Pont Alexandre delivered brilliantly in the Navan Novice Hurdle
The Willie Mullins’ trained, Pont Alexandre, won the Grade 1 Navan Novice Hurdle on 16th December, 2012 at Navan race course over two miles and four furlongs. With only one other race on the profile, the bay gelding was highly impressive in the
trip that he conquered all-the-way.
Under the supreme guidance of jockey, Ruby Walsh, the mount made all, was confident and composed while taking the flights, however, when there remained the final three furlongs, he slipped just a bit out of form.
Pont Alexandre, did not wait for long to pull back into form and defeated Busty Brown by good thirteen lengths.
There came a point at the concluding stage of the race when there was the runner-up doubt between Busty Brown and the most favoured entry of the race, Don Cossack. However, the favourite entered by trainer, Gordon Elliott, could not sustain the last flight
and fell, gifting Busty Brown an almost won battle.
The fall for the jockey, Davy Russell, was a straight third one and thinking better of it, the rider missed on the remaining rides.
Walsh said: "He was doing things nicely at home, but you always have a little worry about them having their first run over these hurdles. Having not run for so long, it was always going to be a worry going in a Grade One. It was a good performance and he'll
be a lovely chaser."
Mullins added: "He could be anything, he's a horse I love. I saw him in France in the summer and I rang my client and said to Rich (Ricci) I think I want to buy this horse.”
"The winners' races are so good, I thought if Don Cossack beats us then so be it.”
Following in the tracks of, Mikael D’Haguenet and Boston Bob, trainer, Willie Mullins struck his 100th success of the season.
The trainer is really glad with the under charge’s performance and is positive about some real lucrative chances in the future. Before the race, the trainer had serious doubts about the winning chances of the four-year-old.
Last that he won was in the Prix Robin Des Champs (Hurdle) on 13th May, 2012 at Cholet race course over two miles and a furlong.
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