Berties out to make Dream debut

Paul Gilligan is excited about seeing his stable star Berties Dream tackle fences for the first time in public at Galway on Monday.

The seven-year-old provided connections with a dream result in March as he struck gold in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle as his trainer’s first ever runner at the Cheltenham Festival.

He begins his career over the larger obstacles in the W.B.Gavin & Co. EBF Beginners Chase and while there are other talented performers such as Venalmar and Jessies Dream in the field, Gilligan is confident of a bold show.

“We’re looking forward to getting him going again and this is a grand place to start him off as it’s close to home,” said Gilligan.

“It’s a pretty good race but you’d prefer to beaten by a good horse than a bad horse!

“He’s schooled very well and has jumped a lot of fences, so it’s time for him to do it in a race.

“You wouldn’t want him fully wound up for his first run over fences and his first run of the season, so there would be some improvement in him.

“Having said that, I would still expect him to run a big race.”