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Naas wrap: Gladness goal for Take Me To Church
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Sun 24 Mar 2024
Take Me To Church is moving up in the world after a runaway success in the Irish Racing Writers Cliff Noone Memorial Madrid Handicap at Naas.
The three-year-old has won twice on the all-weather on his two most recent outings, but has clearly been considered a good turf prospect by his trainer Jack Davison ahead of his first start of the year on grass.
Under Ronan Whelan he was a 4-1 chance for the seven-furlong contest, won last year by Paddington before he went on a five-race winning streak that included the Irish 2,000 Guineas, the St James’s Palace, the Coral-Eclipse and the Sussex Stakes.
After an easy six-and-a-half-length victory Take Me To Church is also set to step up in grade, with the Listed Gladness Stakes on his agenda next.
Davison gives the full debrief to Gary O'Brien at Naas
“He’s a right little horse. It’s nice when a plan comes off and to bring up the hat-trick by winning the Madrid is a great result,” said Davison.
“He’s a turf horse really and I knew what he did in Dundalk wasn’t going to be what he could do on turf but he still won twice. He’s progressed with every run and it’s a fantastic result.
“I’d probably be in favour of having a go at the Gladness at the Curragh over seven, all going well. He has lots of options.
“He did win impressively. You don’t mind foregoing their handicap mark when they win a premier handicap in that style and you know you have a black-type horse.”
Sunchart finally gets Devoy moment
The likeable Sunchart finally had his moment when landing the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Devoy Stakes for trainer Andrew Slattery.
Runner-up in the race in both 2021 and 2023, the seven-year-old was last seen at the Curragh in November and was returning to action after a winter break.
Under Andrew Slattery jnr, the trainer’s son, he started at 5-1 as he attempted to go one better than previous efforts.
This time he was well able to get his head in front, finding himself with an easy lead two furlongs from home before pulling further and further clear of the field to cross the line six and a half lengths ahead.
Slattery reflects on a meaningful success with Gary O'Brien
“The horses deserved it more than any of us. Pat (Garvey, owner) has had great perseverance with him and it’s great that he’s kept going,” the trainer said.
“He was always a very good horse and he likes this track. He likes going left-handed and likes soft ground.
“He’s been a hard horse to place and we maybe aimed a bit high at times as well.
“He always had the ability, he was second in this last year and was barely beaten at Leopardstown in a Listed race (Trigo Stakes).
“People were doubting him for being doggy but he’s not, he’s just a horse that has had a lot of problems.
“It was just about getting him right on the day and today he was right.”
Sunchart was fourth in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester last season and could return to the meeting if conditions are suitable.
Slattery added: “I don’t think there is much coming up for him, the ground is the big thing. He might go back to Chester if the ground was soft, he ran well when fourth in the Ormonde Stakes last year.”
Purple Lily hints at Classsic potential
Purple Lily won on her sole juvenile outing at Galway (Niall Carson/PA)
Purple Lily advertised her Classic claims with victory in the TRM Equine Nutrition Race.
A winner at Galway on her sole two-year-old outing, Purple Lily was sent off the 10-11 favourite to maintain her perfect record for trainer Paddy Twomey in the mile heat.
She made smooth progress for Billy Lee and when sent to win her race a furlong out, she had more than enough in reserve to win by three lengths from the Group One-placed Portland.
Twomey said: “She’s a nice filly and she wintered well. We just gave her the one run after the breeze-ups last year and she was good.
Hear the views of trainer Paddy Twomey from Naas
“I like her, the horses have done loads of cantering but they haven’t done much fast work. When you are taking on a 108-rated colt, you are asking them a question and she did it well.
“We might look at a Guineas trial and then the Irish Guineas. I think we’ll take our time.”
The Calyx filly has now won twice on testing ground, but Twomey added: “That’s only what was there the day she ran, I’d say it doesn’t matter.
“She’s versatile, she has a lovely attitude and is a lovely filly to train. Hopefully we have a good year with her.”
Spring trial beckons for Wendla
Wendla could also be set for a Classic trial after a taking success in the Dubawi Legend Irish EBF Fillies Maiden.
Beaten in two juvenile starts, Wendla was sent off an 11-2 chance to make it third time lucky for trainer Ger Lyons and jockey Colin Keane and she obliged in style, with a cosy two-and-a-half-length verdict over Harbour Gem.
The Ulysses filly is out of Breeders’ Cup winner Intercontinental, who is a daughter of Juddmonte’s prolific mare Hasili and counts Dansili, Banks Hill and Champs Elysees among her illustrious relations.
“Colin said to me she’d win if she did what we’ve seen at home. It’s about whether they handle the ground or not,” said Lyons.
“She’s a nice filly and it’s nice to get the maidens out of the way with the likes of her and (Friday’s Dundalk winner) Sakti.
“We thought if she handles that ground, if one of the trials comes up soft then we have one for it and if it turns up good, we’ve one for it too.
“I’m not saying they are Guineas horses or anything, they’ve to prove that, but at the minute we’ve won our maiden and they are horses we would like to be going to a trial with and see where the ceiling is in time.
“There’s nothing that gets going until after Punchestown so that gives us a chance to take a breather and obviously the trials are what I wanted to aim at. Ultimately it’s all about stakes races with all the horses.”
Janoobi scores on good day for Lyons
Janoobi (4-1) made it a double for Lyons and Keane in the Far Above At Compas Stallions Handicap, returning from a 575-day absence to win by five lengths – much to Lyons’ delight.
He said: “There is a lot of satisfaction in that because he’s come back from a massive injury and the team have done a marvellous job.
“He had a bad fracture in his front leg and it was touch and go whether he was going to be with us. They did a massive job with him and it’s a credit to anyone that had anything to do with him.
“He’s a horse that we always liked and it’s just a bonus to get him back, to win with him is just massive.
“He’s a good, fun horse to have on the team and every day we have with him now is a bonus.”
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