Haven set to go one better
The progressive In the Haven, a former point-to-point winner, is the nap choice in the INH Stallion Owners’ EBF Maiden Hurdle.
The Topanoora gelding ran his best race to date on this track last month, half a length second behind the Noel Meade-trained Orpheus Valley. Admittedly, Orpheus Valley was stepping up on previous efforts over flights, but the fitting of cheekpieces for the first time may have accounted for the improvement.
In any case, it was most encouraging that the third horse, Ballymahon, was beaten a further 22 lengths. That contest was over two miles and six furlongs plus and In The Haven now drops down half a mile in trip.
But prior to Downpatrick, the selection had run well when second over two miles round the sharp Tramore circuit, so this might well prove his ideal journey.
Arthur Moore’s Port La Chaine, runner-up behind Sarteano at Down Royal, rates the obvious danger.
Rothwell’s Fairwood Bob is the one they all have to beat in the Bumper. Another ex-pointer, he didn’t win at that game, the five-year-old has produced two decent efforts on the racecourse. Beaten three parts of a length by Hey Porter at Gowran Park in April, he reappeared at Downpatrick in early November.
Fairwood Bob ran a cracker, but was no match for the newcomer, Itsallaracket, going down by eight lengths. Itsallaracket was then pulled up when a hot favourite at Folkestone, apparently failing to handle the testing conditions, but the credit side is that Steve Capall, third at Downpatrick, scored at Thurles subsequently.
