Arabella Boy gives supporters few worries

By John Ryan - Thursday, November 05, 2009

ARABELLA Boy proved the star of yesterday’s action at Fairyhouse, the Enda Bolger-trained four-year-old justifying odds-on favouritism in the INH Stallion Owners Novice Hurdle.

Successful at Wexford last time, and ridden again by Nina Carberry, the 9/10 favourite was allowed stride into the lead from the sixth flight and, with the exception of a mistake at the second last, gave his followers no worries as he stayed on strongly to slam Asigh Pearl, ridden by Paul Carberry, by thirteen lengths.

"That was a good performance for a four-year-old," declared Bolger of the Beneficial gelding, owned by Andrew Berry. "He’s a smashing jumper, although he stepped at the second last and gave Nina bit of a fright. But I liked the way he pickjed up again after the mistake.

"He’s only a four-year-old and I don’t intend overdoing it with him. He might have one more run before getting a break. He’ll tell us when he’s ready to run again. He won a point-to-point and will have no problem jumping fences, but not until this time next year."

Well-beaten on his recent chasing debut at Thurles, the Mouse Morris-trained Baily View put that disappointing effort behind him when landing the three-mile Course Signage Beginners Chase in the hands of Niall ‘Slippers’ Madden. Left in front by the second last fence exit of Becauseicouldntsee, Baily View stayed on to beat Carlas Dream by three lengths, prompting winning trainer Mouse Morris to explain: "He ran into trouble in Thurles and didn’t jump great. So I told ‘Slippers’ to get him jumping and into a good rhythm today and he did exactly that. He jumped super and, with a bit of luck, might make an Irish National horse some day."

The other beginners chase went to the vastly-experienced Coolpotts, trained by John Berry for his father Seamie and ridden by Robbie Moran. This seven-year-old gained valuable experience in decent company last season and destroyed the opposition yesterday, powering clear from the second last to beat Cindys Schindler by no less than sixteen lengths.

Trainer Berry said: "He got plenty of experience and earned plenty of prize money in graded chases last winter and it stood to him today. We haven’t tried him over three miles, but I think he’s pretty adaptable trip-wise. We’ll look for a winners’ race for him now and might wait until Leopardstown at Christmas."

Although Willie Mullins believes his heavy artillery won’t be ready to hit form for another few weeks, he introduced a decent prospect in Killkultagh Queen to justify favouritism, on her debut, in the Winter Festival 2009 Mares Flat Race.

Confidently ridden by Patrick Mullins, she cruised through to lead approaching hr furlong-pole before drawing away to score by six lengths. A delighted Mullins said: "I love King’s Theatre mares and this one did it nicely. She has a jumping pedigree and Patrick says she stays well. So I’m not sure whether she’ll go for another bumper or go hurdling straight away."

Robert Power took the riding honours, completing a fine double on Saludos and Glendine Lady.

Winner of a bumper at Navan last December, Saludos, in the familiar colours of Tom Curran, made all to land the opening Fairyhouse Membership 2010 Maiden Hurdle.

Well-backed favourite Taking Stock tracked the winner from halfway but, between the last two flights, it was obvious that Power’s mount was in control and the five-year-old Bob Back gelding galloped on resolutely to beat Misala by seven lengths.

Saludos is trained by Jessica Harrington, who commented: "We had a plan and it was very straight-forward. This horse is a real galloper and Robbie was anxious to let him bowl along. We tried him over two and a half miles last season, when he wasn’t ready for it. He’s very big, and only a five-year-old. So I won’t be rushing him. He’ll go for a ‘novice’ somewhere and will be a nice chaser in time."