Leanne derails Midnight express
A miserable day for Ruby Walsh was made even worse after the odds-on defeat of The Midnight Club in the Clonmel Festival Week Chase, won by Leanne.
Walsh flew straight back from an unsuccessful appeal against a three-day ban in London to ride Willie Mullins' The Midnight Club, who was sent off favourite for last year's Grand National in which he finished sixth, but never looked likely to pick up compensation.
The finish was dominated by Trafford Lad, a Grade One winner in his youth but beset by injury problems since, and the mare Leanne (6-1), who just prevailed after a coming together at the last.
Bill Harney's 10-year-old was bouncing back to something like her best under Bryan Cooper, and Harney said: "She's in some health. We'll have to sit and think about plans. She's entered next week at Thurles but probably won't run."
Walsh said of The Midnight Club: "He was never going and the ground was just too heavy."
Willie Mullins, trainer of The Midnight Club and Cooldine, nevertheless brought up his 101st winner of the season when Immediate Response cruised to victory in the Clonmel Festival Week Handicap Hurdle.
The 6-4 favourite was returning from well over two years off the track but never looked under any pressure in the hands of the trainer's son, Patrick.
"His jumping was very slick for his first run in a handicap. He broke down badly after his last run, and I've only had him about six weeks," said Mullins snr.
"We'll stick to handicapping and he's in at Fairyhouse on Saturday, although I don't like running them so quickly. Running twice so quick with a leg is bad news but we might make an exception with this fellow."
2 February 2012
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