Racing returns to Tramore tomorrow for the annual New Year's Day meeting.
The first race meeting of the new year in Europe has grown in recent years and is now a staple on the calendar for some of the island's best trainers.
Looking forward to a great days racing on January 1st! The weather looks great too! Tickets available online https://t.co/qVP1HMJRI7 @SavillsIreland @WLRFMsport @wlrfm pic.twitter.com/5wLTR9JAfE
— Tramore Racecourse (@TramoreRaces) December 28, 2023
A seven-race card gets underway at midday with a 15-runner field maiden hurdle over 2 miles stocked with plenty of local interest.
12.00 David Flynn Construction Maiden Hurdle.
Declan Queealy runs two here with The Lucky Lobster and Misty Milan, while Henry De Bromhead enters Ballybrack Wood and Gorgeous Tom for the opening contest and Portlaw trainer Liam O Brien runs Gentle Lady. John Kiely also has a runner on the reserves list with Liberated Light the potential mount of John Gleeson. $6,195 is on offer to the winner.
12.30 Jimmy Shanahan Memorial Handicap Hurdle
Top trainer De Bromhead has entered Belle The Lioness for the second contest with Darragh O'Keefe in the saddle. Fans will not get a glimpse of Gold Cup winning rider Rachael Blackmore this year, with the Tipperary native set to ride at Cheltenham. De Bromhead will have local company from Tramore's John Flavin who runs Clarens under JJ Slevin.
1.05 Ryans Cleaning Services Maiden Hurdle
Kilmeaden trainer Dermot O'Brien runs his lone entrant of the day in the 1.05, with Sam Ewing on board Pat The Carraig while Darragh O'Keefe once again rides for De Bromhead with Nouvotic.
Owner Tadgh O'Sullivan also has a runner here with the Joseph Murphy-trained Gabriel Ranger.
1.40 Tramore Medical Clinic Handicap Hurdle
The second largest field of the day will see the largest contingent of local entrants with five trainers from the Déíse fancying their chances at claiming the top prize of €6,195.
Declan Queally enters his third and final runner of the day with the 12-year-old Mick Charlie. Waterford's Con O'Keefe runs Kilbarry Saint under Danny Mullins. John Flavin is back for his second runner with Party Pack ridden by JJ Slevin. Margeret Flynn from Stradbally has entered Too Moon while Cappoquin trainer Paddy Corkery has put Walk In The Stars forward to be ridden by Darragh O'Keefe.
2.15 Savills New Year's Day Chase (Grade 3)
The feature has become an important race on the calendar for some of the top trainers in Ireland, none more important than Willie Mullins who has formed an affinity for the seaside course in recent years. The Carlow native rode his first winner as a jockey in Tramore and has seen huge success in the past three iterations of the Savill's.
Mullins has taken first place in the five runnings of this race - as well as winning when it was a listed race without Graded status. Minella Indo was first home in 2023 for Henry De Bromhead with Al Boum Photo winning four in a row from 2019 to 2022. In 2018 he sent out Bachasson to beat out competition from both De Bromhead and Gordon Elliot in a three-horse race. Mullins has spoken at length about the ground at Tramore that suits his needs at this time of the year.
Remembering the 2023 renewal of the @SavillsIreland New Year’s Day chase! What a special day and captures all that is great about an Irish racing crowd! Here’s to a memorable day on January 1st 2024! Tickets & limited hospitality still available https://t.co/qVP1HMJjSz pic.twitter.com/FR55szxt0E
— Tramore Racecourse (@TramoreRaces) December 29, 2023
On Monday, Mullins enters Monkfish with hopes of crossing the line first. It wouldn't be a New Year's meeting at Tramore however if not for Mullins stocking the field. Of the seven entrants, three are from the Mullins yard; Classic Getaway and Bronn make up the other two.
Elsewhere, Butlerstown handler De Bromhead saddles Jungle Boogie as he hopes to take back-to-back wins, Gordon Elliot runs Minella Crooner with Martin Brassil's Longhouse Poet and Patrick Griffin's Roi Mage completing the field.
The final two races of the day will be the 2.50 Core Bullion Traders Rated Novice Chase and the 3.25 Tom Caroll Memorial Handicap Chase.
Melleray trainer Niall Hennessy is the only local interest here when he runs Lilian Bland in the final contest.
