Galileo cruises home in Festival prep
Sent off at 2/9 to beat three rivals, the Dermot Weld-trained six-year-settled in third spot and jumped well (a little untidy at the third last) before being produced by Robbie McNamara to challenge at the second last.
Soon in front, the Galileo gelding was in control going to the last and eased clear to beat Aintree Grand National bound Becauseicouldntsee by four and a half lengths with Terminal third.
We learned little about Galileo’s Choice in this victory, a point accepted by his trainer Dermot Weld: “That was a pleasing performance. Robbie said he wasn’t in love with the ground. It didn’t tell us anything we didn’t know already.
“But it was only his third run over hurdles. He needed the experience and will be a better horse on nice ground.”
Galileo’s Choice is 9/1 (from 12) with both Paddy Power and Stan James for the Supreme Novices, confirmed by Weld as his immediate target, before he added: “After Cheltenham, staying group races on the flat will be his main profession this year.”
Having his first run over hurdles in more than two years, 122-rated Like Your Style belatedly opened his account in the opening Bobbyjo Bistro At Fairyhouse Maiden Hurdle, beating longshot Paddy The Stout and market-leaders Primroseandblue and Valleymount.
Ridden by David Casey, the J P McManus-owned eight-year-old picked up well on the run-in to triumph by three and a quarter lengths, prompting trainer Eddie Harty to comment: “He was due one and it’s nice to get it. This horse means a lot to me, because he was the first horse I got from J P after Captain Cee Bee. We’ll just enjoy the moment — I don’t know where he’ll be going.”
Kates Benefit proved Nina Carberry’s first winner since her recent marriage, making most of the running to beat Emily O in the Follow Fairyhouse Racecourse On Twitter Mares Flat Race.
The Beneficial mare, a wide-margin winner at Punchestown before running well on her hurdling bow at Naas, is trained by Ken Budds, who commented: “She did it well again and is something to look forward to over hurdles.”
Budds added, “We were going to go back hurdling. But it’s getting late in the season, so we’ll probably put her away and go hurdling later in the year.”
Raised 10lb. for a win over course and distance ten days ago and having bypassed an engagement at Thurles last Thursday (found to be stiff on the morning of the race), Clashnabrook followed-up under Philip Enright in the Tote Sports Lounge Novice Handicap Hurdle.
Having travelled strongly, Clashnabrook, trained by Eoghan O’Grady for his father Arthur, edged ahead at the second last flight and appeared to be holding top-weight King Of The Refs when that rival made a mistake at the last before rallying to get within a length and a quarter of the winner.
The winning trainer said: “He won well again. He needs soft ground and might have a break before coming back here at Easter, for another novice handicap.”
Third-placed Lookoutnow, which had made most of the running, was subsequently disqualified and his rider Mikey Butler banned for fourteen days following an incident at the third last hurdle, where Lookoutnow edged left, causing Dog Barrel Hill to run out.
In an enquiry, the Stewards found that Butler had “caused the interference by riding dangerously”. They suspended the 5lb. claimer for fourteen racedays, ordered him to forfeit his riding fee and disqualified his mount, placing him last.
