Fahey eyes Haydock prize with Altay
The Richard Fahey-trained gelding was given a confident ride by conditional jockey Padge Whelan, who eased him into the lead approaching the penultimate flight and the race was all over bar a fall.
He went on to pass the post with rather more in hand than the six-length margin suggested and was making it two wins from three outings over hurdles this season having also scored twice on the all-weather during the winter.
Fahey said: “This good to firm ground suits him, he jumps well and I think we disappointed him (when second at Catterick) when hanging on to him the other day. He‘s a decent horse.
“I‘d like to have a crack at the Swinton Hurdle (at Haydock on May 3) with him. I have another race in mind for him first and I think he will get in the handicap.”
Florries Son continues on the upgrade and defied top weight in pleasing fashion in the hands of another conditional jockey, Paul Robson, in the Jim Dent ‘Lifetime In Racing’ Hurdle.
Trainer Martin Todhunter will now step the eight-year-old up in class and said: “I might have a look at Ayr or Aintree now, in a novice race or a handicap, but he will go chasing next season and we won’t overdo it with him this time.”
Deep Water was raised 10lbs for his win at Market Rasen last time out but defied the official assessor in the hands of Tony Dobbin in the Plantronics Handicap Chase.
