The Big Westerner can make class tell on Wexford return
BIG TALENT: The Big Westerner en route to victory in the Grade Two Dawn Run Mares Novice Chase at Limerick last Christmas. Picture: Healy Racing
A week later than intended, The Big Westerner can make a winning seasonal reappearance when she contests the Michael Hickey Memorial Chase at Wexford on Wednesday.
The Henry de Bromhead-trained seven-year-old was supposed to begin her campaign on Monday of last week before heavy rain left the track unfit for racing.
Nine days on, and 312 days since her last start, The Big Westerner will look to get her season off to the best possible start by accounting for five rivals in this listed contest and it’ll be a big disappointment if the classy mare fails to do so.
That The Big Westerner was pitched into Grade Two company on just her second start over hurdles was a measure of the regard De Bromhead holds her in and the fact she won that Limerick contest in December 2024 so convincingly spoke volumes about her talent.
Further evidence of that came at last year’s Cheltenham Festival where The Big Westerner ran a cracker to finish second to Jasmin de Vaux in the Grade One Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.
After disappointing on her final start over hurdles at Fairyhouse, The Big Westerner returned to the Meath venue for her chasing debut last November where she finished second to Jimmy Du Seuil.
After that, another Christmas trip to Limerick yielded another Grade Two success as The Big Westerner got the better of Jade De Grugy.
She hasn’t run since but this looks an ideal starting point for the new campaign and The Big Westerner’s class should see her home in front.
Elsewhere on the card, The Big Clubman can strike for local trainer Paul Nolan in the racingtv.com/freetrial Beginners Chase.
Victorious on debut at this venue in October of last year, The Big Clubman found one too good in three of his four subsequent runs over hurdles but is fancied to make a winning start to life over the bigger obstacles, chiefly at the expense of Mode Avion.
The Tony Mullins-trained The Cobblers Wife got off the mark at Tramore in August and ought to go close in the Jim Ryan Racecourse Services Handicap Hurdle.
The Celebrate Your Special Occasion At Dundalk Stadium Median Auction Maiden is the feature race at the Louth venue on Wednesday evening and the application of first-time cheekpieces may eke out sufficient improvement for Always Magic to land the spoils.
1.00 Zara's Dream
1.33 Euro Agent
2.05 Mcallister
2.37 The Cobblers Wife (NB)
3.10 The Big Westerner
3.45 The Big Clubman (Nap)
4.20 Hartford
Next best
1.00 Dooks
1.33 Hey Now
2.05 Lucky Valley
2.37 Ardera Gun
3.10 The Enabler
3.45 Mode Avion
4.20 Prince Malinas
4.05 Apache Outlaw
4.40 Always Magic
5.15 Real Encounter
5.45 Otsana
6.15 Littlepacer
6.45 Carrigans Grove
7.15 Dancing Steve
Next best
4.05 Saint Acclaim
4.40 Monologue
5.15 By The Lake
5.45 Justiciar
6.15 Mutamarid Lsk
6.45 Iff In Doubt
7.15 Star Mind
