WYLDE HIDE, a relentless galloper and a sound jumper, won yesterday's Toyota Thyestes Chase for the second year running, the first to win this prestigious handicap back to back. He had the same minimum weight he carried last year but met a much stronger field on this occasion.
Always travelling sweetly among the leaders, and totally oblivious of the very testing ground, Wylde Hide jumped past the tiring front running Royal Mountbrowne at the third last. He led Fissure Seal over the next and was clear when bounding over the final fence. Ridden out by Frank Woods, he had seven lengths to spare from the consistent Fissure Seal with Love And Porter taking third place.
Wylde Hide had finished fourth behind Royal Mountbrowne in the Leopardstown Chase on his previous outing but, according to trainer Arthur Moore, who rode Veuve to win this race several years ago, the sharp track did not suit him. J P McManus's winner is among 15 Irish trained chasers entered for the Aintree Grand National and, as he stays so well, he will probably take his chance, albeit well out of the handicap proper. He will, however, miss Cheltenham.
Six Grand National, entries competed yesterday, including Royal Mountbrowne who fell when beaten at the second last. Incidentally, his stable companion Life Of A Lord, who is due to run in Leopardstown's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup, may have only 11st 11lb or 11st 2lb to carry when the National weights appear.
Nuaffe finished last after early prominence and Irish Grand National winner Son Of War unseated his rider at the 10th. Scribbler another of Arthur Moore's entries along with Feathered Gale, finished third last and Three Brownies was placed sixth.
Over The Jordan could not have won the "Toyota Carina" Handicap Hurdle with more aplomb. The 16th winner for Willie Mullins's promising claimer. David Casey, Over The Jordan led over the second last and won, eased#down, by a length from Black Queen, Black Queen had relegated Over The Jordan to third place, more than 12 lengths adrift, at.
Punchestown and, taking young Casey's allowance into account, was meeting Willie Mullins's charge on the same terms.
On yesterday's running it appears that Over The Jordan, twice successful since Punchestown, has improved about a stone but as his trainer said the horse was only beginning to come to himself at Punchestown.
The winner will next run in the Paddy Power Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown on February 4th, and will be, entered for the County Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Charlie Swan and Aidan O'Brien combined to win the first two races. Ballyanne Supreme, who jumped a few hurdles at home for the first time on Wednesday, obviously learned quickly and had two and a half lengths to spare in, winning the Toyota Starlet Maiden Hurdle. She is the first horse owned, by a syndicate based in the trainer's home town, Clonroche Co Wexford.
Brave Fountain, a point to point winner as well as three bumpers and two races under Flat rules, overcame a last flight blunder to beat Mulligan by three lengths in the Toyota Corolla Maiden Hurdle. He needs better ground. The gambled on Pristine Gale weakened quickly after, a couple of blunders on the far side of the course.
Richard Dunwoody rode Little Buck to win the Peter McCreery Memorial Hurdle.
