It was a day to remember for the Doyle siblings of Baltimore Stables, with their Wexford yard responsible for providing Gordon Elliott’s two big race winners at Navan on Sunday, including in the feature race the Troytown Chase with Run Wild Fred.
In spite of finishing second in both the Thyestes Chase and Irish Grand National last spring, the seven-year-old had remarkably entered Sunday’s big race as a maiden over racecourse fences, with connections rewarded for their decision to bypass last Sunday’s Florida Pearl Novice Chase.
Sent off as the 4/1 favourite, Davy Russell’s mount dictated a steady tempo from the head of affairs before he began to take control of the race from the second-last fence, with plenty in the tank allowing him to overcome a slow leap at the last and easily take the €80,000 contest by seven and a half lengths over stable mate Farclas.
“I thought they were the two horses that maybe stood out among ours, a lot of the others ran good races,” said Gordon Elliott when speaking to RTÉ Racing.
“It's proud day to be here at my local track and you can see all the crowd here, it's brilliant with family and friends enjoying it as well.
Much the best!
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) November 21, 2021
Irish National runner-up Run Wild Fred is off the mark over fences - and in the €80,000 @Ladbrokes Troytown Chase for @gelliott_racing and Gigginstown House Stud @NavanRacecourse pic.twitter.com/yZ9JQRdNFE
“As everyone knows we've been through a tough year but we're back now and we're training winners, the team I have behind me is unbelievable. You can see all the staff, and the way they turn the horses out, I'm proud of them all. I told them the other day if we won the Troytown they could have a half day tomorrow, so I think I'm going to have to give them a half day!
“I haven't seen this kind of crowd racing since everything happened, people couldn't go racing with Covid-19. It's great to see a good crowd here today and a great atmosphere.
“I know he was still a maiden over fences but he had good form. I believe to win these good staying handicap chases they have to be graded or listed placed the season before. That's what the first and second horses had done.
“Both of them could be Grand National horses but I think the National Hunt Chase could be written all over this horse.
“Michael might have different ideas and it's a long time from here to March. I think the race is made for him and I'm a big believer in going for the race you think you can win.”
Run Wild Fred has started his career by winning a four-year-old maiden at Dawstown for James Doyle, and it was his sister Ellen who saddled Hollow Games to also make a winning debut when taking a Turtulla maiden by a distance.
That was in March 2020 after which he was sold to Elliott and Mouse O’Ryan for £255,000 and Sunday’s victory in the Grade 3 Monksfield Novice Hurdle – the biggest of his career to date – also preserved his unbeaten record, with the two and a quarter length defeat of Lunar Display his fourth victory on the racecourse following previous victories at Punchestown, Leopardstown and Down Royal.
Five from five!
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) November 21, 2021
The exciting Hollow Games remains unbeaten in the Grade 3 "Monksfield" Novice Hurdle for @_Davy_Russel_, Bective Stud and @gelliott_racing @NavanRacecourse pic.twitter.com/c64q20Pj0w
