Thursday, December 03, 2009
THERE is every possibility the colourful Oliver Brady will light up the rescheduled Naas meeting this afternoon, should racing get the go-ahead, following a 7.30am inspection.
The Co Monaghan trainer’s antics, when he saddles a winner, are legendary and he could well have cause for celebration, after the Listed Fishery Lane Hurdle.
Brady’s flying grey, Ebadiyan, gets the nap to beat some useful rivals, in what has the makings of a cracking contest.
Ebadiyan, one of the best juveniles in the country last season, normally jumps for fun and will revel in the testing conditions.
He returned to action in a Grade 3 at Down Royal, trailing in fourth of five behind the impressive Voler La Vedette and Saturday’s Newcastle Fighting Fifth Hurdle hero, Go Native.
The selection was noted staying on quite nicely at the end, however, and is entitled to come on a bundle for the run.
The hat-trick seeking Arabella Boy is a horse for the future, but is taking a big rise in class, so the main danger looks to be Edward O’Grady’s Torphichen.
He scored for David Pipe at Ludlow and Sandown, before losing his way somewhat on two occasions at Cheltenham.
Torphichen was very much back on track, though, on his first outing in Ireland, when beaten half a length into second by Lucky At Last on the flat at Galway in October.
Much interest will centre on the return to action of Captain Cee Bee, absent for 608 days and winner of last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Beginners Chase.
The ground will be far from ideal for Eddie Harty’s inmate and, you’d imagine, is unlikely to be knocked about to any great extent.
Preference is for Zaarito, who was holding every chance when falling two out in the contest won by Whatuthink at Thurles last month.
Colm Murphy trains Zaarito and also has prospects with ex-winning pointer, Gates Of Rome, who was beaten three parts of a length into second by Qualviro at Punchestown, in the Racing Again At Naas 23rd January Maiden Hurdle.
© Examiner Publications (Cork) Limited, City Quarter, Lapps Quay, Cork. Registered in Ireland: 73385.
