Whiskeywealth

You had to feel for Whiskeywealth when he came down at the final fence in the two-mile novices’ handicap chase at Fairyhouse on Sunday. Terence O’Brien’s horse may or may not have beaten Dinoblue, but he appeared to be finding plenty in front and, either way, it was a fine run by the Yeats gelding. He had done most things right up until the point of his departure. Handy from early, he led the main body of the field behind breakaway leader Irish Blaze. He jumped well, caught the leader over the fourth last fence and moved easily into the lead on the run around the home turn. He got in a little tight to the second last fence, and nodded on landing, which allowed the favourite Dinoblue close on him on the run to the last, but he was still at least a length in front of his pursuer as he closed in on the final obstacle, where he got in tight and came down.

Winner of a novice chase at Tramore on New Year’s Day on his final run for Eoghan O’Grady, when Whiskeywealth won a novices’ handicap chase at Clonmel in February on his first run for Terence O’Brien, he made all the running, and he found plenty for pressure from the front. He appeared to be happy to take a lead on Sunday, and it still appeared that he had more left to give at the time of his departure. Dinoblue is a high-class mare, she finished second to Maskada in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham on her last run before Sunday off a handicap rating of 140, and she was racing off the same mark on Sunday. And Whiskeywealth would at least have given her a race, he may well have beaten her, as evidenced by an in-running low price of 1.23. The handicapper raised him by just 3lb to a mark of 127, which was fair, and there could be more to come from him off that mark as a two-mile handicap chaser. We know that he goes well right-handed, although, whether by design or happenstance, only one of his 16 runs under Rules – a maiden hurdle at Naas in November 2021 – has been at a left-handed track. He will be of interest if he goes to Punchestown, although he may need soft ground to be seen to best effect.
Fairyhouse, 9^th April 2023