Orgilgo Bay makes highly encouraging hurdling debut
Rated 93 on the flat, the Lawman gelding always looked a type likely to make his mark over hurdles and, despite a couple of sloppy jumps and being hampered briefly at the fourth, Mark Bolger’s mount knuckled down well in his battle with the Davy Russell-ridden favourite, forging clear on the run-in to triumph by three and half lengths,
Trainer McConnell admitted: “It was touch and go whether I’d run him or not, because he’s at his best with some ease in the ground. But the rain came and he did it well, going away at the finish. Mark said he was only getting going at the end. Being gelded has made a man of him — he has filled out and got stronger all over.”
McConnell intends running Orgilgo Bay in the Grade 3 juvenile event at Fairyhouse on December 1 before skipping Christmas and bringing him back in February, with a view to a possible tilt at Cheltenham’s JCB Triumph Hurdle in March.
The well-regarded Apache Stronghold, third to The Liquidator in the Grade 1 bumper here in April, had to work hard to make a successful hurdling debut for Noel Meade and Davy Condon in the €10 Admission All Non-Festival Racedays Maiden Hurdle.
The 5/4 jolly jumped indifferently at times and, having looked an assured winner early in the straight, was made to work hard by the Ruby Walsh-ridden Clonard Lad, only a short-head separating them at the line. The placings remained unchanged after a Stewards Enquiry.
A relieved Noel Meade stated: “He’s a very good jumper at home but Davy said he made a mistake at the first and got a fright and that he wasn’t as fluent as we expected after that. I thought he’d need the run and I expect him to come on a ton, in terms of both experience and fitness. Two and a half miles is a minimum for him.”
Odds-on punters had to sweat before 1/2 shot Captain Arceus, under a determined ride by Bryan Cooper, landed the odds in the opening, three-runner Follow Us On Twitter And Facebook Hurdle.
Driven along with four to jump, the Dessie Hughes-trained seven-year-old still had work to do approaching the final flight, as Ruby Walsh still sat tight on front-running Un Beau Roman. But, on the run-in, the favourites stayed on in determined style and got up close home to triumph by a half-length.
Cooper explained: “He wants a trip and they were going a step quick for him all the way. But he jumped great — that kept him in it. He’s very tough and I knew he’d stay, so I kept at him. He needs two and a half miles and chasing is going to be his game.”
