Stellar Story can make winning start to life over fences at Fairyhouse

A decent round of jumping should suffice for Cheltenham Festival victor

Tue, 12 Nov, 2024 - 07:57

Tommy Lyons

Stellar Story, winner of the Grade One Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at this year's Cheltenham Festival, makes his chasing debut in the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase CLG Beginners’ Chase on Tuesday afternoon’s card in Fairyhouse and the classy sort should have little trouble making an immediate mark.

Before making his track debut, he contested two point-to-points. He unseated his rider on the first of them, a race which was won by subsequent National Hunt Chase winner Corbetts Cross, and won the second of them, beating Potters Party. It also took him two goes to win his first bumper, but he got off the mark over hurdles at the first attempt and has been found a good opportunity to do likewise over fences. A decent round of jumping should suffice.

Stablemate Will Do is feared most, even if his second run over fences didn’t live up to the promise of the first. Cheekpieces have been fitted for the first time and if they serve to sharpen him up, he could make a race of it.

Cool Park gets the nap to get off the mark for her career by taking the opening race, the Sign Up To GavinLynchRacing.com Mares’ Maiden Hurdle. Pulled up on her debut, in a Wexford bumper, she stepped up to three miles for her hurdling debut and ran a decent race to finish third behind World Of Fortunes, who has since won twice more.

She then went to Tramore for a mares’ maiden and ran well for most of the trip before succumbing to the late challenge of the classy Savante. While quite well beaten, she stuck to her task well enough. Given she is a maiden under all codes, she is in receipt of weight from the more fancied runners in this race, and Willie Mullins’ mare can make the most of it.

Amboyna, who won a Tramore bumper and followed that effort with a fine second behind a stablemate of the selection, is making her hurdling debut and deserves plenty of respect. She tried to make all the running last time out and if employing similar tactics, it could serve to aid the chance of the selection, who can be a touch keen.

Goodie Girl has leading claims in the Fairyhouse Student Day Handicap Hurdle. Last month, when returning from almost a year on the side-lines, she ran out quite a comfortable winner of a handicap hurdle and while she has gone up in the ratings and is taking on a better grade this time, she is likely to step up considerably for that run and can follow up.

FAIRYHOUSE

Tommy Lyons

12:32 Cool Park (Nap)

1:07 Goodie Girl (NB)

1:42 Stellar Story

2:17 General Hubble

2:52 Er Dancer

3:27 Portarlington

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