Tired looking Star de Mohaison fails to sparkle on return to racecourse

13 April 2012

Tar De Mohaison booked his ticket for the Irish Hennessy at Leopardstown on February 10 after finishing a tired third, beaten 20 lengths by Hills of Aran and Hennessy, in the Unicoin Homes Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham yesterday.

Punters who backed him from 6-4 down to 10-11 will have been disappointed to learn afterwards that it was the first time he had galloped on grass since incurring a tendon injury to his near-fore at Sandown 13 months ago.

Hot stuff: Blazing Bailey (right) runs on in good style to score at Cheltenham

In fact, the 2006 Royal & SunAlliance Chase winner came in late to trainer Paul Nicholls' stable this season and the trainer was adamant afterwards that he needed the run.

Nicholls said: 'He has done loads of steady work but this was his first time on grass. He doesn't really want it soft and it was tacky enough for him here.

'He was never as good a hurdler as a chaser. If he has to take on Denman at Leopardstown so be it — he has to go left-handed. But I'm hoping Denman will go for the Aon at Newbury.

'I was very, very pleased with that and he will improve tons. He will go to Leopardstown, especially if the going is good. That ground was testing out there today.'

Hills left him at 25-1 for the Gold Cup where Nicholls-trained Kauto Star (5-4 favourite) and Denman (15-8) dominate the betting.

Owner Sir Robert Ogden's racing manager Barry Simpson said: 'The important thing is that his legs are all right in the morning.

'As long as he's sound we can go forward. The going was plenty sticky enough for him — really he wants top of the ground.'

Alan King has been training for only eight years but notched up his 500th success (Flat and jumps) when Oh Crick won the Club 16-24 Annual Big Bash Novices' Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham, while number 501 came three hours later when Blazing Bailey completed a 31-1 double for the trainer by winning the Steel Plate and Sections Hurdle.

The front-running Gaspara proved a tough horse to pass but she was overpowered between the last two flights where Blazing Bailey took over and scored in great style.

King said: 'I didn't think Blazing Bailey would be sharp enough for two and a half miles. He'll now go for the Cleeve Hurdle and then the World Hurdle.

'At least he's back on track. My Way de Solzen could go for a hurdle race at Fontwell to try and get him back to form before he goes back over fences.'

Black Jack Ketchum, who was pulled up behind Blazing Bailey, could now be retired. Jonjo O'Neill's other runner Wichita Lineman finished a running-on second.

O'Neill said: 'Black Jack has lost his way totally — we'll see if he's all right. We might finish him as we don't want to flog him into the ground.

'Wichita Lineman races lazily but I am happy with him and he could come back here at the end of the month for the Cleeve.'

Irish Raptor received a 33-1 quote for the Grand National (Stan James) after winning the second event on the card, the extended 3m 2f handicap chase.

Winning trainer Nigel Twiston- Davies said: 'He emptied in the Becher Chase last time but he's jumped round Liverpool twice and the National is the target again.'

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