De la Nación, who finished fifth in last season’s Triumph Hurdle, made the favorites nervous before ultimately securing victory in his season opener at Thurles. After an impressive run at the Cheltenham Festival in March, following the legacy of Poniros, Rulamba, and East India Dock, the Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old is the frontrunner to claim the Irish Stallion Farm EBF Mare Maiden Hurdle 1-5 prize.
The French import faced some challenges, with jockey Paul Townend needing to push hard in the final stretch, especially the last part of the race, but Place de la Nation rose to the occasion, finishing a length and a half ahead of Divavoliva. Paddy Power has lengthened her odds for the Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham from 16-1 to 25-1, though Townend believes she still has room to improve.
Townend explained, “She stumbled a few times, but her class pulled her through. She jumped very well at the start, but I held back so as not to tire her out.” He added that she endured some bumps during the race but coped with the ground conditions admirably and showed clear progress, jumping confidently.
Although running this distance on her return wasn’t ideal, the race presented a good opportunity on a suitable, solid surface, according to Townend.
Eaglefang (7-1) plans to aim higher following his promising debut over fences in the Irish Stallion Farm EBF Beginners Chase with Philip Burns. Gary Bannon, assistant to trainer Bill Durcan, remarked, “Last year as a four-year-old competing in open company, he faced tough competition but showed strong performances despite not winning.”
Eaglefang has only recently started fence training but is already considered one of their best horses, likened to Tiger Roll, offering potential for Grade 1 success around Christmas. Bannon mentioned, “Three miles won’t bother him, and I told Bill I want to enter him in the Irish Championships.”
Henry de Bromhead and jockey Darragh O’Keeffe joined forces with joint 6-1 favorite Stonyford Lady in the William Hill Each Way Extra Challenge Series Handicap Chase, representing owner Declan Lundy, known for Champion Chase winner Captain Guinness. De Bromhead praised Lundy’s patience and expressed satisfaction with Stonyford Lady’s win, especially after a previous near miss.
Commenting on Captain Guinness’s subpar performance in the rescheduled Fortrea Chase at Navan, de Bromhead said he appears fine and hopes the poor showing was due to ground conditions, adding, “He can run anywhere there’s a bit of good ground.”
Fan Take: This roundup highlights emerging talents and strategic moves in the world of jump racing, showing how horses like De la Nación and Eaglefang are shaping up for future high-stakes events. For horse racing fans, these developments signal an exciting season ahead packed with promising contenders and thrilling competitions.
