Berties out-muscled by Jessies Dream

Berties Dream finished fourth on his fencing debut in the WB Gavin & Co EBF Beginners Chase at Galway.

The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle hero jumped really well on his first start for 220 days, but was out-muscled by Jessies Dream along the punishing home straight.

In what looked an informative renewal of the two-mile-six-furlong contest, Corskeagh Royale stayed in for second.

Venalmar, meanwhile, was fresh from a pleasing return from injury at Navan in September and came home third as the 7-4 favourite.

Paul Gilligan will nonetheless be highly satisfied with Berties Dream.

The seven-year-old gelding was always close to the pace, initiated by Boxing Along, before gaining a narrow lead three out in the hands of Andrew Lynch.

That advantage was lengthened with a clean leap at the last, with those who had invested in him winning seemingly sitting pretty.

But Berties Dream perhaps understandably ran out of fuel, which paved the way clear for Jessies Dream (3-1).

Although the Gordon Elliott-trained seven-year-old was also making his seasonal debut, he had the benefit of two previous starts over fences – including a third in Grade Two company here in January.

Davy Condon’s mount jumped with real panache and showed boundless vigour on the run-in to score rather tidily.

Bobby McNally, representing Elliott said: ``He is the best we have in the yard.

“He’ll go for either the Grade One in Fairyhouse (the Drinmore) or to Cheltenham in November. He wasn’t even half fit there and Davy said he was doing nothing in front.”

Gilligan said of Berties Dream: “We’re more than happy with that. He was 80-85% fit and not fully wound-up. He’ll go for a three-mile novice at Cheltenham next. He just blew up after the last – it was a serious run.”