Jury's Still Out on Ut de Sivola *

Ut de Sivola jumping the last image: Healy Racing

Triumph Hurdle ambitions were on the line at Punchestown on Saturday in the day’s feature event, the Grade 3 visit punchestown.com juvenile hurdle. The Willie Mullins trained Ut de Sivola was already among the early favourites for the Cheltenham race after a facile success at Clonmel on his Irish debut and the French import was the hot favourite to follow up on that victory here and book his ticket to the Festival.

Ut de Sivola did eventually justify his prohibitive odds of 1 / 4 but he was a slightly fortuitous winner and the jury is still out on whether he is a genuine Triumph Hurdle contender. He raced keenly early on under Ruby Walsh but was travelling well as he and Hisaabaat took over from long time leader One Cool Shabra two flights from home. Paul Townend appeared to be working harder on the Dermot Weld trained gelding but Hisaabaat responded to his jockey and battled back and Ruby Wash had to get to work on board Ut de Sivola. It looked set to be a  battle to the line but a bad blunder at the last by Hisaabaat handed the race to Ut de Sivola.

After the race Willie Mullins said, “His better jumping probably won it for him. He was very keen early on and was caught on the outside. He raced very fresh and keen but I’m hoping he will improve for that.”

Bookmakers responded by shortening Ut de Sivola to 10/1 for the Triumph Hurdle but his trainer believes that he needs more experience and he will probably go to Leopardstown on Hennessy Day (February 12) next.

Ut de Sivola was one of three Willie Mullins trained horses with huge chances on the card but he proved to be his only winner of the day. The Bagnelstown trainer may have benefitted from some good luck in the main race but his Allure of Illusion could be classed as an unlucky second in the two mile maiden hurdle.

Allure of Illusion and Ruby Walsh were tracking the favourite Joxer and Bryan Cooper when Downthesacd came down three flights from home right in the path of Walsh’s mount. Allure of Illusion had no chance of avoiding the faller and was badly impeded. Joxer managed to avoid all the drama and took over the lead on the run to the second last. Allure of Illusion showed his class and courage to chase down Joxer who had just a length to spare over him at the line.

Winning trainer Bill Harney was delighted with the win. “He’s not too bad and he did it very well. Bryan (Cooper) said there is plenty more to come. He’s still very green but has loads of ability.”

Plans for Joxer remain fluid with the trainer quipping, “There is plenty of time to make plans and if I go to my local pub tonight they will all be telling me what to do with him!”

* This article first appeared in The Nationalist 17 January 2012