Culloty looking forward to Best Mate reunion
The Irish jockey had to have a bone in his thumb pinned after breaking it in a fall at the West Country track last month.
Culloty will make his return on the Henrietta Knight-trained King Killone in the opening Toby Balding Novices’ Hurdle.
“I rode out yesterday morning and today and it’s all gone very well,” he said.
“I’ll be back riding at Exeter and the thumb feels great - I’ve just been testing it over the last few days.”
Culloty is particularly looking forward to renewing his partnership with triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate later this month.
The Irishman had to miss the nine-year-old’s successful seasonal debut in the William Hill Chase last month, but should be back on board when Best Mate tries for a second win in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 28.
Meanwhile, Timmy Murphy’s appeal against the seven-day ban he picked up at Plumpton on Monday could be heard tomorrow.
The in-form rider lodged an appeal with the Jockey Club yesterday and racing’s regulators are hoping to resolve the matter quickly.
At Downpatrick yesterday the Kicking King team of Tom Taaffe and Barry Geraghty struck again when Kald River romped to an impressive win in the Down Hire Centre Beginners Chase.
Confidently ridden by Barry Geraghty, the 2/1 favourite tracked the leaders throughout as Paul Carberry dictated the pace on Dublin Hunter. Geraghty made his move approaching the third last fence and the outcome was decided as they raced downhill to the next.
Kald River readily drew clear to triumph by ten lengths and will now go handicapping.
A similar route will be followed by Philip Rothwell for Black Apalachi, who made a winning start to his hurdling career in the earlier INH Stallion Farms Maiden Hurdle.
Untidy at a few hurdles, including the third last when tackling the Taffee/Geraghty combination’s hope Amazing Proposal, Alan Donoghue’s mount was in command when slow at the second last but stayed on for a clear-cut success.
Jockey Ken Whelan ended a barren spell stretching back almost five months when taking full advantage of a ‘spare’ ride on top-weight Natural Storm in the Carryduff Shopping Centre Handicap Hurdle.
Whelan deputised for John Sullivan, stood down after an earlier fall, and pounced late on the 16/1 shot to deny favourite Markason on the run-in.
The divisions of the Sentel Maiden Hunters Chase provided their share of dram, particularly the second division won, in fortuitous circumstances, by the Ted Walsh-trained, Ross O’Sullivan-ridden Louisburgh.
Billy Patton’s Gauppo Boy was clear when crashing at the second before Good Step was left clear at the last, thanks to the exit of Pancho Villa.
Ridden by John Thomas McNamara for Enda Bolger and J P McManus, Good Step looked an assured winner starting the climb. But he got very tired and had no answer when O’Sullivan brought Louisburgh from an apparently impossible position.
Meanwhile, Willie Mullins planning at crack at Saturday’s Telectronics Systems Long Walk Hurdle at Windsor with Rule Supreme.
The eight-year-old gelding will attempt to lower the colours of the great Baracouda in the Grade One event at the Berkshire track.
“I think it would be fair to say he is not the world’s best jumper of fences, but on the other hand, he loves jumping hurdles,” said Mullins.
“The fences at some tracks suit better than others. However, so far this season, he has only run over hurdles. He’s done his last piece of work and came through it very well.
“We’re hoping for a good run, and that will help in putting together a plan for the remainder of the season.”
The County Carlow trainer indicated that Rule Supreme could switch to fences for the Irish Hennessy at Leopardstown as his next target, but it is uncertain as to whether he will go for a championship chase or hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival
“We had also considered the Lexus Chase (Leopardstown, Dec 28), but now that he’s running at Windsor, that will come too quick,” Mullins added.
