Cheltenham Supreme Novice Hurdle entry Khetaam justified favouritism in the hands of Paul Carberry in the Ryan's Pub Ratoath Hurdle at a wet Fairyhouse on Saturday and could now take his chance in the opening day contest at the Cheltenham Festival which begins tomorrow week.
After the five-year-old, backed from 3/1 to 9/4 favourite, forged ahead on the run-in to eventually shrug off 12/1 chance Catalpa Cargo which ran creditable after a lengthy layoff spanning some 506 days, trainer Noel Meade remarked, 'He's a good horse, jumped well and likes better ground and we'll see how he comes out of this before deciding about Cheltenham.'
Paddy Power cut Khetaam from 40/1 to 33/1 for the Cheltenham Festival opener on Tuesday week while Cashmans left him unchanged at 50/1.
Meade was back in the winners enclosure after the beginners chase but not with Sausalito Bay which started the warm 11/8 favourite. Winner of the Supreme Novice Hurdle three years ago, Sausalito Bay made a costly error seven fences from home before Paul Carberry pulled him up before the next. He will not be travelling to the Cotswolds next week. At the business end it was stable-companion Star Clipper which drew steadily clear under Norman Williamson on the run-in to come home with fourteen lengths to spare over Bassett Tiger.
Jim Dreaper's string have shown positive signs in recent weeks and he added another success to his 2003 tally when the aptly named Jim made all under Garrett Cotter in the 2m maiden hurdle. 'He wasn't named after me as they name all their horses in France as yearlings where this horse came from,'said Dreaper, who is still at a loss to explain the dip in form of his string last year, 'I don't know. We tried everything but I still don't know. Thankfully, they appear to be running well again.'
The Fairyhouse crowd of 2,000 paid their respects to racecourse security officer Michael Kearney, who passed away suddenly last Thursday, when a minutes silence was held during the afternoon.
