Tag Archive for: Only By Night

Only By Night camp to consider Scilly Isles bid at Sandown

/in /by

Gavin Cromwell could send the exciting Only By Night to Sandown for the Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase on Saturday week having missed an intended outing at Thurles this weekend.

Cromwell felt the ground was just too quick for his charge ahead of the Grade Two Carey Glass Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase.

She has taken to fences with aplomb, beating Mirazur West at Tipperary before being even more impressive in Grade Two company at Cork, where she accounted for Nara, who went on to win Sunday’s Thurles contest.

Should Only By Night not travel to Sandown, Cromwell has the Opera Hat at Naas as an option too.

“We walked the track and thought it was just too lively. After Keith (Donoghue) rode Millforce (to win the previous novice hurdle), he said they were just barely knocking the top off it,” said Cromwell.

“She’s a big, heavy-shouldered mare and hits the ground hard.

“There’s a Grade One in Sandown on Saturday week that we might give her an entry for and also the Opera Hat the following week, so she’ll probably go to one or the other.”

Only By Night makes it two from two over fences

/in /by

Only By Night continued her progress over fences with a dominant display in the Coolmore N.H. Sires Order Of St George Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase at Cork.

Gavin Cromwell’s charge had looked a smart recruit to the chasing game when readily accounting for Mirazur West on her fencing debut at Tipperary last month and was stepping up to Grade Two level here in the hands of Sean Flanagan.

The market principals came to the fore at the end of the extended two-mile contest, with the 7-4 favourite Nara holding sway jumping the fourth fence from the finish, but it was clear halfway up the home straight that Only By Night (2-1) had far more petrol in the tank.

Once given her head, the six-year-old cruised clear and was good value for the eventual winner margin of three and three-quarter lengths.

“She was good in Tipperary and has built on that. I thought today was coming plenty soon but with a race like this, you have to go for it,” said Cromwell.

“She is a very big mare, jumps very well and I’m looking forward to plenty more from her.

“The Grade Two mares’ novice chase at Thurles in January would look to be her next race.”

Only By Night was cut to 12-1 from 25-1 by the race sponsors for the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Only By Night in Cheltenham picture

/in /by

Only By Night has got Gavin Cromwell dreaming of March having watched her cruise to victory in the Care At Home Services Mares Maiden Hurdle at Naas.

A Listed bumper winner, she was entitled to score on her hurdling debut and was sent off the 2-5 favourite in a field of 17.

Ridden confidently by Keith Donoghue, her sole rival remaining, Gordon Elliott’s Magic Dawn, was just beginning to feel the heat when she unseated Jack Kennedy at the final flight, allowing Only By Night to coast home by 10 lengths.

Betfair cut her to 14-1 from 20s for the mares’ novice hurdle at Cheltenham.

“She’s a nice mare and when she won a Listed bumper you would hope she could come on and do that,” said Cromwell.

“She jumped well and was very straightforward.

“The first day she was a little bit keen with Derek (O’Connor) and the last day in Navan she improved from that. You can even see it in her work at home she used to be a bit keen, but she’s grown up now and is very straightforward.

“Hopefully she could be good enough to aim at the mares’ novice hurdle at Cheltenham. We might as well dream here as in bed!”

She was completing a double on the day for Cromwell and Donoghue following the earlier success of 7-4 favourite Money Heist in the Sign Up To GavinLynchRacing.com Handicap Chase.