Real joy for O’Grady as tenacious Article triumphs
Squeezed for room between Oscars Well and Kalann approaching the final flight, the 5/4 favourite responded well to Geraghty’s strong handling on the run-in to beat Kalann by a length and a quarter.
A delighted Edward O’Grady stated: “I must give credit to my staff and everyone involved with the horse. He had problems last year and it has been a long road back. I’ll have to discuss plans with Barry but we could give him a break now with a spring campaign in mind. Or, he could go for the Hatton’s Grace or Fighting Fifth over the next few weeks, ” before adding, “At this stage, I couldn’t say that he won’t make a Champion Hurdle horse.”
The O’Grady/Geraghty double was initiated when Miss Nomer, in the colours of the Star Syndicate, readily saw off Noras Fancy and odds-on favourite Dazzling Susie in the Grade 3 Lough Construction Ltd. Mares Novice Hurdle. “A good day” for the winner according to her trainer who has no firm plans for the four-year-old.
Noel Meade and the season’s leading rider Davy Russell were also in double form, sharing in the facile win of odds-on favourite Ipsos Du Berlais in the Allianz Maiden Hurde. A three-mile, Grade 3 novice event at Cork is next on this classy grey’s agenda.
Meade had also won the opening juvenile hurdle, not with 5/2 favourite Leroy Parker (Paul Carberry), but with the Davy Condon-ridden Blue Cannon.
Davy Russell brought his seasonal tally to 54 when the Mouse Morris-trained Four Commanders, like Ipsos Du Berlais, in the colours of Gigginstown House Stud, produced a superb display of jumping to land the Porter & Co. Beginners Chase at the expense of Noel Meade’s Medical Card.
