Empire Of Dirt Triumphs at Leopardstown as Cheltenham Excitement Builds
Trainer Kerry Lee’s debut season got even better this week, as she celebrated a second win in the space of seven days. Russe Blanc won the Classic Chase at Warwick, despite starting the race priced at 20/1.
Lee saw Mountainous win the Welsh National last week, after taking over as a trainer from her father, Richard. Afterwards, she was delighted with the win, which capped off an excellent week for her.
“His jump at the last won him the race, similar to Mountainous last week. He thoroughly enjoyed himself,” said Lee. “We tried not to come here expectant, just hopeful, and this horse has really enjoyed jumping.”
The big race at Leopardstown this weekend was the Coral.ie Handicap Chase, which was won by Empire of Dirt and young jockey Jonathan Moore. The nine-year-old, trained by Colm Murphy, came home just over two lengths clear at the finish to land the win.
After the race, Moore said that the target this year might be to bring the horse across the water. “I would have been disappointed if he hadn’t run well. When you are not popping in the winners, though, you don’t have the same confidence as before,” he said. “We had big plans for him last year but he fell at the first in the Irish National. I’m not sure if he’ll go that route again and we might look at Cheltenham and Aintree.”
Willie Mullins’ Myska will have one more run ahead of a possible tilt at the new Trull House Stud Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival. Steve Massey, one of the owners of the six-year-old said, “Myska is in really good order. She’s fine after her win in Taunton and she’s now either going to Fairyhouse on the 30th for a Grade Three or to Sandown.”
