ridden carelessly after an incident three out involving Prince of Erin (fourth) and Woodchester, and was given a two racing days (April 14th and 16th) suspension.

Twickenham kept up Aidan O'Brien and Mick Kinane's fast start to the new flat season when justifying strong support in the Siucra Maiden. The well-bred four-year-old, available at evens before going off the 4 to 9 market leader, was very confidently ridden by Kinane to beat Gypsy Melody by a cheeky head.

"He was formerly with Henry Cecil, but never made it to the track due to little growing problems," said O'Brien, who has no firm plans for the son of Woodman.

Curragh handler Mick Halford opened his account for the season when Shallow Ground outpointed the frustrating Timote close home in the opening Mallow Maiden.

O'Brien and Kinane had followed up their season opening double at the Curragh the previous weekend by completing another brace on Saturday with the odds-on pair Coliseum and Carambola.

Coliseum, rated 110 after three juvenile outings notably when runner-up to Mus-If in the National Stakes, was expected to have an easy re-introduction in the Cork Maiden, and duly justified prohibitive odds with the minimum of fuss.

Kinane sent the Sadler's Wells colt to the front well over a furlong out, and he stretched clear to beat Piranesi by five lengths. O'Brien was very pleased with the performance, and nominated the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown on May 9th as the next step on a possible classic campaign.

Carambola was also a warm order in the market half an hour later in the EBF Fillies Maiden, and Kinane dictated matters with a steady gallop from the front. The daughter of Danehill quickened when asked for an effort approaching the furlong pole to beat newcomer Rivana by a cosy three lengths.

"She is a lovely big filly, and could be very high class. However, she still has a lot of growing to do, and we will not rush her," said the master of Ballydoyle.

Fethard permit-holder Cliff Wilkinson took the headlines on the National Hunt front when his only horse in training, The Cushman, landed the featured Murphys Handicap Hurdle. The eightyear-old jumped to the front at the penultimate flight to beat Rock Castle by four-and-a-half lengths in this £20,000 event. The fences, in particular the last which was rebuilt after flood damage during the winter, drew criticism from a number of trainers and riders.

Feeling Grand caused a shock in the opening EBF Beginners Chase where four of the nine runners fell, while Finchpalm put in a fine round of jumping to defy topweight in the Paddy Power Bookmaker Handicap Chase.