New Phase survives last flight scare to land gamble

NEW Phase survived a serious final flight blunder to justify hefty support in the Corporate Hospitality At Fairyhouse Hurdle at Fairyhouse yesterday.

The six-year-old, trained by Dermot Weld for his son Kris and a smooth winner of his maiden over course and distance last April, was backed from 5/2 to 13/8 on-track and travelled sweetly throughout before edging to the front at the second last flight. In command under a confident Robbie McNamara, the Spectrum gelding hit the last hurdle hard before getting back on an even keel to beat Awkward Moment by three lengths, with the uneasy odds-on favourite Dr. Whizz (Tony McCoy) a very disappointing fifth of six and subsequently found to be ‘distressed’

“He’ll go back to the flat, for a ten furlong handicap in the early weeks of the season,” explained Dermot Weld. “He’s still a bit novicy and has a lot to learn yet over jumps. But he’s a nice dual-purpose horse.”