A Look at Last Week's Irish Racing
 RACING REVIEW
Mullins Stars With Double At Naas
Willie Mullins was the star performer at Naas on Sunday, completing a double on the card that included the featured Lucan Racing Leinster National Handicap Chase with Ballytrim. Ridden by Paul Townend, the nine-year-old bounced right back to his best to grind out a 1/2 length victory. Mullins completed his double by sending out A Fine Young Man to make an impressive winning debut in the concluding Rockview INH Flat Race under Patrick Mullins. The highlight of the remainder of the card was the highly-competitive Naas Supporters Handicap Hurdle and it was the Michael Hourigan-trained Dancing Tornado that took the spoils. Given a polished ride by the promising Adrian Heskin, the nine-year-old led on the run-in and ran out the comfortable 3/4 length winner.
Dancing Hero Does The Business At Gowran Park
The most valuable event on Saturday's card at Gowran Park was the Shamrock Handicap Chase and it was the Tom Foley-trained Dancing Hero that emerged on top. Ridden by Tom Ryan, the nine-year-old led at the third last fence and stayed on grittily to prevail by 2 1/2 lengths. The Tetratema Perpetual Cup Hunters Chase is a prestigious contest on the hunter chase scene and it was won by the Denis Hickey-trained Ballistraw. The former Grade 2 chase winner was sent to front after the fourth last fence and held on gamely to prevail by a length. Perhaps the most promising winner came in the concluding Bennettsbridge INH Flat Race with the Mouse Morris-trained First Lieutenant justifying a tall reputation by bolting up by seven lengths under Robbie McNamara.
Chief Oscar Wins Ulster National
The Toals Bookmakers Ulster Grand National was the main event on Wednesday's card at Downpatrick and it was the locally-trained Chief Oscar that prevailed for Brian Hamilton. The nine-year-old was sent to the front at the penultimate fence by Andrew Lynch and battled bravely to hold off the challenge of Bally Wall by a neck. There was a tragic post-script to the race, as the winner collapsed and died on the way back into the winner's enclosure. The highlight of the remainder of the card was Noel Meade topping and tailing the card by saddling Gloonan Hill to win the opening Martinstown Opportunity Maiden Hurdle under Tim Carroll before sending out Jim Bowie to win the concluding Richard Behan Financial Planning INH Flat Race under the returning Nina Carberry.
RACING NEWS
Cheltenham To Water
Cheltenham will start to water the track on Monday, according to clerk of the course Simon Claisse, a day earlier than expected. With dry weather expected in the run-up to the festival, Claisse is keen to ensure the Prestbury turf does not dry out and will, as in previous years, water to provide good to soft ground. The latest ground report from Cheltenham is good to soft, good in places.
Mikael D'Haguenet Ruled Out Of Cheltenham
Mikael D'Haguenet has been ruled out of the Cheltenham Festival by his trainer Willie Mullins, thus ending speculation that last season's star novice hurdler would go for either the Arkle or RSA Chases without having had a run this season. Mullins reported that the six-year-old had pulled up stiff and sore after a schooling session at Leopardstown on Sunday and thus, could not be given the necessary preparation for him to get to Cheltenham.
Weld To Run Both Fancied Horses In Cheltenham Bumper
On Monday Dermot Weld confirmed Elegant Concorde and Hidden Universe as intended runners in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham after the Dr Ronan Lambe-owned pair worked at Leopardstown. The pair finished upsides each other in the gallop. Elegant Concorde is the favourite for the race at 7/1 while Hidden Universe is generally available at 8/1.
Cheltenham Charity Song launched in Ireland on Friday 12th March
Get ready to text & download text 'music 5271 m' to 57501
The hype and anticipation is building as the release date of the official Cheltenham Festival song fast approaches. Friday 12th of March will be the official Irish release date of the single, 'Cheltenham: The Favourites' and racing fans across Ireland have it firmly placed in their diaries in hope of making the single No 1 in the charts ahead of the Festival.
The parody of Petula Clark's, 1964 hit, 'Downtown' and now renamed 'Cheltenham' was first broadcast Radio 2 on Sarah Kennedy's show last Friday. The single which hopes to hit the No 1 spot in the UK and Irish charts the weekend before the Cheltenham Festival will see all funds benefit four worthwhile racing charities including; The Bob Champion Cancer Trust, Riding for the Disabled, Racing Welfare and the Rehabilitation Hospital in Ireland
After two successful recordings in London and Dublin with more than 40 racing faces taking part including; A P McCoy, Paul Nicholls, Clive Smith and Sam Thomas to name a few. The Irish racing stars involved in the recording were:- Tracy Piggott, Jessie Harrington, Noel Meade, Edward O'Grady, Barry Geraghty, Tom Taaffe, Charlie Swan, Davy Russell, Robert Power, Colm Murphy, Andrew McNamara, Paul Nolan and Davy Condon. Interest has been building and Paddy Power have priced up the chances of the single hitting the No 1 spot in both the UK and Irish charts at 10/1 and 8/1 respectively.
The lead vocalist on the track is 25 year-old pop/country and soul singer, Laura Critchley who won best Live entertainer in 2008 at the Irish Entertainment Awards and has supported the Sugababes in Dublin along with Boyzone at the RDS Stadium previously.
'Cheltenham' will be available for download from all digital stores, including iTunes, 7 digital and all mobile networks from 12th March. To download text 'music 5271 m' to 57501.
The physical CD will be available from 15th March from selected HMV stores, and online at hmv.co.uk and amazon.co.uk giving fans nationwide, one week to make the iconic tune a Number One chart hit prior to the Festival.
For the latest news, action and images about the Festival song, subscribe to The 'Official' Cheltenham Song on Facebook.
Upcoming Fixtures
Naas - Wednesday 10th March (First Race 2:30)
Clonmel - Thursday 11th March (First Race 2:35)
Dundalk - Friday 12th March (First Race 6:30)
Limerick - Saturday 13th March (First Race 1:00)
Limerick - Sunday 14th March (First Race 2:25)
Navan - Sunday 14th March (First Race 2:35)
ALSO....WATCH OUT ON FRIDAYS FOR OUR 'ONE'S TO WATCH' WHICH WILL GIVE YOU A REVIEW OF THE WEEKEND AHEAD'S RACING AND MAYBE POINT YOU IN THE DIRECTION OF A FEW WINNERS....
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