Land Rover graduates enjoyed another strong weekend headed by Grade 2 wins at Cheltenham and Doncaster on Saturday and the feature Grade 3 Novice Chase at Naas yesterday.
The first success of the weekend came with Definitly Red (pictured left) winning the Grade 2 Cotswolds Chase at Cheltenham for Brian Ellison. This was his fourth black type win over fences, with previous victories coming in the Grade 2 Many Clouds Chase at Aintree this season, and the Grade 3 Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase at Wetherby. Definitly Red was first sold in the 2009 December NH Sale by James Keegan to GH Bloodstock for €3,200 and resold in the 2012 Land Rover Sale by Rathvin Stud to Brian Hamilton for €13,500.
The Emma Lavelle trained Enniscoffey Oscar (pictured middle) showed real talent and toughness to land the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett River Don Novices’ Hurdle at Doncaster, winning by a short head in a battling finish with fellow Land Rover graduate Shannon Bridge. Enniscoffey Oscar was sold at the 2015 Goffs Land Rover Sale by Rathturtin Stud to Monbeg Stables for €29,000.
Completing the Land Rover hat-trick was Moulin A Vent (pictured right) who won the Grade 3 Woodlands Park 100 Club Novices’ Chase at Naas on Sunday for Noel Meade, with Doncaster Spring Sale graduate Jury Duty in second. This marked his first Graded win, and a second win over fences having beaten Goffs Thyestes Chase winner Monbeg Notorious in a beginners chase at Fairyhouse in December. Moulin a Vent was first sold at the Doncaster December Sale for £1,000 from Minster Stud to Richard Frisby and re-sold at the 2015 Land Rover Sale by Glenwood Stud to M O’Toole for €55,000.
