Cork meeting called off due to flooding
The track is reported to be flooded at present and with further heavy rain forecast, officials have made an early decision to cancel the card.
Horse Racing Ireland tweeted: “Cork cancelled on Saturday, January 2. Course currently flooded and adverse heavy rain forecast for today and tomorrow.”
- The Duhallow Foxhounds point-to-point fixture at Kanturk in Dromahane, Co Cork today has beenpostponed and rescheduled for Saturday, 2nd January. Original entries for this fixture will stand.
- Barters Hill kept his unbeaten record intact with a determined display in the Betfred “Goals Galore” Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury yesterday.
Ben Pauling’s stable star was successful on each of his four starts in bumpers last season, most notably claiming the scalp of Bellshill at Aintree, and made a fine start to his career over jumps with a wide-margin victory at Huntingdon at the start of November.
Facing just two opponents in this Grade One feature, the 4-11 favourite was sent straight to the head of affairs by David Bass, who appeared keen to ensure a good test of stamina.
Barters Hill had to be rousted along for a few strides heading out onto the second circuit after the paddock exit caught his eye and Bass gradually wound up the tempo heading down the back straight.
It did not look great for odds-on backers shortly after rounding the home turn, with both Label Des Obeaux and Politologue moving sweetly into Barters Hill’s slipstream, but the market leader dug deep and the further he went the better he looked.
Pauling’s ace eventually passed the post with 12 lengths in hand, with Politologue narrowly beating Label Des Obeaux to the runner-up spot.
It was a landmark success for Pauling and Bass, who were both claiming a first victory at the highest level.
Bass said: ‘‘He never does anything flashy. At home he’s unbelievably lazy.
“Even in front he was racing lazily and looking around. They came to me at the second-last, but I gave him one smack and he’s gone.
“He stays all day and I was impressed with that.
“He’s incredibly tough and very classy and I think he’ll be just as effective on better ground.”
The jockey feels the three-mile Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle could be a more logical Cheltenham Festival target than the shorter Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle.
“I would lean towards the three-miler (Albert Bartlett),” said Bass.
“I suppose Ben will have his own ideas, but I think he stays all day.
“We need to get him there in one piece and it’s a long way until then.”
Pauling said: ‘‘I gave him such a long break from his last run to this one and coming here, on this ground when you’re a 4-11 favourite, is not ideal.
“He’s brave out in front, but he’s there to be shot at. When he heard them coming at the second-last, David gave him one smack and he took off again.
“He doesn’t want a bog, but it’s the sign of a good horse that he handles anything that’s thrown at him.
“David said he was still looking at his hurdles, but he’s still so green. He just doesn’t do a tap, but when questions are asked of him, he finds whatever you need. It’s a dream come true for me and the owners. To win our first Grade One means a huge amount.”
