Impressive return by Alaivan
The Andrew McNamara-ridden 8/11 favourite tracked front-running Son Amix throughout, edged into a challenging position turning for home and, in front jumping the second last, he was soon in control. Kept going my McNamara, he triumphed by three lengths, without being asked a serious question.
Winning trainer Edward O’Grady commented: “If he was beaten, I knew where he was going. But, quite honestly, I don’t know what to do with him now. It’s not easy with a four-year-old, with a rating like his.
“He’s in at Leopardstown over Christmas, in the good race (Grade 1 December Festival Hurdle). It’s the only race for him there. But I’m not keen to take on the top Grade 1 horses. He was rated 140 coming here today, so I suppose there’s a chance he could get into one of the big handicaps, like the Ladbroke at Ascot, with a realistic weight. I’ll have to go home and think about it.”
O’Grady and McNamara had no luck earlier when 11/10 favourite Osana was turned over by the Tony Martin-trained Psycho in the Become A Naas Annual Member Chase.
Confidently ridden by Davy Russell, Martin’s charge was produced to challenge along the stands rail from the second last and drew away on the run-in to score by four and a half lengths.
Martin said: “He did it well and deserved it, after improving from his run here behind Captain Cee Bee. The race suited him and, the way Davy rode him, there was still a bit there at the finish.
“He’s in some of the big races over Christmas, including the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase and the Lexus at Leopardstown. Or we might try to find a suitable handicap for him somewhere.”
Noel Meade, who is optimistic that stable-jockey Paul Carberry will be declared fit to resume race-riding on Pandorama in the Hennessy at Newbury on Saturday, shared a double with Carberry’s deputy, Davy Condon.
Medical Card, a Flemensfirth gelding held in high regard by his trainer early in his career, belatedly got off the mark when outstaying his rivals in the opening Racing Again At Naas On 2nd January Maiden Hurdle, beating White Star Line by two lengths.
Meade said: “He’s from the same family as What A Question and probably doesn’t want to be kept too busy. But I’ve always looked on him as a staying chaser. And I think he’s a very nice horse.”
Meade and Condon completed the double when Loup Du Saubouas, having only his second run since being bought from his trainer by the Trim-based McAlpine Syndicate, won the Irish Stallion Farms Beginners Chase narrowly from Bostons Gift and Dr.Whizz.
Always prominent, the French-bred seven-year-old jumped soundly and responded to Condon's strong handling in the closing stages to get home by a half-length.
Curragh trainer Eddie Harty had a dual-role at the meeting, saddling handicap debutant Carrigmartin, in the colours of JP McManus, to defy top-weight in the Thoroughbred County Novice Handicap Chase and then overseeing his stable star Captain Cee Bee in a post-racing school.
After racing, Captain Cee Bee delighted Harty in a mile-and-a-half ‘school’ over seven fences. Ridden by Mark Walsh, he jumped well and readily quickened clear of John Kiely’s Head Of The Posse (David Casey), an intended runner in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse on Sunday, proving himself on course for the Grade 1 John Durkan Memoiral Chase at Punchestown on Sunday week.
John Kiely had been successful earlier with the remarkable ten-year-old Dolphin Bay in the Event Hire At Naas Racecourse Handicap Hurdle, a welcome winner for jockey Paddy Kennedy as it was first mount back after and injury sustained at Wexford last month and also marked the end of his 7lb. claim.
